Meet This Year's Best Picture Contenders
As we head into the holiday season, we also head into the heart of film awards season. And once again, we are looking at a rather unpredictable year. Though cinemas have mostly reopened this year, the Oscar race is once again being impacted by the pandemic, with many films failing to reach the large audiences that would have greeted them in a normal year—or reaching them directly in their homes rather than on the big screen.
But the uncertainty doesn't mean we don't have a general idea of which films will contend for best picture nominations at the upcoming Oscars. We have surveyed industry experts, calculated the Metascores, and examined the top performing films at this year's major film festivals to come up with a list of 20 potential best picture contenders from 2021, plus a few bonus wildcards.
What is it? Kenneth Branagh's highly personal drama based on his own life growing up in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, with newcomer Jude Hill playing the Branagh stand-in Buddy. (And, no, it's not the only black-and-white film on this list.)
Why is it a contender? The film's debut at TIFF in September was greeted by strong reviews and the festival's People's Choice Award.
What are its chances? It's the biggest lock on this list. The last time the winner of the People's Choice Award did not get an Oscar best picture nomination was a decade ago, and Belfast's good (though not quite great) reviews should be enough to guarantee that it won't happen this year. Last year's People's Choice winner, by the way? Nomadland.
When can I see it? It's coming exclusively to theaters on November 12 via Focus Features.
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