In a sweeping Oscar season, the 95th Hollywood Academy Awards are set to celebrate on March 12, with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” shaping the nominations and leading the pack with eleven nods. The film sits at the center of the conversation alongside other strong contenders for the top honors.
Among the most talked-about nominees are Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” which earned eight nominations, and Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” with seven. Two major 2022 blockbusters also secured multiple nominations: Joseph Kosinski’s “Top Gun: Maverick” with six and James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” with four. The best picture lineup now includes Todd Field’s “Tar,” which collected five nominations, Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” with two, and Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness” with three.
The list was announced by the ceremony’s producers on Tuesday, with Riz Ahmed and actress Allison Williams presenting the news to audiences nationwide. Uplifting surprises emerged as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert stood out among this season’s bold contenders. Starring Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the film follows Evelyn, a Chinese immigrant whose life spirals into a perilous interdimensional adventure after a bizarre incident pulls reality toward chaos, threatening to unravel the world as she knows it.
Meanwhile, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” directed by Edward Berger, brings a stark WWI drama to the fold. The story follows Paul, a seventeen-year-old who enlists in the German army at the war’s outset, only to confront the brutal harshness of trench life and the wrenching costs of conflict.
British-Irish director Martin McDonagh’s “Inisherin’s Banshees” offers a tale set on a remote island, where two lifelong friends find their bond tested when one abruptly ends the relationship, plunging them into a cascade of consequences. The film marks a return to the work of a filmmaker known for dark humor and precise character studies.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” expands the saga of Jake and Neytiri as they navigate parenthood and partnership while safeguarding their world, Pandora, in a story that explores family, stewardship, and survival on a grand, cinematic scale.
Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” delves into the life of a music icon through the perspective of his enigmatic manager, Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. The film weaves the artist’s rise, influence, and personal complexities into a vivid biographical portrait that resonates with audiences familiar and new.
Among the nominees, “Fabelmans” presents a personal coming-of-age story drawn from the director’s own memories. The autobiographical drama unpacks the formative years of a budding filmmaker, set against the backdrop of a changing America and the evolving nature of family life, art, and identity.
In parallel, “Tar” explores the life of a fictional conductor at the pinnacle of classical music, offering a window into the pressures, performances, and moral questions that accompany leadership at the highest level. The film’s focus on art, ambition, and the human dimension of artistic pursuit invites audiences to reflect on the cost of greatness.
Another standout is the continued relevance of “Top Gun: Maverick,” a continuation of a beloved aviation saga. The story follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell decades after his original adventures, now facing a final mission that tests his skills as a mentor and pilot, while addressing themes of legacy, duty, and renewal. The film’s intense aerial sequences and character-driven moments have kept it at the forefront of awards chatter.