Consider this my pre fall festivals outlook into the Best Picture race for the 97th annual Academy Awards, which will be celebrating and awarding their choices for the best in film from 2024. I’ve presented all 30 films, via 6 tiers, that I currently have on my radar as of August, and during the “calm before the storm” of the awards season. If you want more detailed thoughts on my thinking on why I believe a certain movie may currently be a contender, and why I have them placed where I do in the running, look out for my much more in-depth piece on the matter that might be over at Ordinary Times by the time this is published.
TIER 1: THE PRE FALL FESTIVALS FRONTRUNNERS
01. Sing Sing (+2 Since The Last Update)
02. Dune: Part Two (-1 Since The Last Update)
03. Blitz (-1 Since The Last Update)
04. Conclave (+0 Since The Last Update)
05. Anora (+3 Since The Last Update)
TIER 2: THE PRE FALL FESTIVALS HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDERS
06. Emilia Perez (+3 Since The Last Update)
07. The Piano Lesson (-1 Since The Last Update)
08. The Nickle Boys (-3 Since The Last Update)
09. Queer (-2 Since The Last Update)
10. A Complete Unknown (New Addition To The Board Since The Last Update)
TIER 3: THE PRE FALL FESTIVALS “ON THE BUBBLE” SERIOUS CONTENDERS
11. Joker: Folie à Deux (-1 Since The Last Update)
12. Gladiator II (+0 Since The Last Update)
13. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (-2 Since The Last Update)
14. Wicked (-1 Since The Last Update)
15. Challengers (-1 Since The Last Update)
TIER 4: THE PRE FALL FESTIVALS CONTENDERS ON THE VERGE OF BEING TAKEN SERIOUS
16. Didi (+2 Since The Last Update)
17. Nosferatu (+15 Since The Last Update)
18. Nightbitch (+15 Since The Last Update)
19. A Real Pain (+5 Since The Last Update)
20. His Three Daughters (-3 Since The Last Update)
TIER 5: THE PRE FALL FESTIVALS CONTENDERS WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE
21. The Seed Of A Sacred Fig (+4 Since The Last Update)
22. Maria (+5 Since The Last Update)
23. The Room Next Door (-2 Since The Last Update)
24. Saturday Night (Returning To The Board After Confirmation Of A 2024 Release)
25. The Brutalist (New Addition To The Board Since The Last Update)
TIER 6: THE PRE FALL FESTIVALS LONG SHOTS WITH A SLIM PATH
26. Here (-6 Since The Last Update)
27. Civil War (+8 Since The Last Update)
28. The Substance (+6 Since The Last Update)
29. The Wild Robot (+9 Since The Last Update)
30. Flow (New Addition To The Board Since The Last Update)
OFF THE BOARD SINCE THE LAST UPDATE (FOR NOW?)
A Different Man; Exhibiting Forgiveness; Horizon: An American Saga; Inside Out 2; Juror No. 2; Kinds Of Kindness; Mufasa: The Lion King; Parthenope; The Apprentice; The Bikeriders; The End; The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of Rohirrim; The Outrun; Twisters
