Meet This Year's Best Picture Contenders
We may be living in unsettled times, but there's one bit of (minor) normalcy rapidly approaching: Hollywood's awards season. So which films from 2020 (plus next January and February, thanks to an extended eligibility period) could contend for a best picture Oscar next spring? We have surveyed industry experts, reviewed the reviews, and examined the top performers at this year's few surviving major film festivals to come up with a list potential contenders.
Despite the fact that so many potential 2020 nominees have taken themselves out of the running by shifting their release dates into late 2021 (a list that includes Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, Denis Villeneuve's Dune, Tom McCarthy's Stillwater, the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, and Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, among others), there are still over a dozen strong contenders to receive a best picture nomination when the Academy reveals its selections on March 15, 2021. (The delayed Oscar ceremony will be held on April 25.) Those films, and a handful of additional wildcards, are listed in alphabetical order in the gallery above.
Note that it looks like director Steve McQueen will be represented at least twice (and perhaps more) near the top of our list of 2020's best-reviewed films. But his five (!) upcoming releases are technically part of an BBC/Amazon anthology series (Small Axe) which will make his films Emmy-eligible rather than Oscar-eligible, so they are omitted here.
What is it? An adaptation of August Wilson's play of the same name that follows a day in the life of blues singer Ma Rainey and her band in 1920s Chicago from George C. Wolfe, a Tony-winning stage director (and occasional film director).
Why is it a contender? The play itself collected major award nominations when it debuted in 1984 (and again during a 2016 London revival), and this first filmed version features a strong cast led by Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman in his final performance. That last factor, coupled with the film's Netflix availability, means that it should get plenty of attention as awards season heats up.
What are its chances? Excellent. Most experts list Ma Rainey among this year's sure things for a best picture nomination.
When can I see it? December 18 on Netflix.