The post-pandemic cinematic landscape reflects the uncertainty that the film industry has faced, crippled by both the writers’ and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which blocked the PR efforts that normally accompany prestigious releases.

On the other hand, streamers are more concerned about clicks than box-office receipts, which is why Netflix, Amazon and Apple have surged ahead with their awards-season offerings.

Auteurs like Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”) and Martin Scorsese (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) have been busy promoting, while actor/directors like Greta Gerwig (“Barbie”), Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Emerald Ferrell (“Saltburn”) and George Clooney (“The Boys in the Boat”) have been at a disadvantage until now. 

The dual release of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” became a global phenomenon, and the immense popularity of these two films continues into Awards season. 

10 Best Movies (in alphabetical order):

Air

American Fiction

Barbie

Freud’s Last Session

Killers of the Flower Moon

Maestro

Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part 1

Oppenheimer

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

The Holdovers

Best Director:

Ben Affleck for Air

Bradley Cooper for Maestro

Greta Gerwig for Barbie

Cord Jefferson for American Fiction

Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer

Alexander Payne for The Holdovers

Martin Scorsese for Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Performance By An Actor:

Timothee Chalamet in Wonka 

Bradley Cooper in Maestro

Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part 1

Leonardo Di Caprio in Killers of the Flower Moon

Adam Driver in Ferrari

Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers

Anthony Hopkins in Freud’s Last Session

Barry Koegan in Saltburn 

Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer

Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction

Best Performance By An Actress:

Annette Bening in Nyad

Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon

Sandra Huller in Anatomy Of A Fall

Helen Mirren in Golda

Carey Mulligan in Maestro

Natalie Portman in May December

Margot Robbie in Barbie

Emma Stone in Poor Things

Best Supporting Performance By An Actress:

Hayley Atwell in Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part 1 

Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer

Penelope Cruz in Ferreri

Viola Davis in Air

America Ferrera in Barbie

Jodie Foster in Nyad

Julianne Moore in May December

Rosamund Pike in Saltburn

Da’vine Joy Randolph in The Holdovers

Sigourney Weaver in Master Gardener

Best Supporting Performance By An Actor:

Sterling K. Brown in American Fiction

Willem Dafoe in Poor Things

Matt Damon in Oppenheimer 

Robert De Niro in Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Downey Jr. in Oppenheimer

Matthew Goode in Freud’s Last Session

Ryan Gosling in Barbie

Charles Melton in May December

Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things

Dominic Sesse in The Holdovers

Best Animated Movies:

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget

Elemental

Nimona

Robot Dreams

Spider-Man: Across The Spider Verse 

Suzume

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

The Boy And The Heron

The Inventor

The Venture Bros: Radiant Is The Blood Of The Baboon Heart