We know what you’re thinking – were there enough films released in the past year for Hollywood to even justify hosting an Oscars in 2021?
Due to theatre closures caused by the pandemic, the Academy changed its rules so that films which debuted on a streaming or video-on-demand service could be eligible for the awards.
So although you probably didn’t make it to the cinema much in 2020, it turns out there were plenty of Oscar-worthy films released, and several still to come.
Here are 10 films that are consistently mentioned in predictions of Academy Award nominations for Best Picture:
Nomadland
Anything starring powerhouse actor Frances McDormand will have people making Oscar predictions, and Nomadland is no exception. The film follows modern-day nomad Fern as she travels the country after losing her job – timely given America’s economic situation amid the pandemic.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Based on the 1969 trial of demonstrators charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots during protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is also relevant to the political climate of 2020 and 2021. And the Academy loves a film tied to current events.
Mank
We journey back to 1930s Hollywood for Mank, a David Fincher-directed film about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and his writing of the Citizen Kane screenplay. Gary Oldman stars as the title character, and Amanda Seyfried is considered a contender for an acting Oscar for her performance.
One Night in Miami…
One Night in Miami… imagines what would happen if Malcom X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke met in Miami hotel room. It’s the first feature directed by Oscar-winning actress Regina King.
The Father
Based on the play Le Père, playwright Florian Zeller co-wrote and directed this French-British co-production examining dementia. Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman give powerful performances, with the former tipped to take home a best actor Oscar.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Another film adaptation of a play, the story centres around influential blues singer Ma Rainey. It was the final film made by the late Chadwick Boseman, whose performance has been praised.
News of the World
No, it’s not about that newspaper scandal. It’s a Western drama starring Tom Hanks, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Paulette Jiles. Hanks plays a Civil War veteran and non-fiction storyteller who travels across Texas with a 10-year-old girl taken in by Native Americans, to return her to her aunt and uncle. They encounter danger at every turn in their journey.
Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee’s latest project also features Muhammed Ali as a character and stars Chadwick Boseman. It follows four African American veterans who return to Vietnam decades after the war to find the remains of their squad leader, as well as a stash of gold they had buried.
Judas and the Black Messiah
FBI informant William O’Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on its chairman Fred Hampton. The film was co-written and directed by Shaka King, a former student of Spike Lee at NYU.
Minari
This film follows a Korean American family who move to a small farm in Arkansas in search of a better life. Written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, Minari is based on his parents’ experience as immigrants in Arkansas.
