I’m a fan of movies in the most casual way possible. Cinephile? I don’t know her. As long as I have excessively buttered popcorn and a large ICEE while reclining in one of those cushy AMC theater chairs on a $5 movie Tuesday, I am as happy as a clam. And, I quite literally think that the Pitch Perfect franchise is peak cinema. With those things being said, I believe I am a very qualified candidate to give a definitive ranking of the best picture nominations at this year’s Academy Awards. Kidding! Kind of.
It’s hard to find any sort of rankings or reviews for highly acclaimed films from the perspective of your average movie-goer. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the importance of a more in-depth analysis done by a legitimate film critic—films of this caliber deserve to be appreciated in that way. But if you’re like me and just want to tune in to see what all of the hype is about and have some sense of agency while tuning in to the awards on March 2nd (and have an excuse to snag that movie theater popcorn, obviously), I have you covered. I watched all 10 of this year’s Best Picture nominations, and I’m here to give the 411 of someone who did not go to film school. Mind you, these are simply my opinions—so take them with a generous grain of salt. While I think they’re all worth giving a watch, here’s my definitive ranking as someone who is far from being a movie snob:
10. Emilia Pérez
To be candid, I could write a dissertation about my feelings toward this movie, so I’m gonna do my best to keep it short. Aside from the controversy surrounding the film and its cast alone, it is, for lack of a better phrase, comically horrible. I appreciate its willingness to tackle intense subject matter, but the execution fell painfully short. The pacing is very rushed, I felt like there were 57 plot holes I was still confused about by the end, and there was actually no need to make it a musical. I probably could have composed the soundtrack with GarageBand, a Redbull, and a dream. The fact that it received the most nominations out of any film this year is… puzzling. I will say that Zoe Saldaña gives a solid performance as a supporting actress, but that’s about the only thing that stood out to me. Long story short, I would be disappointed to see this film take home any Academy Awards, given what it’s up against.
9. Dune: Part 2
Dune sits here on my list purely because I am not a sci-fi girl in the slightest. For context, I have never watched Star Trek, Star Wars, or most movies within that realm, so give me grace. Even though it wasn’t really my gig, I can acknowledge that it’s a solid film with an amazing cast (hiiii Zendaya), insane special effects, and ten-out-of-ten sound production. Like, it felt like I was actually in Jordan and not my neighborhood AMC. I’d recommend watching if sci-fi/fantasy thrillers speak to you (if they do, you’ve definitely already seen this, but the sentiment remains), but in terms of Best Picture, let’s pack it up, Atreides.
8. Wicked
DON’T KILL ME! LET ME SPEAK! On its own, I have a soft spot for this movie because I have long loved the musical since I was a little kid. Seeing it portrayed on the big screen was a magically nostalgic experience, but overall, it didn’t live up to my personal expectations. Ariana Grande’s entire performance was fabulous (fingers crossed for her Best Supporting Actress win), Cynthia Erivo’s vocals blew my f*cking mind, the set design was jaw-dropping, and God, I just love Johnathan Bailey. However, if we’re talking about the full package for Best Picture, I don’t think it competes. Some of the casting choices were a little odd (all love to my girl Michelle Yeoh, but she just cannot carry a tune), a lot of the scenes felt drawn out or unnecessary, and some of the CGI was so rough I was literally thinking, “How did this make the final cut?” It’s a fun watch, and I understand the universal hype, but it’s far from groundbreaking.
7. The Brutalist
This placement was the main reason I prefaced in the intro that these are simply my opinions. This film was made for cinephiles, and that I am far from. It is long, dense, complex, and takes a lot of brain power to get through. I don’t think any of those things make it a “bad” movie at all—just more difficult for me to personally enjoy. Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones deliver fantastic performances (but I still don’t know where I stand on using AI to fix their Hungarian accents) and could very well win their respective categories, and the cinematography is gorg. I just think it boils down to the fact that I was not the target audience for this movie. I could see how people who are really into historical fiction think this deserves to sweep, but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the other nominees. A random side fact: I assumed the whole time that this was based on a true story, but apparently, the filmmakers went out of their way to make sure they were not emulating anyone real at any point in history, which I thought was fascinating. All things considered, I think it is very well made, but it is just not for me.
6. A Complete Unknown
Let it be known that I am a Timothée Chalamet stan until death do us part, so I knew I was going to enjoy this before I even entered the theater. I also am a big fan of both Bob Dylan and Joan Baez’s (Monica Barabra your performance was fab, girl) music and grew up listening to them, so I, like, really knew I would enjoy it. Regardless, the movie just fell into the middle of the pack for me. It was an enjoyable watch, and I couldn’t get over how they sang and played everything live with all of the main actors having no prior music experience, but besides that, I left my viewing confidently, logging three stars on my Letterboxd. I will say that I’m obsessed with A) real-life Bob Dylan’s refusal to acknowledge the movie’s existence beyond one vague tweet and B) the depiction of a diabolical situationship in a critically acclaimed film.
