Even before many have been released, several movies, directors, and actor performances are already predicted to receive nods at the 2024 Oscars.
Summary
- The 2024 Oscars are expected to continue the trend of recognizing diverse genres and performances, following the success of the 2023 Oscars.
- Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Bradley Cooper, Greta Gerwig, Ridley Scott, and Yorgos Lanthimos are frontrunners for Best Director nominations based on their 2023 projects.
- Actors & actresses such as Cillian Murphy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaquin Phoenix, Colman Domingo, Emma Stone, and Margot Robbie are predicted to receive nominations for their 2023 movie performances.
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Though the end of 2023 is quickly approaching, there are plenty of exciting performances, directorial efforts, and movies that are already predicted to receive nods at the 2024 Oscars. The nominees and winners at the 2023 Oscars largely offered a fresh change to the Academy’s voting history in relation to genre and diversity, especially with the history made with winners in the acting categories like Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. The 2024 Oscars are expected to follow a similar path, as the slate of 2023 movies features numerous highly-regarded stories and performances that aren’t apt to be forgotten.
Although it’s too early to accurately predict winners at the 2024 Oscars, several films, their stars, and their directors are already front-runners for nominations based on their genres, history at the Academy Awards, film festival outcomes, and anticipation. Though some predicted nominees like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Past Lives have already seen their world premieres in 2023, the rest of the year will bring several more prestigious films that are strong Oscars contenders. With less than a year remaining until the 96th Academy Awards ceremony, there are 34 potential nominees in the directing, acting, and best picture categories from acclaimed 2023 movies that already have good chances of earning recognition at the 2024 Oscars.
34 Martin Scorsese – Best Director
Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is tied with Steven Spielberg for the most directing nominations at the Oscars with nine nods, but he could pull ahead at the 2024 Oscars. Scorsese’s upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the most highly anticipated films of 2023, marking the director’s sixth feature film collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. Given the fact that Scorsese has received a Best Director nomination at the Oscars for each of his film collaborations with DiCaprio except Shutter Island, October 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon is likely to earn him another one. If Martin Scorsese scores a Best Director nomination at the 2024 Oscars, he’ll have been recognized in the category 10 times.
33 Christopher Nolan – Best Director
Despite having directed some of the most successful films of the 21st century, Christopher Nolan’s first and only Best Director Oscar nomination was for Dunkirk in 2018. Admittedly, Dunkirk fit better with the Academy’s voting trends as a war film, whereas the Oscars had been less inclined to award sci-fi thrillers and superhero movies in big categories until more recently. However, Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed biographical drama has been lauded early on as one of the greatest movies of 2023, with significant praise for Oppenheimer‘s chilling ending, stacked A-list cast, visuals, technical achievements, and Nolan’s ambitious direction. Not only could Oppenheimer give Christopher Nolan his second nomination for Best Director at the 2024 Oscars, but it could also seal his first win.
32 Bradley Cooper – Best Director
Director-writer-actor Bradley Cooper is predicted to receive a Best Director nomination at the 2024 Oscars for his upcoming movie Maestro. The film is Cooper’s follow-up to his 2018 directorial debut A Star Is Born, which was nominated for Best Picture and earned Cooper a Best Actor nod, but was snubbed of a Best Director nomination. In another musically-inclined drama, Cooper’s work as the director, writer, and star of Maestro is expected to finally earn him a nomination for Best Director at the 2024 Oscars. The Academy loves films about real people, so Cooper pulling off the Leonard Bernstein biopic almost guarantees Oscars recognition.
31 Greta Gerwig – Best Director
After being nominated at the 2018 Oscars for her directorial debut Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig was notably snubbed of a Best Director nomination at the 2020 Oscars for her adaptation of Little Women. Her lack of a nomination continued the Oscars’ problematic history of shutting women out of the Best Director category, but Gerwig is slated to make a comeback at the 2024 Oscars with Barbie. Serving as the writer-director of the critically acclaimed box office sensation Barbie, Gerwig’s big-budget project has paid off with strong potential for awards recognition. As one of the most acclaimed female directors in Hollywood, Gerwig is predicted to receive a nod for the Barbie movie, perhaps becoming the fourth woman in history to win the Best Director Oscar.
30 Ridley Scott – Best Director
Acclaimed director Ridley Scott is predicted to make a comeback at the 2024 Oscars for his highly anticipated November 2023 biographical drama Napoleon, which depicts the rise to power of infamous French leader Napoleon Bonaparte. Starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is expected to redeem the 2022 Oscars snubs for his historical movie The Last Duel. Scott hasn’t been nominated for Best Director at the Oscars since Black Hawk Down in 2002, but Napoleon is shaping up to break this disappointing 21-year streak.
