Oscar Nominations Announced With Several Major Surprises

The early morning chill hung in the air outside the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, where a small crowd gathered under the faint glow of dawn lights, waiting for the first hints of gold to spill out from the Academy's vault.

On January 23, 2024, Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid stepped up to reveal the 96th Academy Award nominations, a ritual that sets Hollywood's pulse racing for months.^[1] The list arrived with the kind of twists that leave even the sharpest prognosticators glancing twice at their notes.

Oppenheimer swept in with 13 nods, topping the field and marking director Christopher Nolan's firm grip on the season.^[2] Poor Things followed close behind at 11, its wild, gothic flair earning shouts from the art-house crowd.^[2] Killers of the Flower Moon pulled 10, a proof to Martin Scorsese's sprawling vision, even as the film's stars faced sharper scrutiny.

Picture's Frame

The Best Picture contenders formed a diverse lineup: American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, and The Zone of Interest.^[1] This group spanned quiet indies and blockbuster dreams, pulling from festivals in Telluride to multiplexes worldwide.

American Fiction's satirical bite on publishing and race landed it here, alongside The Holdovers' cozy classroom warmth.^[1] Anatomy of a Fall's courtroom tension and Past Lives' tender immigrant story added layers of emotional depth, while The Zone of Interest's chilling silence about horror spoke volumes without a word.

Barbie's candy-coated cultural splash made the cut, a nod to its billion-dollar pull, though not without its own fractures.^[1] Oppenheimer and Poor Things loomed large, their technical wizardry and bold storytelling positioning them as frontrunners in a race that favors the audacious.

Leads Emerge

In Best Actress, Annette Bening swam into contention for Nyad, her portrayal of endurance cutting through the pack.^[1] Lily Gladstone's work in Killers of the Flower Moon marked a historic turn—she became the first Native American nominated in this category, her quiet intensity on the Osage plains resonating deeply.^[2]

Sandra Hüller brought raw vulnerability to Anatomy of a Fall, while Carey Mulligan's Leonard Bernstein biopic in Maestro earned her a spot for its subtle glow.^[1] Emma Stone rounded out the field with Poor Things, her unhinged journey through a reanimated world stealing scenes and votes alike.^[1]

The men in Best Actor held their own ground. Bradley Cooper conducted his own symphony in Maestro, directing and starring in a film that blurred lines between art and life.^[1] Colman Domingo's fiery take on Bayard Rustin brought civil rights fire to the screen, a performance that demanded attention.

Paul Giamatti's grumpy professor in The Holdovers warmed hearts with its crusty charm, and Cillian Murphy's haunted gaze as J. Robert Oppenheimer captured the weight of creation.^[1] Jeffrey Wright anchored American Fiction with a writer's weary resolve, his nomination closing a circle for the film's sharp commentary.^[1]

Supports Rise

Supporting Actress saw Emily Blunt's Oppenheimer frustration boil over in a single, searing glance.^[1] Danielle Brooks lit up The Color Purple with gospel-powered spirit, while America Ferrera's Barbie monologue—a surprise entry—struck a chord on empowerment's sharp edges.^[2]

Jodie Encourage mentored through Nyad's waves, her steady presence a quiet force.^[1] Da’Vine Joy Randolph's cafeteria confessions in The Holdovers pulled tears and nods, her role as the emotional core proving hard to ignore.^[1]

On the men's side, Sterling K. Brown broke through in American Fiction, his first Oscar nod coming alongside Jeffrey Wright's lead— the first time a Black actor and supporting performer from the same movie shared the spotlight like this.^[1] Robert De Niro's simmering rage in Killers of the Flower Moon added veteran grit.

Robert Downey Jr. resurrected his charm with ironic bite in Oppenheimer, a comeback that felt both earned and electric.^[1] Ryan Gosling's plastic-fantastic turn in Barbie brought Ken to life with sly humor, and Mark Ruffalo's bewildered madness in Poor Things rounded out a field of reinventions.^[1]

Director's Snub

The Best Director category skipped a few beats. Justine Triet claimed her place for Anatomy of a Fall's meticulous unraveling of truth.^[1] Martin Scorsese's epic sweep through Killers of the Flower Moon earned its due, a late-career masterstroke.

Christopher Nolan orchestrated Oppenheimer's atomic pulse, Yorgos Lanthimos twisted Poor Things into feverish delight, and Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest stared unflinchingly at complicity's shadow.^[1] Notably absent was Greta Gerwig for Barbie, her direction of the year's pink phenomenon overlooked in a move that rippled through the industry.^[2]

Margot Robbie's star turn as the iconic doll went unrecognized in acting categories, another blow to the film's female leads.^[2] Ryan Gosling, nominated himself, voiced his regret over the omissions for Gerwig and Robbie, a rare public sigh from the Barbie set that underscored the morning's sting.^[2]

Flower Moon Fade

Leonardo DiCaprio's central role in Killers of the Flower Moon, a oil-soaked saga of greed and loss, drew no acting nomination despite the buzz around his transformation.^[2] The snub cast a long shadow over Scorsese's return to the genre.

Yet Gladstone's milestone lifted the film, her nomination a beacon amid the overlooks. The movie's 10 bids overall kept it in the hunt, but DiCaprio's absence felt like a missing brushstroke in an otherwise vivid canvas.

Hollywood's awards machinery often favors the familiar, and DiCaprio's track record—previous nods for The Revenant and once—a once in a lifetime—did little to soften the edge this time. It's the kind of quiet recalibration that reminds everyone: even legends rewrite their scripts.

Timeline Unfolds

The nominations lit a fire under the season's contenders, but the real test came later, when the envelopes opened under brighter lights.

Oppenheimer's dominance held through to March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre, its seven wins including the top prize a validation of Nolan's vision.^[4] Stone's victory for Poor Things, against predictions tilting toward Gladstone, added one last surprise to the ledger.^[4]

In the end, the announcements that January morning set a course marked by breakthroughs and blind spots. Gladstone stood tall in her historic pose, while Gosling's words lingered like an unanswered echo in the theater's emptying seats.

Frequently asked questions

Who announced the 96th Academy Award nominations?

Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid announced the 96th Academy Award nominations.

How many nominations did Oppenheimer receive?

Oppenheimer received 13 nominations, leading all films.

Which films are nominated for Best Picture alongside Oppenheimer and Poor Things?

American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Past Lives, and Zone of Interest are also nominated for Best Picture.