22 Highly Anticipated Films Generating Major Oscar Buzz This Year

Awards season often favors historical epics, and this film promises grandeur, a lot of action, and a powerful feminist message, with Viola Davis starring as the leader of the Agojie, an all-female unit of warriors defending the kingdom of Dahomey around 1820. I've already secured my tickets.

Release: In theaters exclusively.

Olivia Wilde directs Florence Pugh and Harry Styles in a 1950s-era drama set in a California company town. Early reviews haven't exactly been stellar, but they do heap praise on Pugh’s performance as the wife uncovering shady secrets within her husband’s company. Will she manage to rise above lukewarm reviews and the flood of behind-the-scenes drama to secure a nomination? It’s possible, but I have some concerns.

Release: Exclusively in theaters.

Ana de Armas is said to have fully transformed into Marilyn Monroe, while director Andrew Dominik delivers a highly fictionalized (and NC-17) portrayal of the icon’s life—one that could either offer a revealing portrait told through a dark lens, or end up as a self-indulgent misery-fest (depending on whom you ask).

Release: Streaming on Netflix

Todd Field has only directed two previous feature films, both of which became favorites during awards season: In the Bedroom and Little Children. Both received Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, co-written by Field, and the former earned a Best Picture nomination, though it arguably deserved to win. Over a decade later, Field returns with the story of Lydia Tár, a world-renowned composer undone by her own ambition and desire for recognition. The film received a six-minute standing ovation after its Venice premiere, which is an impressively long amount of time.

Release: Only in theaters.

Writer/director Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure, The Square) returns with what’s likely a much-needed satire of wealth and Instagram culture. The film follows two models invited to spend time on an extravagant yacht with a Russian oligarch, a British arms dealer, and Woody Harrelson. Unsurprisingly, things don’t go as planned (the original poster was replaced after it featured visible vomit).

Release: Only in theaters.

Director Chinonye Chukwu’s 2019 film Clemency (which focused on a prison warden’s relationship with a death row inmate) garnered widespread attention, winning the Grand Jury prize at Sundance. That might have merely been the prelude to Till, which recounts Mamie Till-Mobley’s (Danielle Deadwyler) pursuit of justice for the brutal killing of her son, Emmett. While the film may not be easy to watch, it tells an essential American story and seems to be in capable hands.

Release: Only in theaters.

Director Martin McDonagh’s darkly comedic tale of two friends (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who have grown apart received a 13-minute standing ovation at this year’s Venice Film Festival. I can't imagine standing and clapping for that long (though our friends at Jezebel recently gave it a try), but I’ll assume that means it’s a pretty remarkable film.

Release: Only in theaters.

The original 2019 film was the first superhero movie to secure a Best Picture Oscar nomination (though it ultimately lost to Green Book, if you can believe it), so it’s not entirely out of the question that Wakanda Forever might snag a few major award nominations. Honestly, Angela Bassett’s unforgettable “Have I not given everything?” line from the trailer alone should be enough for an acting nomination, in my opinion.

Release: Only in theaters.

Producer A24 has been on an impressive streak lately, often seeming like the only studio making non-superhero films that break through and gain attention from mainstream audiences. The Tragedy of MacBeth was a Best Picture contender last year, X became a horror sensation, and the brilliant Everything Everywhere All at Once is already a favorite during awards season. Now, The Inspection, which stars Ellis Pope as a Marine Corps recruit who faces severe hazing after his sexual orientation is revealed, looks set to continue A24's success.

Release: Only in theaters.

Adapted from the 2019 nonfiction book by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, She Said portrays the two journalists (played by Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan) as they work to expose Harvey Weinstein's years of sexual abuse and misconduct. While the film has yet to screen, generating little buzz so far, the story itself is undeniably powerful. Mulligan is a previous nominee, and Bombshell proved that #MeToo narratives can capture awards attention (even if they weren’t particularly well-received). Controversy has arisen around producer Brad Pitt, who continued working with Weinstein long after he allegedly knew about the producer’s abusive history. It remains to be seen whether this will affect the film’s reception.

Release: Only in theaters.

Steven Spielberg is always a contender (he received both Best Director and Best Picture nominations for West Side Story at the most recent Academy Awards), but his autobiographical film, The Fabelmans, seems like it could be something particularly remarkable, even for him. With Hollywood's penchant for self-reflection, it’s safe to expect several major nominations for this one.

