The race for the Oscars' coveted visual effects category is heating up as the Academy's Visual Effects Branch announced its 2024 shortlist. This year's list features 17 films from a variety of genres and studios, showcasing groundbreaking artistry and innovation. With fierce competition, the shortlist offers a glimpse into the top contenders for one of the most anticipated categories at the 97th Academy Awards.
Seventeen out of twenty films that qualified for the Visual Effects shortlist have been disclosed. Dominating the lineup are Warner Bros. Pictures and Disney, each with four entries, followed by Paramount Pictures with three. Universal Pictures and Sony Pictures contributed two titles each, while Netflix and A24 secured one spot apiece.
According to Variety, the shortlist voting is scheduled for this week. While the Academy hasn't officially commented on the selections, here are the films reportedly making the cut:
- “Alien: Romulus” (20th Century Studios)
- “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.)
- “Better Man” (Paramount Pictures)
- “Civil War” (A24)
- “Deadpool and Wolverine” (Marvel Studios)
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.)
- “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (Warner Bros.)
- “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (Sony Pictures)
- “Gladiator II” (Paramount Pictures)
- “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (Warner Bros.)
- “Here” (Sony Pictures)
- “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (20th Century Studios)
- “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Pictures)
- “A Quiet Place: Day One” (Paramount Pictures)
- “Spaceman” (Netflix)
- “Twisters” (Universal Pictures)
- “Wicked” (Universal Pictures)
The shortlist notably excludes high-profile projects like Nosferatu, Blitz, Queer, If, Kraven the Hunter, Argylle, Venom: The Last Dance, Unstoppable, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, and Megalopolis.
The next steps in the selection process include narrowing the field to 10 finalists, with announcements set for December 17. The Visual Effects Branch will then vote to select five nominees, to be revealed in January 2024. Winners will be announced at the Oscars ceremony later next year.
The 2024 Oscars visual effects shortlist highlights an exciting mix of blockbuster hits and visually stunning narratives. From sci-fi spectacles like Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire to the highly anticipated Wicked, this year's contenders promise an unforgettable awards season. As the competition intensifies, the focus now shifts to which films will secure nominations and ultimately take home the golden statue.
My Impressions: The shortlist showcases the incredible evolution of visual effects in storytelling. Titles like Dune: Part Two and Furiosa reflect the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology with narrative depth. While some omissions, such as Rebel Moon: Part Two, are surprising, the selections emphasize the Academy's preference for a balance of commercial and artistic merits. I'm particularly intrigued by the inclusion of Civil War from A24, signaling the branch's openness to diverse genres.
Which film on the visual effects shortlist do you think will dominate this year's Oscars? Do you believe any major titles were unfairly excluded? Share your thoughts below!