5. Nickel Boys
I feel like I have not seen enough people talking about this movie, given how amazing it is. So many aspects of it are breathtaking: the acting, cinematography, story, and message are all beautiful yet simultaneously heartbreaking. I’ll be honest, it is devastating, but how it portrays standing up for justice in the face of oppression and carrying on the fight for those who paved the way before you make it a must-watch. It’s crucial that films like this are made, as they make us face our real American history that often gets swept under the rug or watered down in history books. A review I read about the film worded it perfectly: it doesn’t hold your hand at all. It’s a hard watch, but an important one. All that said, you should see this movie, but I don’t think it should win Best Picture.
4. The Substance
I have never known an experience quite like going to see this movie with a group of my girlfriends in a theater full of fellow women. It ended in us all sitting there in silence for a minute once the end credits started rolling before anyone moved. It tackles such a powerful and inexplicably important message—women lose value as we age and our bodies change. It’s squirmy, gore-y, bloody, and very uncomfortable, just like how it feels to constantly try to adhere to whatever the beauty standard of the day is. It’s a body horror movie for a very good reason. Demi Moore is getting her flowers for her starring role this awards season—as she should. And when you consider the cinematography, soundtrack, and every other component as well, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind movie everyone should watch (even if you don’t stomach this kind of graphic stuff very well, please give it a go).
3. Anora
Out of my top 3 films, I would give this one the award for Most Entertaining Watch. It is a wild goose chase of a fever dream, filled with blunt dialogue and unfiltered improv that almost give the vibe of a gritty, R-rated sitcom. It never slows down for even a second, but it doesn’t feel rushed and is paced perfectly. You are laughing and on the edge of your seat for so much of it while it simultaneously touches on themes of class divides, privilege, and the misuse of power and status. It truly was the best of both worlds: hilarious but painfully relevant. Mikey Madison put her entire soul into that Brooklyn accent, and I developed an incredibly deep-rooted crush on Yuriy Borisov thanks to his portrayal of Igor. Anora, I love you!
2. Conclave
I went into this assuming it would be a bit on the slower side and not very exciting, but I was legitimately on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It is such a fascinating concept for a film, as I had never even thought about what the ins and outs of electing a new pope entails. Lowkey, if you love gossip, you’ll eat this up. All of the cardinals are gabbing left and right about who has committed which sins in hopes of sabotaging each other’s shots of being selected, and it’s giving Catholic sorority recruitment. But in all seriousness, the overarching concept of what type of person, if any, can be deemed “untouchable” or held to the highest standard of humanity is so engrossing to sit with and think about. Is the Pope this all-mighty being, or is it important to be in touch with all of humanity’s imperfections? Who can really understand the space between polarizing opinions within the church?
On top of the stellar acting (I love you, Stanley Tucci), seamless pacing, and gorgeous cinematography, this movie did what amazing ones should do: left me thinking, but not wondering. I will leave you with a quote from the main character that made me pause and write it down in my notes: “Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand-in-hand with doubt. If there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery. And therefore no need for faith. Let us pray that God will grant us a Pope who doubts. And let him grant us a Pope who sins and asks for forgiveness and who carries on.”
1. I’m Still Here
Picture this: I go to a 10 PM viewing of this movie solely to check it off my Oscars watchlist, not really knowing anything about it and expecting something very middle-of-the-pack because I haven’t heard a ton of buzz in mainstream media. But then, it ended up being the only thing I talked about for three days following. Just…woah. I’m Still Here is the kind of film that lingers long after the credits roll—a masterpiece that truly deserves Oscar recognition in every way.
At its core, it’s a raw and unflinching portrayal of a woman forced to step up after her husband is unjustly taken by the government, navigating the impossible weight of grief while holding her family together. But visually, the film is stunning, with mesmerizing color palettes that make it impossible to look away. But beyond aesthetics, its true power lies in its message: that love and family are the forces that keep us moving forward, even when life is shattered beyond repair. The fight for justice is relentless, and though accountability can be found, the pain never fully fades—yet love remains a guiding light. Heartbreaking, powerful, and deeply human, it is a testament to the resilience and the way community carries us through even the darkest of times, which is more relevant than ever right now. Not a single note from me. Consider this your sleeper Best Picture win.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
McKenna Pringle, Branded Content Editorial Assistant
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna assists the sales team with the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, pitching and contributing stories of her own, and more. Some of her favorite topics to write about are entertainment, culture, and lifestyle.