The film had its world premiere at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) on Sept. 10; it will have a limited theatrical release on Nov. 11 before its wide release on Nov. 22.

Release: Only in theaters.

Florian Zeller, the writer and director behind the critically acclaimed The Father, which earned multiple awards including an Adapted Screenplay Oscar and an Acting Oscar for Anthony Hopkins (who won, defying predictions that Chadwick Boseman would posthumously claim the award), returns with The Son. This similarly titled, but distinct, film revolves around a fractured family and the bond between father and son, starring Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern. Early reactions suggest it doesn’t quite match the excellence of its predecessor, but it certainly boasts all the right components.

Release: Only in theaters.

Sarah Polley directs an outstanding ensemble cast (Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand) in her adaptation of Miriam Toews' novel about a group of women in a secluded Mennonite community who unite upon realizing that the sexual assaults they've endured were not isolated occurrences. The film has already garnered significant praise from its festival screenings.

Release: Only in theaters.

Brendan Fraser has captured our hearts, but there are mixed feelings about the film's fat suit. Early reactions seem divided, with some praising Darren Aronofsky’s latest film—about a 600-pound man trying to reconcile with his daughter before his death—as a deeply compassionate portrayal, while others criticize it for being fat-phobic. Regardless of the ongoing debate, Aronofsky remains a staple of the awards season, and it will be a joy to see Fraser back on the big screen.

Release: Only in theaters.

Set in the 1980s, Empire of Light tells the story of a romance that blooms in and around a movie theater in a coastal town. This film marks Sam Mendes’ return to more intimate fare following his previous Bond films and the grand scale of 1917. While the film has received mixed reviews from festival audiences, Olivia Colman’s lead performance has been universally praised.

Release: Only in theaters.

It’s a big year for Pinocchio, with two different versions of the classic story already released. One is an animated Russian film featuring Pauly Shore, and the other a live-action remake directed by Robert Zemeckis. Neither has quite captured the attention of audiences, leaving Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion adaptation as the final contender. At the very least, it looks breathtaking.

Release: Streaming on Netflix

A rare horror film making waves during awards season, Nanny earned director Nikyatu Jusu the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. The film follows a Senegalese immigrant (played by Anna Diop) who works for a wealthy, troubled family in Manhattan while striving to reunite with her child in the U.S. Sundance audiences found the story both haunting and emotionally compelling.

Release: Streaming on Prime Video

Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores perros, 21 Grams, Babel, Birdman, The Revenant) is a director known for his ambitious storytelling, often walking the fine line between brilliance and pretension. His films tend to polarize audiences—some hail him as a visionary, while others find his works indulgent. Bardo has sparked this same debate, with early critics divided: some view it as a surreal, semi-autobiographical masterpiece, while others see it as bloated and self-absorbed. Even when his films don’t fully land for me, I appreciate that Iñárritu keeps sparking conversation. It’ll be fascinating to see if this one makes a breakthrough.

Release: Streaming on Netflix

We all like to pretend we're above the spectacle of Avatar... but let's not forget it’s the highest-grossing film ever and was an Oscar contender for both Best Picture and Best Director. Don’t underestimate James Cameron; expect the highly anticipated sequel to Avatar to receive its fair share of technical nominations.

Release: Only in theaters.

There may not have been a more enjoyable experience at the movies in 2019 than at a screening of Knives Out, and early feedback from TIFF suggests that the follow-up (with Daniel Craig returning as Benoit Blanc) is just as smartly crafted and fun.

Glass Onion premiered at TIFF and will have a limited theatrical run in November before debuting on Netflix on December 23.

Release: Streaming on Netflix

Noah Baumbach, known for Marriage Story, directs and adapts Don DeLillo’s novel in this darkly comedic, apocalyptic tale. Starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, the film follows an eccentric family whose lives are upended by a train disaster that releases toxic waste into their town (the “Airborne Toxic Event,” which inspired the band’s name).

Release: Streaming on Netflix (after a limited theatrical release)

From the director of La La Land, Damien Chazelle brings a Hollywood period piece set during the transition from silent films to talkies. Described as an epic-erotic-period-comedy-drama—whatever that means—this film looks stunning (though not exactly historically accurate). It features an all-star cast led by Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, and with Jean Smart in any role, I’m sold. While the movie will get a limited Christmas release to qualify for awards season, you’ll likely have to wait until early January to see it in full.

Release: Only in theaters.