Now that the Academy Awards for 2022 are over, we can finally relax for a few months until we have to think about doing it all over again, right? Wrong! For true cinema fans, the road to the 2023 Oscars begins now.
Last year, while several award-winning films premiered at the end of the year, during the first half of this year, a number of potential contenders emerged. This year's buzzy titles, such as "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Top Gun: Maverick" are already being lauded as early candidates for the awards season. But there are also numerous highly anticipated contenders that will be released in the second half of the year like "Avatar: The Way Of Water", "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever",...
Read on for our list of 9 (very early) Oscar candidates for the awards season. Could we have predicted at this time last year that Jane Campion's new Western, Kenneth Branagh's film about his hometown, and the Sundance sensation about a child of deaf adults would be awarded? Maybe not. But perhaps this time we can do it this time?
#1 Top Gun: Maverick (Release dates: April 28)
This year, "Top Gun: Maverick" may be the major film that propels it to even greater heights at the Academy Awards. Maverick (Tom Cruise) returns to the "Top Gun" program to train a new generation of pilots, including Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his deceased best friend Goose. "Top Gun: Maverick" might follow in the footsteps of "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Dune," sweeping the craft categories at the 2023 Academy Awards. The film should at the very least be a strong contender in the Sound and Editing categories, with Visual Effects, Cinematography, and Original Song for Lady Gaga's "Hold My Hand" also being possibilities.
#2 Everything Everywhere All At Once (Release dates: March 11)
"Everything Everywhere All at Once" is about a lady (Michelle Yeoh) who must connect with alternative versions of herself in order to prevent a powerful creature from destroying the multiverse. "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was universally lauded by critics because of the script's creativity and production values. Yeoh's performance, as well as that of her co-star Ke Huy Quan, received high appreciation. The film was also a financial triumph for A24, becoming the studio's highest-grossing domestic effort, which bodes well for its Oscar chances. Yeoh might get her first Oscar nomination, and there's a good chance the film will be nominated for Best Picture.
#3 Killers Of The Flower Moon (Release dates: November)
Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese will reunite for the sixth time in "Killers of the Flower Moon". Based on a real-life story, the film will follow a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma, committed after the discovery of oil on tribal lands. It only takes a glance at the talent of the cast to realize this is definitely a formidable opponent for the Oscar. Many people believe "Killers of the Flower Moon" will win Best Picture at the 2023 Academy Awards.
#4 The Fabelmans (Release dates: November 23)
It's not uncommon for well-known directors to make semi-autobiographical films. Steven Spielberg is following in the footsteps of Alfonso Cuarón and Kenneth Branagh, who both won Oscars for their personal black-and-white masterpieces, "Roma" and "Belfast" respectively. "The Fabelmans" is a loose adaptation of Spielberg's childhood from the ages of seven to eighteen. In the film, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and Paul Dano will play Spielberg's mother, uncle, and father. Spielberg's involvement and close ties to the film will make it a certain Oscar contender. Williams and Rogen will have a good chance of receiving supporting actor nods, and the film might easily win Best Picture.
#5 Cha Cha Real Smooth (June 17)
This year, the indie film breakout seems to be Cooper Raiff's comedy-drama "Cha Cha Real Smooth". The plot follows Andrew (Raiff), a bar mitzvah party host, and his developing relationship with a mother (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic daughter (Vanessa Burghardt). The movie received positive notices for Raiff's direction and screenplay. "Cha Cha Real Smooth" has the potential to follow in the footsteps of previous beloved comedies that have gotten several Oscar nominations.
#6 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11)
"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" will address Chadwick Boseman's terrible death and what it means for Black Panther's legacy. The storyline is still being kept under wraps, despite the film's November 11 release date. The story's emotional impact will help to create a compelling narrative that might earn
Marvel Studios another Best Picture nomination. The film's director, Ryan Coogler, is a proven talent, so this film is highly expected.
#7 Babylon (Release dates: December 25)
"Babylon" is Damian Chazelle's highly anticipated follow-up to Oscar-winner "La La Land." Diego Calva, Margot Robbie, and Brad Pitt feature in this historical drama. The plot is yet unknown, but the movie will take set during Hollywood's Golden Age, and Robbie and Pitt will portray Clara Bow and John Gilbert, respectively. Because of Chazelle's participation and the major performers, it's a sure chance to get several craft category awards. And might earn Robbie an Oscar and Tobey Maguire will have a chance to be recognized by the Academy.
#8 Avatar: The Way Of Water (Release dates: December 16)
It seems like a fool's errand to bet against James Cameron, who is an Oscar favorite. This year, the famed director finally returns with "Avatar: The Way of Water", the sequel to his smash-hit Avatar. The Sully family will be followed in the sequel, which will be set ten years after the original. The first Avatar was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won three of them. The sequel began production in 2017, and it was shot concurrently with the franchise's third installment. Furthermore, Cameron is a renowned filmmaker who has never helmed a bad picture; the odds appear to be stacked in favor of "Avatar: The Way of Water".
#9 The Whale (No Confirmed Release Date)
Darren Aronofsky will return this year with a film adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter's play "The Whale". After abandoning his seventeen-year-old daughter (Sadie Sink, one of Stranger Things' many breakout actors), Charlie (Brendan Fraser) tries to reconnect with her after years apart. Aronofsky isn't always sure when it comes to award success, but if critics appreciate the film, Fraser and Sink might get their first acting nods.