The 2023 Academy Award nominations are a little over a month away. Last month, I shared my first thoughts on each of the big categories. Today, I look at the Best Director Race and see who has moved up and down my rankings.

As we inch closer and closer to the nominations, I will start posting these on a bi-weekly basis. Once we hit January, I will update them before the nominations come out and look at who will take home the Oscars after the nominations are announced.

Best Director Nominations

1. Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer (Winner) (-)
2. Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon (-)
3. Greta Gerwig, Barbie (-)
4. Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest (^)
5. Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things (^)

Outside look in: Bradley Cooper (Maestro) and Celine Song (Past Lives)

Thoughts: The Best Director race is shaping up to be one that could see some shocks and awes come Oscar nomination morning. Bradley Cooper seemed to have cemented a slot, but now I have him on the outside looking in. Greta Gerwig is staying amid the chaos and could see herself in the mix along with Jonathan Glazer making waves. No matter what, I believe this is Nolan’s trophy, but how the other four lineup for nomination might be a mixed bag.

For more expansive breakdown of the Best Director race, check out my video below.