Hidden Oscar Gems: 9 Must-Watch Films You Missed
Discover nine outstanding Oscar-nominated films from this year that didn't make it to mainstream theaters but are definitely worth your attention.
Explore a curated list of lesser-known yet remarkable Oscar-nominated films from this year that deserve your watchlist.
Call Me by Your Name
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Countries: Italy, France, Brazil, USA
- Duration: 132 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
This poignant story follows 17-year-old Elio (breakout star Timothée Chalamet) and American student Oliver (Armie Hammer) as they experience first love in sun-drenched Italy during 1983.
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song.
Winning Chances
This film is a strong contender for multiple awards, especially for Sufjan Stevens' haunting "Mystery of Love." However, the most likely win is for director James Ivory’s masterful adaptation of André Aciman’s novel.
Watch on iTunes →
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
- Genre: Drama, Crime
- Country: USA
- Duration: 129 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.4
This gripping two-hour thriller follows an eccentric lawyer (Denzel Washington) navigating the moral decay within the American justice system, crafted by the creator of "The Wire."
Nominations: Best Actor.
Winning Chances
Chances are slim. Denzel Washington’s nomination came as a replacement for James Franco, who withdrew amid controversy. Competing against Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Churchill in "Darkest Hour," a win here seems unlikely.
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Mudbound
- Genre: Drama, Historical
- Country: USA
- Duration: 134 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
An expansive historical drama depicting two American families, one white and one Black, in the racially divided South fighting for justice. Featuring hip-hop icon Mary J. Blige.
Nominations: Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song.
Winning Chances
Rachel Morrison, the first woman ever nominated for Best Cinematography, has a shot at making history by winning, possibly edging out veteran Roger Deakins for "Blade Runner 2049." Still, the film may remain overshadowed by more topical contenders.
The Big Sick
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
- Country: USA
- Duration: 120 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
Pakistani-American comedian Kumail Nanjiani co-wrote and stars in this heartfelt semi-autobiographical romantic comedy about meeting his wife, Emily V. Gordon, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
Nominations: Best Original Screenplay.
Winning Chances
Modest. The category is fiercely competitive, with favorites like Jordan Peele’s "Get Out" and Martin McDonagh’s "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" leading the race.
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The Disaster Artist
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Biography
- Country: USA
- Duration: 104 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
James Franco directs and stars in this biopic about the making of "The Room," famously dubbed the worst film ever made, based on Tommy Wiseau’s memoir.
Nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay.
Winning Chances
Low. James Ivory’s "Call Me by Your Name" is the frontrunner for this category with its elegant adaptation of a first love story.
Watch on iTunes →
The Breadwinner
- Genre: Animation, Family
- Countries: Ireland, Canada, Luxembourg
- Duration: 94 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
A beautifully crafted and sensitive animated tale about a girl’s survival with her family in Kabul during the civil war, from the creators of "Song of the Sea" and "The Secret of Kells."
Nominations: Best Animated Feature.
Winning Chances
Unfortunately slim. Pixar’s vibrant "Coco" is the overwhelming favorite in this category.
Watch on iTunes →
A Fantastic Woman
- Genre: Drama
- Countries: Chile, Germany, Spain, USA
- Duration: 104 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
This powerful Chilean drama centers on a transgender woman who faces hostility from society and her late partner’s family after his sudden death.
Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film.
Winning Chances
Very high. Chile is poised to make history with its first-ever Oscar win in this category. The main competition comes from Sweden’s "The Square," followed by Russia’s "Loveless."
Marshall
- Genre: Drama, Biography
- Country: USA
- Duration: 118 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
An inspiring biopic about Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, star of "Black Panther."
Nominations: Best Original Song.
Winning Chances
Minimal. The uplifting anthem "Stand Up for Something," performed by Andra Day and rapper Common (Oscar winner for "Glory" from "Selma"), is expected to lose to the popular hit "Remember Me" from "Coco."
Watch on iTunes →
Watch on Google Play →
Icarus
- Genre: Documentary, Thriller
- Country: USA
- Duration: 121 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 8.0
Amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel creates a gripping documentary about Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of Russia’s Anti-Doping Center, chronicling his whistleblowing via Skype, the ensuing global scandal, and his escape from Russia.
Nominations: Best Documentary Feature.
Winning Chances
About even odds, though "Faces Places," a cinematic journey by legendary filmmaker Agnès Varda and photographer JR focusing on French rural life, is often favored.
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