Anna Daniels
The competition for the Oscars’ visual effects category is ramping up with the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch unveiling its 2024 shortlist. This year, 17 films representing a range of genres and production studios are highlighted, demonstrating remarkable creativity and skill. The shortlist provides insight into the prime candidates for a major award at the 97th Academy Awards.
Out of the 20 eligible films, 17 have been revealed. Warner Bros. Pictures and Disney lead the pack with four nominations each, while Paramount Pictures follows closely with three. Universal Pictures and Sony Pictures each have two entries, and Netflix and A24 have one film on the list.
As reported by Variety, voting for the shortlist is happening this week. Although the Academy hasn’t released official comments yet, the films making the shortlist include:
- “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)
Notably absent from the shortlist are high-profile films such as Nosferatu, Blitz, Queer, If, Kraven the Hunter, Argylle, Venom: The Last Dance, Unstoppable, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, and Megalopolis.
The upcoming steps involve narrowing this list down to 10 finalists, with announcements expected on December 17. Following that, the Visual Effects Branch will vote to choose five nominees, which will be disclosed in January 2024. The winners will be revealed during the Oscars ceremony next year.
This year’s visual effects shortlist presents a thrilling mix of blockbuster films and visually captivating stories. From science fiction hits like Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire to the much-anticipated Wicked, the contenders are set to make this awards season memorable. As the rivalry heats up, attention will soon turn to which films will earn nominations and vie for the prestigious award.
My Thoughts: The shortlist reflects the impressive progress of visual effects in modern storytelling. Titles such as Dune: Part Two and Furiosa showcase the integration of advanced technology with strong storytelling. While some notable films, like Rebel Moon: Part Two, are surprisingly missing, the selections reveal the Academy’s inclination towards a combination of commercial success and artistic achievement. I’m particularly interested in Civil War from A24, indicating the branch’s willingness to embrace different genres.
Which film from the visual effects shortlist do you believe will excel at this year’s Oscars? Do you think any significant titles were left off the list? Share your views in the comments!
