Ten films compete for the coveted Best Picture award at 2023's All Quiet on the Western Front leading the race. While the Oscars are a celebration of all aspects of film, the iconic golden statue for Best Picture is easily the most coveted.
The Nope appearing to be snubbed. Nevertheless, ten smash-hit films have found themselves one step closer to taking home the award for Best Picture. The Rotten Tomatoes audience and critic scores not only provide insight into which Best Picture nominee might take home the trophy, but also show how the critics that decide awards and the audiences who enjoy movies more casually don't always agree.
All Quiet On The Western Front
Adapted from Erich Maria Remarque's 1929 novel, All Quiet on the Western Front follows a group of childhood friends who enlist in the Imperial German Army a year before the end of the First World War. Based on All Quiet on the Western Front is an epic film, focusing on Felix Kammerer's Paul Bäumer and detailing his story in the final days of the war. All Quiet on the Western Front released on Netflix on October 28, 2022, and has subsequently received nine nominations at the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Picture.
All Quiet on the Western Front's cast and crew of All Quiet on the Western Front at the Oscars ceremony.
Avatar: The Way Of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water released on December 16, 2022, reintroducing the world to Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their new family. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang return to Pandora in The Way of Water, complete with Cameron's remarkable visual effects and CGI work, which is particularly beautiful in underwater moments. Avatar: The Way of Water is up for four Academy Awards, including Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Picture.
The first of Avatar's sequels 92%, while critics have only curiously gifted The Way of Water only 77%. While the film is undeniably visually stunning, reviews have suggested that the plot was lacking, or that it was simply a revamped version of the storyline in the original film. This could spell bad news for Avatar: The Way of Water's Best Picture chances.
The Banshees Of Inisherin
Martin McDonagh graces the cinema screen for the first time since 2017's Irish Civil War, The Banshees of Inisherin details the unusual story of lifelong friends Colm (Gleeson) and Pádraic (Farrell), at a point when the former suddenly decides he no longer wants to be friends. McDonagh's most recent tragicomedy is up for eight Academy Awards, including two in the Best ing Actor category, and Best Picture.
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes seemed to enjoy The Banshees of Inisherin more than audiences, as critics awarded the film a whopping 97%, while audiences only scored the film 76%. It seems the slow pace and tragic storyline might have alienated some audiences, who were perhaps expecting a happy ending that never truly materialized. The score, cinematography, and the performances from Farrell and Gleeson have been praised by critics, so The Banshees of Inisherin could be in for some big wins at the Oscars ceremony.
Elvis
Austin Butler leads the cast in Elvis is up for eight Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Actor for Austin Butler. Whileh the film did receive some criticism upon its June 2022 release, the Presley family themselves praised the film and the depictions of their lost loved one.
Critic scrutiny is reflected in the 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rated Elvis a brilliant 94%. Critics scrutinized Hanks' performance and found the choice to tell the story from his character's perspective unusual and potentially problematic, with reviewer more keen to see Baz Luhrmann's energy and charisma injected into the captivating performer himself. Elvis has some big competition at the 95th Academy Awards, so only time will tell if it will take home some awards.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All at Once is leading the Oscars nominations race with a monumental eleven nominations, including Best Actress in a Leading Role, two for Best ing Actress, Best Director for the Daniels, and Best Picture. Released on March 25, 2022, Everything Everywhere All at Once proved that the concept of the multiverse is hot on everyone's minds, though other multiverse films including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness didn't manage to acquire any nominations at the Oscars. Everything Everywhere All at Once is a fan-favorite to take home a slew of Academy Awards.
While critics on Everything Everywhere All at Once's cast, including Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan, have received ubiquitous acclaim, so there's no doubt that Everything Everywhere All at Once will do very well at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony. It's very possible that this Russo brothers-produced film could take home that coveted Best Picture award.
The Fabelmans
Released on November 11, 2022, Michelle Williams as Mitzi, Judd Hirsch, and Spielberg himself for Best Director. After winning the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama as well as Best Director, The Fabelmans could do very well at the Oscars ceremony.
Similarly to Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fabelmans' critics awarded the film a slightly higher score of 92%, compared to the audience score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Spielberg's ability to dig into his own history and explore what made him such a legendary filmmaker has been praised by critics, proving that he hasn't lost his magic touch, and the performances from the whole cast have also received a huge amount of love. It seems The Fabelmans could be very popular at the 95th Academy Awards in March 2023.
Tár
Cate Blanchett leads Todd Field's confrontationally slow psychological drama, Lydia Tár, a fictional character, but a world-renowned composer and conductor. Tár details Lydia's downfall as her unconventional methods and secrets from her past come back to haunt her. The American Film Institute named Tár one of the top ten films of the year, while the film has received the name of "Best Picture of the Year" by several publications, including Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, and Indie Wire. Nominated for a total of six Academy Awards, Tár could be a surprise hit at March's ceremony.
Critics on Lydia is a villain or victim, Tár might be the most societally significant film from recent memory.
Top Gun: Maverick
Until the release of Avatar: The Way of Water, Top Gun: Maverick was the highest-grossing film of 2022, so it came as no surprise when Joseph Kosinski's sequel was nominated for six awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture. The sequel to Tony Scott's 1986 film, Top Gun, Maverick reintroduced audiences to Tom Cruise's Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell over 30 years after graduating from Top Gun. Top Gun: Maverick is widely regarded as far better to the original film, drawing in not only new audiences, but also nostalgic fans of the original.
The extremely high Top Gun: Maverick's action sequences, which held onto that good old-fashioned feel of the original, while still delivering a story that expands the franchise further. Over three decades after the release of the original Top Gun, many had resigned themselves to never seeing a sequel, but Maverick's monumental success suggests that further sequels could be on the cards for the franchise.
Triangle Of Sadness
A satirical black comedy from Robert Östlund, Triangle of Sadness follows the story of a celebrity couple on a luxury cruise with an array of other wealthy guests. The film released in theaters on October 28, 2022, after screening across Europe and it's initial premiere at Cannes in May 2022, receiving generally positive reviews, but nothing out-of-this-world. It came as something of a shock to viewers to see Triangle of Sadness nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, though Triangle of Sadness' dramatic ending and Dolly De Leon's performance as cleaner Abigail have received international praise.
The Rotten Tomatoes scores for Triangle of Sadness perhaps dash any hopes of Östlund's film taking home any awards at the 95th Academy Awards. Critics scored the film at only 72%, and audiences seemed to be on the same page with a score of 73%. Audiences praised Triangle of Sadness for its intriguing premise and sharp edges, but felt that the storyline was lacking because of the execution. It seems that Triangle of Sadness is the underdog in the running for Best Picture, but only time will tell what the outcome will be.
Women Talking
Released on December 23, 2023, Women Talking tells a harrowing true story, as seven women of the Colony come together to discuss their options in the wake of a horrific revelation. Women Talking has been praised for its screenplay and Polley's direction, and the performances from the core cast have received critical acclaim, earning the film two nominations at the 95th Academy Awards, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gifted Women Talking 90%, while audiences have rated the film at 87%, reflecting a strong response to the film across the board. While some have stated that it lacks in entertainment value, it undoubtedly conveys its message effectively. The fact is, Women Talking speaks about an important event that carries an incredibly prevalent message in today's society, so its two Academy Award nominations were certainly well deserved. The Oscars will take place on March 12, 2023, and for one of these ten brilliant films, it'll be a night the filmmakers will never forget.
