97th Oscars Projections: The Post Fall Festivals Outlook For The Best Picture Race

The Post Fall Festivals Outlook For The Next Oscar Ceremony's Best Picture Race

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INTRODUCTION

Consider this my post 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 25 films, via 3 tiers, that I currently have on my radar as of October, and with awards season on the verge of exploding. 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.

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TIER 1: THE POST FALL FESTIVALS’ HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDERS

01. The Brutalist (+0 Since The Last Update)

02. Anora (+3 Since The Last Update)

03. Dune: Part Two (-1 Since The Last Update)

04. Emilia Perez (+2 Since The Last Update)

05. Conclave (-1 Since The Last Update)

06. Saturday Night (+1 Since The Last Update)

07. Blitz (-4 Since The Last Update)

08. Sing Sing (+0 Since The Last Update)

09. Nickel Boys (+1 Since The Last Update)

10. Gladiator II (+4 Since The Last Update)

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TIER 2: THE POST FALL FESTIVALS’ “ON THE BUBBLE” CONTENDERS

11. A Complete Unknown (+1 Since The Last Update)

12. September 5 (+1 Since The Last Update)

13. The Wild Robot (+3 Since The Last Update)

14. Wicked (+1 Since The Last Update)

15. A Real Pain (+9 Since The Last Update)

16. The Piano Lesson (-7 Since The Last Update)

17. Queer (+0 Since The Last Update)

18. Challengers (+0 Since The Last Update)

19. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (+0 Since The Last Update)

20. The Substance (+1 Since The Last Update)

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TIER 3: THE POST FALL FESTIVALS’ CONTENDERS WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE

21. Nosferatu (+1 Since The Last Update)

22. Nightbitch (+1 Since The Last Update)

23. Juror #2 (+2 Since The Last Update)

24. Here (+2 Since The Last Update)

25. The Apprentice (+5 Since The Last Update)

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OFF THE BOARD SINCE THE LAST UPDATE (FOR NOW?)

Flow; Joker: Folie à Deux; The Life Of Chuck (Moved To 2025); The Room Next Door; The Seed Of A Sacred Fig

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