2027 Oscar race begins

The 2027 Oscar race has officially begun, with the major film festivals of the year now concluded and the key contenders for the awards season identified. Several films have already been ruled out due to box-office failures, but the remaining contenders are set to dominate Hollywood for the next few months, with the Oscar ceremony scheduled for March 14, 2027.

Nolan's The Odyssey leads the pack

The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the uncontested favorite. Nolan's previous film, Oppenheimer, secured 13 nominations and 7 awards at the 2024 Oscars, including best film. The Odyssey is an ambitious adaptation of Homer's epic, backed by a star-studded cast and generating over a billion dollars at the box office.

McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine makes waves

Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh, is a politically engaged tragicomedy starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA agents causing chaos on Easter Island in the 1970s. McDonagh's previous works have accumulated 17 nominations and two wins, and this film is a serious contender in the best film category.

Wilde's The Invitation challenges expectations

The Invitation, directed by Olivia Wilde, is an erotic and unrestrained comedy with a modest budget of 15 million dollars. Despite its small scale, it is an outsider in the race for awards, with potential nominations for best film, best direction, and best actress for Wilde and leading actress.

Lord and Miller's Project Last Chance thrives

Project Last Chance, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is a science fiction saga with nearly 700 million dollars in revenue. The film, which centers on a teacher on an impossible extraterrestrial mission, could be nominated for best adapted screenplay and several technical categories.

Calvo and Ambrossi's The Black Ball shines

The Black Ball, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, is a sumptuous period film that moves between different eras to weave interconnected queer narratives. The film made a sensation at Cannes and won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Eisenberg's The Debut sparks debate

The Debut, directed by Jesse Eisenberg, is a surreal musical comedy that has generated mixed reviews. Julianne Moore's performance as a New Jersey housewife finding a new lease of life by joining an amateur theater group has been praised, and she could be in contention for best actress.

Guadagnino's Artificial tackles tech themes

Artificial, directed by Luca Guadagnino, is a thriller rooted in the tech world, focusing on Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The film's path to theatrical release was tumultuous, with the original distributor, Amazon, abandoning the project.

Fielder and Oppenheim's You Can See Everything breaks norms

You Can See Everything, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, is a documentary that follows the story of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, in the weeks preceding her incarceration. The film has received enthusiastic critical reception and could become the first non-fiction film in history to be nominated in the best film category.

Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three concludes the saga

Dune: Part Three, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is the concluding part of the space saga. The previous parts of the series earned numerous nominations and awards, and this final part could be in contention for best film, best director, and various technical categories.

Mungiu's Fjord explores cultural clashes

Fjord, directed by Cristian Mungiu, is a thriller that follows a Romanian, Christian, conservative family that settles in Norway and clashes with the suspicion of its new, tightly-knit community. The film is a harsh and disorienting work, morally ambiguous and emotionally devastating.

Stone's Elsinore highlights LGBTQ+ themes

Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone, is a Shakespearean melodrama featuring Andrew Scott in a transcendent performance as actor Ian Charleson, who played Hamlet on the stage of the National Theatre while gradually being consumed by AIDS.

Barker's Obsession defies genre norms

Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, is a horror film starring Inde Navarrette in a complete and terrifying performance. The film is a wildly entertaining example of what the future of cinema could be, with 500 million dollars in revenue for a budget under a million.

Firstman's Club Kid wins hearts

Club Kid, directed by Jordan Firstman, is a cheerful comedy that follows a 30-something partygoer suddenly forced to take care of a son he didn't know he had. The film generated almost unanimous enthusiasm upon its presentation at Cannes and could be nominated for best original screenplay and best film.