29 Yorgos Lanthimos – Best Director
Also in the predicted running for Best Director at the 2024 Oscars is Yorgos Lanthimos, who is at the helm of the critically acclaimed, Venice Film Festival award-winning movie Poor Things. Lanthimos’ previous movies have already received their fair share of nods at the Academy Awards, including Dogtooth, The Lobster, and The Favourite. After The Favourite earned him a Best Director nomination in 2019, it seems Poor Things will follow suit at the 2024 Oscars, as Lanthimos has received substantial praise for his direction and screenplay of the 2023 black comedy fantasy film.
28 Cillian Murphy – Best Actor
Although Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy has been lauded as one of Hollywood’s most talented film and TV actors, he has yet to receive an Emmy or Oscar nomination. However, this is set to change at the 2024 Oscars due to his title performance in Christopher Nolan’s July 2023 movie Oppenheimer. Murphy portrays real-life theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, AKA the “father of the atomic bomb.” The Academy is notable for often rewarding portrayals of real-life figures, with Murphy’s dramatic central performance in Oppenheimer’s accomplished ensemble cast setting him up to receive his first nomination for Best Actor at the 2024 Oscars.
27 Leonardo DiCaprio – Best Actor
While he didn’t score a nomination for his performance in the 2022 Best Picture nominee Don’t Look Up, Leonardo DiCaprio is expected to receive yet another acting nod at the Oscars for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. DiCaprio has been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar five times already, having won the award in 2016 for his portrayal of Hugh Glass in The Revenant. Two of DiCaprio’s other Best Actor nominations were for movies he made with Martin Scorsese, including The Aviator and The Wolf of Wall Street. As DiCaprio leads another true story adaptation from Scorsese in Killers of the Flower Moon, he’s predicted to earn a nomination for Best Actor at the 2024 Oscars.
26 Joaquin Phoenix – Best Actor
The 2020 Oscars’ Best Actor winner Joaquin Phoenix is starring in one of the most highly-anticipated 2023 movies that comes from Ridley Scott. Phoenix is playing the title role in Napoleon, which sees him team up with Scott for an epic biographical drama. If he seals the nod at the 2024 Academy Awards, Napoleon would mark Phoenix’s fourth Best Actor nomination at the Oscars, with the actor’s 2020 win for Joker suggesting the Academy will continue to recognize him in morally dubious roles. Though Napoleon doesn’t hit theaters until November 2023, the film is already making waves as the anticipation grows for Phoenix’s intense performance and Scott’s large-scale direction.
25 Colman Domingo – Best Actor
Also a front-runner for a Best Actor nomination at the 2024 Oscars is Colman Domingo for the upcoming musical adaptation of The Color Purple. Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film adaptation of The Color Purple was nominated for eleven awards at the 1986 Oscars, including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. In the 2023 film, Colman Domingo is portraying the antagonist Albert “Mister” Johnson, a role played by Danny Glover in the 1985 version. Domingo is already the recipient of an Emmy and has been nominated for Tony and Olivier awards, with The Color Purple potentially adding an Oscar nomination to his growing list of accolades.
24 Timothée Chalamet – Best Actor
Already considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, Timothée Chalamet could earn his second nomination in the Best Actor category at the 2024 Oscars. Though Dune: Part Two has been delayed to 2024, Chalemet will still be dominating the end of 2023 with his leading roles in the cast of Wonka, which could give him Oscars consideration as he tackles the origin story of the eccentric chocolate maker. Chalamet first nabbed a Best Actor nomination at the 2018 Oscars for Call Me by Your Name, with his title role in Paul King’s Wonka being slightly more likely to earn him his second than Dune: Part Two at the 2024 Academy Awards.
23 Margot Robbie – Best Actress
Oscar-nominated actress Margot Robbie is predicted to pick up another Academy Award nod for her title role in Greta Gerwig’s 2023 movie Barbie. Robbie received a nomination for Best Actress at the 2018 Oscars for her title role in I, Tonya, as well as a nod for Best Supporting Actress at the 2020 Oscars for Bombshell. Given the widespread acclaim for Barbie, particularly Robbie’s performance as the title doll, and Gerwig’s history of directing Oscar-nominated actress performances, Margot Robbie is predicted to receive her second nomination for Best Actress at the 2024 Oscars.
