The Academy Awards are just over a week away. As we prepare, I’m looking at this year’s nominated films. Today, it’s the 10 films nominated for Best Picture. The films appear in ascending order according to my personal preference.

No. 10: Anora
About: There are people that love Sean Baker and his films. I’m not one of them. His films have frequently been a miss for me, and that remains the case with Anora. I get the idea and there are some fine moments, but it wasn’t a film that resonated with me.

No. 9: The Brutalist
About: Brady Corbet takes a big swing here. This film is also quite long—clocking in at more than three and a half hours. It’s a sweeping epic that has a lot to say about the American Dream. The craft is quite strong, but the film didn’t work for me as a whole.

No. 8: I’m Still Here
About: This is one of two International Features that also got a Best Picture nomination. This one features an emotional story about political corruption and murder in Brazil, based on true events. Fernanda Torres does a beautiful job, but this didn’t hit for me as strongly as some other films in the field.

No. 7: Emilia Perez
About: This is the other film that was nominated for International Feature. It features a daring vision in style and story. The musical elements don’t work well for me, but there are some poignant moments and some beautifully shot sequences. It’s the daring craft that led to a total of 13 nominations, but this didn’t stand out for me as much as some others.

No. 6: The Substance
About: What Coralie Fargeat does here is impressive. This is well crafted with a daring vision and story. Demi Moore gives an incredible lead performance as well. I didn’t love the creative choices made with the Third Act, so it drops a bit lower for me. But I love the daring in the craft.

No. 5: Nickel Boys
About: This is also a daring film in a lot of ways. RaMell Ross decides to tell this painful and poignant story from a first-person point-of-view. That didn’t work for everyone, but I enjoyed the style. It’s one of the most beautifully shot films of the year. It’s also a bit of a gut-punch.

No. 4: A Complete Unknown
About: We’ll never grow tired of a well-crafted biopic. This is a slice of life for Bob Dylan that features some great performances, particularly from Timothee Chalamet. It was one of my favorite films released in December.

No. 3: Wicked
About: It took a lot of work to bring this story to life on the big screen. Jon M. Chu was up to the task. This film was breath-taking and deeply emotional. I loved Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and I’m pleased both earned nominations. This should be a strong contender in some of the below the line categories, too.

No. 2: Conclave
About: When I wrote about this as one of my favorite films of the year, I said it was really 1B. I still feel that way. And I think Edward Berger’s film could well win Best Picture, and it would be deserved. It’s a beautifully crafted tale that features a great lead performance from Ralph Fiennes. This film was incredible.

No. 1: Dune: Part Two
About: I don’t know how Dune: Part Two and Denis Villeneuve became so overlooked. Yes, it made the Best Picture field, but it’s a longshot. Still, no film stuck with me more or moved me more than Dune: Part Two. It was my favorite of 2024 and is my favorite of this field.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.