Meet This Year's Best Picture Contenders
If your leftover Halloween candy pile is down to a few stray pieces of Laffy Taffy* and Tootsie Rolls, it can mean only one thing: It's time for film awards season!
Which films will contend for the Oscars' biggest prize in March? To find out, 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 15 potential best picture contenders from 2022, plus more than a dozen bonus wildcards. In a welcome change, this year's best picture slate could include multiple films that you've heard of—in fact, it could include some of the year's most successful films at the box office. So let the guessing game begin ...
* Please take our Laffy Taffy.
What is it? Director Gina Prince-Bythewood's action-filled historical epic about an all-female legion of warriors in 1820s Africa, featuring a cast led by Oscar winner Viola Davis.
Why is it a contender? Reviews have been very positive for Woman King, its historical nature (rooted in actual fact) should appeal to voters, and the film—though not a major box office hit—outperformed expectations when it debuted in theaters in September.
What are its chances? Is it a crowd-pleasing action film, or a prestige piece? Distributor Sony may have to switch gears and start marketing the film as the latter to sway Academy voters, especially in a year where the field may already include multiple major action film contenders—even another woman-led action film contender in the form of Everything Everywhere All at Once. But many experts are bullish on its chances nevertheless.
When can I see it? The Woman King is likely still playing at a theater near you, and will receive a digital release on November 22nd (followed by DVD and Blu-ray on December 13).
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