22 Carey Mulligan – Best Actress
Two-time Best Actress nominee Carey Mulligan is predicted to earn another nomination at the 2024 Oscars for her role in Bradley Cooper’s Maestro. In the upcoming 2023 biopic, Mulligan portrays real-life actress Felicia Montealegre, whose husband was Cooper’s character Leonard Bernstein. Similar to Blunt, Mulligan may have an advantage by playing a real person, especially one who was in the film industry. Mulligan is already a decorated actress, so her role in Oscar-nominated director Bradley Cooper’s Maestro is expected to add to her impressive list of accolades.
21 Fantasia Barrino – Best Actress
Given the fact that Whoopi Goldberg was nominated for Best Actress for the 1985 version, Fantasia Barrino is likely to earn a Best Actress nomination at the 2024 Oscars for playing Celie in the musical adaptation. While The Color Purple is Fantasia’s film debut, the Grammy-winning artist already played the role of Celie on Broadway during the show’s original production in 2007 and 2008. Since The Color Purple is centered around Celie’s story and Fantasia’s performance, she’s the most likely cast member to be recognized at the 2024 Oscars for her work in the 2023 movie.
20 Emma Stone – Best Actress
After winning Best Actress for La La Land in 2017, Emma Stone is likely to earn another nomination for Best Actress at the 2024 Academy Awards. Stone stars in Yorgos Lanthimos’ upcoming 2023 movie Poor Things, with the film’s success at the 2023 Venice Film Festival already earning Emma Stone resounding praise as one of her best performances yet. Considering Stone received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role in Lanthimos’ The Favourite, the director and actress’s next collaboration is likely to receive further Academy Awards recognition.
19 Sandra Hüller – Best Actress
Also in the early running for Best Actress at the 2024 Oscars is Sandra Hüller, who stars in Cannes 2023’s Palme D’or-winning movie Anatomy of a Fall. Winning the top award at Cannes, much of the praise for Anatomy of a Fall was directed at German actress Sandra Hüller. Not to mention that Hüller also starred in The Zone of Interest, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2023, the festival’s second-most prestigious award. Given Hüller’s main roles in two of 2023’s most accomplished movies thus far, it would be remiss for the Academy to not award her with a Best Actress nomination for Anatomy of a Fall or The Zone of Interest.
18 Cailee Spaeny – Best Actress
Following the premiere of A24’s movie Priscilla at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, Cailee Spaeny has risen to become a front-runner for a Best Actress nomination at the 2024 Oscars. For her portrayal of Elvis’ real-life former wife Priscilla Presley, Spaeny took home the coveted Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. In recent years, many of the actresses who won this award went on to receive nominations for the same performance at the Oscars, such as Cate Blanchett for Tár, Penélope Cruz for Parallel Mothers, and Olivia Colman for The Favourite. As such, relative newcomer Cailee Spaeny has a great chance of earning a Best Actress nod at the 2024 Oscars.
17 Ryan Gosling – Best Supporting Actor
Alongside Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling boasts a standout performance in Barbie as Ken, with many considering it one of the greatest and most committed performances of his career. Gosling is already a two-time Oscar nominee for Best Actor for his performances in Half Nelson and La La Land, with Barbie potentially giving him his first nod in the Best Supporting Actor category. Gosling’s earnest, hilarious, and complex role as Ken is already one of the best film performances of 2023, so it would be a shocking oversight for the actor to be snubbed of any recognition at the 2024 Oscars.
16 Robert Downey Jr. – Best Supporting Actor
Two-time Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr. is already receiving substantial buzz for 2024 Oscars consideration after his astounding performance in Oppenheimer. Downey portrays Lewis Strauss, the title character’s professional nemesis who seeks to strip J. Robert Oppenheimer of his security clearance as a personal vendetta. The antagonistic role plays brilliantly to Downey’s talents, which see him go toe-to-toe with other compelling performances by lead actor Cillian Murphy and supporting actor Alden Ehrenreich. Downey commands his relatively limited screen time throughout Oppenheimer‘s non-linear story, with Christopher Nolan’s movie giving the actor a persuasive case for Best Supporting Actor at the 2024 Oscars.
15 Robert De Niro – Best Supporting Actor
Robert De Niro collaborates with Martin Scorsese on the actor-director duo’s 10th feature film since 1973’s Mean Streets. Of these joint ventures, De Niro has received four Oscar nominations for acting, including a win in 1981 for Raging Bull. While De Niro was memorably snubbed of a Best Actor nomination for Scorsese’s The Irishman, this oversight isn’t apt to be repeated for Killers of the Flower Moon. De Niro portrays the villainous William Hale in Scorsese’s 2023 film, with the actor’s lauded performance earning him an early prediction for a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2024 Oscars.