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Oscar Shortlists Unveiled: “Sinners” and “Wicked: For Good” Lead with Eight Mentions Each
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released its highly anticipated shortlists for 12 Oscar categories on Tuesday, setting the stage for the 98th Academy Awards. Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller “Sinners” and the musical adaptation “Wicked: For Good” emerged as frontrunners, each securing eight mentions across multiple categories.
Both films received recognition in technical categories including makeup and hair, sound, visual effects, score, casting, and cinematography. Each production also placed two original songs in the music shortlist. For “Wicked: For Good,” Stephen Schwartz’s “The Girl in the Bubble” and “No Place Like Home” advanced, while “Sinners” saw Ludwig Göransson, Miles Caton and Alice Smith’s “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” and Göransson’s collaboration with Raphael Saadiq, “I Lied to You,” make the cut.
The musical shortlist features several high-profile artists, including the Netflix phenomenon “KPop Demon Hunters” with the song “Golden” by EJAE and Mark Sonnenblick. Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner earned recognition for “Train Dreams,” while John Mayer, Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin were shortlisted for the “F1” track “Drive.” Miley Cyrus, Simon Franglen, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt received a nod for “Dream as One” from “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Industry veteran Diane Warren may be headed toward her 17th Oscar nomination with “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless.”
The international feature film category, one of the most closely watched competitions, narrowed to 15 contenders. Notable entries include Norway’s “Sentimental Value,” Spain’s “Sirât,” South Korea’s “No Other Choice,” Brazil’s “The Secret Agent,” France’s “It Was Just an Accident,” Tunisia’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” Germany’s “Sound of Falling” and Iraq’s “The President’s Cake.”
Documentary features advancing to the next round include “My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow,” “The Perfect Neighbor,” “The Alabama Solution,” “Come See Me in the Good Light,” and “Cover-Up.” Also making the list is Mstyslav Chernov’s “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a co-production between The Associated Press and PBS Frontline, which has garnered significant critical acclaim.
This year marks the debut of the Academy’s new award for casting, with 10 films competing for five nomination slots. The shortlisted productions include “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners,” “Sirāt,” “Weapons,” and “Wicked: For Good.” Industry observers noted the absence of anticipated contenders like “Jay Kelly” and “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” from this inaugural shortlist.
In the original score category, Ludwig Göransson (“Sinners”), Jonny Greenwood (“One Battle After Another”), Max Richter (“Hamnet”), Alexandre Desplat (“Frankenstein”) and Kangding Ray (“Sirāt”) all advanced. The diverse selection reflects the Academy’s appreciation for both established composers and innovative newcomers.
The shortlist process varies by branch within the Academy. Some categories are determined by committees, while others require minimum viewing thresholds for voting members. This system occasionally produces surprising results, particularly in technical categories.
Several unexpected productions received recognition in craft categories. “The Alto Knights” was shortlisted for hair and makeup, while the critically panned “Tron: Ares” and “The Electric State” both advanced in visual effects. “Tron: Ares” also secured mentions for original score and song with Nine Inch Nails’ “As Alive As You Need Me To Be.”
These shortlists will be narrowed to five finalists when the Academy announces official nominations on January 22. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live on ABC on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET, bringing Hollywood’s biggest night to viewers worldwide.
The diverse shortlists reflect an industry in transformation, with traditional studios, streaming platforms, and international productions all vying for recognition at cinema’s most prestigious awards ceremony.
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9 Comments
It’s great to see the Netflix phenomenon ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ getting recognized for its music. K-pop has become a global force, and it’s cool that the Oscars are embracing that trend. Curious to learn more about the song ‘Golden’ that made the shortlist.
As someone who closely follows the film industry, the Oscars shortlists are always a fascinating glimpse into the year’s cinematic standouts. It will be interesting to see if any dark horses emerge as the process continues. There are often some real surprises when the final nominees are announced.
The inclusion of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on the music shortlist is a great example of the Oscars adapting to changing trends in popular culture. K-pop has become a global phenomenon, and it’s smart for the Academy to recognize that influence.
The Oscars always generate a lot of excitement and debate. While I have my own opinions on which films and performances deserve recognition, I try to keep an open mind. The shortlists are just the first step, and I’m eager to see how things unfold from here.
While I’m not overly familiar with ‘Sinners’ or ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the fact that they’re leading the shortlists suggests the Academy sees them as technically accomplished and critically acclaimed works. I’ll have to check them out to form my own opinion.
The Oscars are such a prestigious event, and it’s fascinating to see how the shortlists evolve each year. It’s a good reminder of the breadth and depth of talent in the film industry, from big-budget productions to smaller indie projects.
Interesting to see ‘Sinners’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ leading the Oscars shortlists. These vampire and musical films seem to have really impressed the Academy with their technical achievements. Can’t wait to see how they fare in the final nominations.
The music categories at the Oscars are always intriguing. It’s great to see a mix of established composers like Nick Cave and rising stars like the ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ team. Music is such a vital part of the cinematic experience, so I’m curious to hear the shortlisted songs.
Kudos to the composers who got shortlisted, like Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Bla. Original music is such an important part of filmmaking, and it’s awesome to see these talented artists being celebrated.