The 96th Academy Awards announced the nominees for the most prestigious honors in the film industry on Tuesday morning. The ceremony, which will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the fourth time, will take place on March 10, 2024, and air live on ABC.
Among the contenders, the historical drama Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, emerged as the frontrunner with 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr.
Oppenheimer Explores the Life and Legacy of the Father of the Atomic Bomb
Oppenheimer is a biographical film that chronicles the life and work of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist who led the Manhattan Project, the secret program that developed the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The film also examines the moral and political dilemmas that Oppenheimer faced after the war, as he became a vocal advocate for nuclear disarmament and a target of suspicion during the McCarthy era.
The film, which was released on November 17, 2023, by Universal Pictures, received critical acclaim for its meticulous recreation of historical events, its complex and nuanced portrayal of the protagonist, and its stunning visual effects. The film also features a star-studded cast, including Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty, Robert Downey Jr. as his colleague Edward Teller, and Robert De Niro as General Leslie Groves, the military leader of the Manhattan Project.
Killers of the Flower Moon and Barbie Follow Closely with Eight Nominations Each
The second-most-nominated film of the year was Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the non-fiction book of the same name by David Grann. The film tells the story of the Osage Nation murders, a series of crimes that took place in Oklahoma in the 1920s when members of the Native American tribe were killed for their oil wealth. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Tom White, an FBI agent who investigates the case, and Robert De Niro as William Hale, the mastermind behind the killings. The film also features Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman who becomes a key witness in the case.
The film, which was released on December 15, 2023, by Apple TV+ and Paramount Pictures, received praise for its gripping and tragic narrative, its authentic depiction of the Osage culture and history, and its powerful performances by the lead actors. The film earned eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Lily Gladstone, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro.
Another film that garnered eight nominations was Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, based on the iconic doll created by Mattel. The film is a musical comedy that follows the adventures of Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, as she travels from her perfect world of Malibu to the real world, where she discovers her true self and her purpose. The film also stars Ryan Gosling as Ken, Barbie’s love interest; America Ferrera as Teresa, Barbie’s best friend; and Meryl Streep as Evelyn, Barbie’s mentor.
The film, which was released on July 14, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures, received rave reviews for its witty and whimsical script, its catchy and original songs, its colorful and vibrant production design, and its charming and charismatic cast. The film earned eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress for Margot Robbie, and Best Original Song for “I’m Just Ken” and “What Was I Made For?”.
Poor Things and Maestro Complete the Best Picture Lineup with Seven Nominations Each
The other two films that made it to the best picture category were Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, based on the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray, and Maestro, directed by Bradley Cooper, based on the life and career of Leonard Bernstein, the renowned American composer and conductor.
Poor Things is a dark comedy that reimagines the story of Frankenstein, set in Victorian Scotland, where a young woman named Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone, is brought back to life by a mad scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter, played by Mark Ruffalo after she drowns herself to escape her abusive husband, General Sir Aubrey Blessington, played by Willem Dafoe. The film follows Bella’s exploits as she becomes a socialite, a suffragette, and a serial killer while being pursued by her former husband and his cronies.
The film, which was released on October 6, 2023, by Searchlight Pictures, received acclaim for its satirical and surreal tone, its inventive and grotesque visuals, its sharp and witty dialogue, and its stellar and hilarious performances by the lead actors. The film earned seven nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Emma Stone, and Best Supporting Actor for Mark Ruffalo.
Maestro is a musical drama that explores the life and work of Leonard Bernstein, played by Bradley Cooper, from his rise to fame as the conductor of the New York Philharmonic to his marriage to actress Felicia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan, to his collaborations with musical legends such as Stephen Sondheim, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, and Maria Callas, played by Lady Gaga. The film also delves into Bernstein’s struggles, such as his sexuality, his politics, and his health.
The film, which was released on December 22, 2023, by Netflix, received applause for its sweeping and emotional story, its rich and diverse musical score, its lavish and elegant costumes and sets, and its superb and passionate performances by the lead actors. The film earned seven nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Bradley Cooper, Best Actress for Carey Mulligan, and Best Original Score.
Other Notable Films and Performances of the Year
The rest of the best picture nominees were American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers, Past Lives, and The Zone of Interest, each with four nominations. American Fiction, directed by Barry Jenkins, is a historical drama that imagines an alternate history of the United States, where slavery was never abolished and a civil war erupts in the 21st century. Anatomy of a Fall, directed by Justine Triet, is a psychological thriller that follows a woman, played by Sandra Hüller, who suffers a mysterious fall from a balcony and tries to piece together the events that led to it. The Holdovers, directed by David O. Russell, is a comedy-drama that centers on a group of misfits, led by Paul Giamatti, who are stuck in a high school during a snowstorm on New Year’s Eve. Past Lives, directed by Noah Baumbach, is a romantic comedy that revolves around a couple, played by Teo Yoo and Greta Lee, who discover that they have been reincarnated multiple times and have always found each other. The Zone of Interest, directed by Jonathan Glazer, is a war drama that depicts the love affair between a Nazi officer, played by Daniel Brühl, and the wife of the camp commandant, played by Alicia Vikander, at Auschwitz.
Some of the notable performances that were recognized in the acting categories were Annette Bening as the first woman to swim across the English Channel in Nyad, Colman Domingo as the civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Rustin, Jodie Foster as the astronaut Sally Ride in Nyad, Robert Pattinson as the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in Napoleon, and Zendaya as the singer and activist Nina Simone in Nina.
The Academy Celebrates Diversity and Inclusion in the Film Industry
The 2024 Oscar nominations also reflected the Academy’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the film industry, following the criticism and controversy that surrounded the previous editions of the awards. The Academy had announced new eligibility criteria and representation standards for the best picture category, as well as initiatives to increase the diversity of its membership and leadership.
This year, the nominees for the Oscars were more diverse and inclusive than ever before, with a record number of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and international artists being recognized for their achievements in filmmaking. Among the historic milestones were the first nominations for Native American actors Lily Gladstone and Wes Studi, the first nomination for a transgender actor Laverne Cox, the first nomination for South Korean actor Song Kang-ho, and the first nomination for a female composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.
The Academy also honored the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in August 2023, with a posthumous nomination for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, making him the eighth actor to receive a nomination after his death.
The winners of the 96th Academy Awards will be revealed on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, in a ceremony that promises to be a celebration of the art and diversity of cinema.
