The Oscars 2024: A Comprehensive Overview of the 96th Academy Awards Nominations

A Celebration of Cinematic Excellence

As the film industry’s most prestigious event, the Oscars returned in 2024 with its 96th edition, honoring the outstanding achievements in filmmaking from the past year. Hosted by Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid, the ceremony took place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the iconic Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Airing live on ABC and reaching over 200 territories worldwide, the Oscars celebrated the artistry, creativity, and technical expertise that bring exceptional cinematic experiences to life.

The Race for Best Picture: A Contender’s Showcase

The coveted Best Picture category saw a diverse lineup of films vying for the top prize. Among the nominees were “American Fiction,” a thought-provoking exploration of identity and the American dream; “Anatomy of a Fall,” a poignant drama delving into the complexities of love and loss; “Barbie,” a highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the iconic fashion doll; “The Holdovers,” a heartwarming and humorous portrayal of friendship and resilience; “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a captivating historical epic based on a true story; “Maestro,” a biographical drama chronicling the life of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein; “Oppenheimer,” a gripping biopic about the enigmatic physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer; “Past Lives,” a tender and introspective exploration of love and destiny; “Poor Things,” a darkly comedic tale of love, loss, and resurrection; and “The Zone of Interest,” a haunting drama set during the Holocaust.

Outstanding Performances: Recognizing Acting Excellence

In the acting categories, a stellar lineup of talented performers received nominations for their captivating portrayals. For Best Actor, Bradley Cooper garnered recognition for his transformative performance as Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro.” Colman Domingo delivered a powerful portrayal of Bayard Rustin, a civil rights leader, in “Rustin,” earning him a nomination for Best Actor. Paul Giamatti showcased his versatility in “The Holdovers,” securing a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of a reclusive writer. Cillian Murphy’s captivating performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer” earned him a Best Actor nod, while Jeffrey Wright received a nomination for his supporting role as Langston Hughes in “American Fiction.”

The Best Actress category featured Annette Bening’s tour-de-force performance as Maria Callas in “Nyad.” Lily Gladstone’s portrayal of Mollie Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon” earned her a nomination, while Sandra Hüller’s nuanced performance as Jeanne in “Anatomy of a Fall” garnered recognition. Carey Mulligan’s portrayal of Felicia Montealegre in “Maestro” and Emma Stone’s captivating performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things” rounded out the Best Actress nominees.

In the supporting categories, Sterling K. Brown’s powerful portrayal of Bayard Rustin in “American Fiction” earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Robert De Niro’s iconic presence in “Killers of the Flower Moon” as William Hale secured him a Best Supporting Actor nod. Robert Downey Jr.’s compelling performance as Lewis Strauss in “Oppenheimer” earned him a nomination, while Ryan Gosling’s charismatic portrayal of Ken in “Barbie” and Mark Ruffalo’s transformative performance as Gottfried Bauer in “Poor Things” completed the Best Supporting Actor lineup.

For Best Supporting Actress, Emily Blunt’s captivating performance as Kitty Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer” earned her a nomination. Danielle Brooks’ powerful portrayal of Sofia in “The Color Purple” garnered recognition, while America Ferrera’s comedic turn as Nikki in “Barbie” secured her a nomination. Jodie Foster’s nuanced performance as Maria Callas in “Nyad” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s heartfelt portrayal of Viv in “The Holdovers” completed the Best Supporting Actress nominees.

Animated Feature Films: A Realm of Creativity and Imagination

The Best Animated Feature Film category showcased the artistry and innovation of animation studios worldwide. “The Boy and the Heron,” a visually stunning tale of friendship between a young boy and a heron, earned a nomination. “Elemental,” a heartwarming story about the power of friendship and the elements, secured a spot among the nominees. “Nimona,” a captivating adventure about a young shapeshifter and a knight, received a nomination, while “Robot Dreams,” a thought-provoking exploration of consciousness and identity, and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed animated film, completed the Best Animated Feature Film lineup.

Technical Excellence: Honoring Craftsmanship and Artistry

In the technical categories, the Academy recognized the exceptional contributions of cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary filmmakers, editors, makeup artists, composers, production designers, sound engineers, and visual effects artists. Notable nominees included Edward Lachman for his stunning cinematography in “El Conde,” Rodrigo Prieto for his captivating visuals in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Matthew Libatique for his masterful work in “Maestro,” Hoyte van Hoytema for his immersive cinematography in “Oppenheimer,” and Robbie Ryan for his evocative visuals in “Poor Things.”

Jacqueline Durran’s intricate costume designs for “Barbie,” Jacqueline West’s historically accurate costumes for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Janty Yates and Dave Crossman’s elaborate costumes for “Napoleon,” Ellen Mirojnick’s elegant designs for “Oppenheimer,” and Holly Waddington’s imaginative costumes for “Poor Things” all earned nominations for Best Costume Design.

Justine Triet, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Jonathan Glazer competed for the Best Director award, recognizing their exceptional storytelling skills and visionary filmmaking. Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp, and John Battsek’s “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha’s “Four Daughters,” Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe, and David Oppenheim’s “To Kill a Tiger,” and Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, and Raney Aronson-Rath’s “20 Days in Mariupol” were among the nominees for Best Documentary Feature Film.

The Best Documentary Short Film category featured Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic’s “The ABCs of Book Banning,” John Hoffman and Christine Turner’s “The Barber of Little Rock,” S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien’s “Island in Between,” Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers’ “The Last Repair Shop,” and Sean Wang and Sam Davis’ “Nǎi Nǎi & WàI Pó.”

In the Best Film Editing category, Laurent Sénéchal’s precise work in “Anatomy of a Fall,” Kevin Tent’s skillful editing in “The Holdovers,” Thelma Schoonmaker’s legendary editing