Meet This Year's Best Picture Contenders
Which films from 2019 could contend for a best picture Oscar in early 2020? We have surveyed industry experts, reviewed the reviews, and examined the top performers at this year's major film festivals to come up with a list of 20-ish potential contenders. (They're listed alphabetically in the gallery above.) Of course, the ultimate best picture nominee list will include 10 or fewer titles (likely fewer), so not every one of these films will secure a nomination—but it's likely that all of the eventual nominees will be found in our list. The biggest wildcards are the handful of films that have yet to be screened for anyone; we'll point those out as we get to them.
What is it? A legal thriller adapted from a New York Times Magazine article about an attorney Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) who took on chemical giant DuPont, whom he accused of covering up decades of pollution that caused multiple deaths.
Why is it a contender? The subject matter seems tailor-made for Oscar consideration (the not dissimilar Erin Brockovich earned five Academy Award nominations), and director Todd Haynes has a history of terrific work. Filming began in January, and distributor Focus Features rushed to get the film ready for Thanksgiving, believing that it has an awards contender on its hands.
What are its chances? Good, though the fact that it wasn't ready in time to screen at any of the fall festivals adds some uncertainty. (That said, an industry-only screening and Q&A a few days ago seemed to go well.) Note that Haynes has never had one of his films nominated for best picture—even Carol, the best-reviewed film of 2015.
When can I see it? November 22nd in very limited release, with more cities added on November 29th.
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