Oscars 2024: Must-Watch Guide and Predictions

America’s most glamorous election contest is finally drawing to a close. Yes, it’s Oscars weekend.

The road to the 96th Oscars ceremony is only marginally shorter than its political counterparts, filled with lobbying and anticipation. Industry experts and casual viewers alike have their eyes on a wildly popular box office hit, with "Oppenheimer" leading the race for best picture and several other coveted awards.

Comparisons are already being drawn to the years 1998 and 2004 when "Titanic" and "The Return of the King" dominated the Oscars with a record-breaking 11 wins each. Despite receiving 13 nominations, Christopher Nolan's epic film about the father of the atomic bomb is not expected to achieve the same level of success. But in Hollywood, and the industry press, storytelling often trumps reality.

Emily Blunt (as Kitty Oppenheimer) with writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy (as J. Robert Oppenheimer) on the set of "Oppenheimer."

Emily Blunt, who plays Kitty Oppenheimer, was photographed on the set of the movie "Oppenheimer" alongside writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy, who portrays J. Robert Oppenheimer. The photo was taken by Melinda Sue Gordon for Universal Pictures.

How to watch

You can catch the "Oppenheimer" and other nominees in action on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST during the ceremony airing on ABC in the US. For international viewing options, check out the listings provided. If you prefer streaming, you can also watch the telecast on abc.com and the ABC app. Additionally, subscription services like Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV will also have the ceremony available for viewing.

The host and presenters

Jimmy Kimmel on stage at the Oscars in 2023.

Jimmy Kimmel on stage at the Oscars in 2023.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

2023 has been a fantastic year for movies, giving the upcoming ceremony plenty of great films to honor. ABC is hoping for even higher ratings after a successful 2023 following a low point in 2022.

Jimmy Kimmel is back as host for the fourth time, and the lineup of presenters is star-studded, including Steven Spielberg, Sally Field, Jennifer Lawrence, Dwayne Johnson, Rita Moreno, Al Pacino, Zendaya, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Additionally, in a rare move not seen since 2009, five past winners will be presenting the acting categories at the ceremony.

Performances

Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig on the set of "Barbie"

Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig on the set of "Barbie"

Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures

Producers are excited for this year's programming lineup, as they have managed to convince Ryan Gosling to perform his nominated song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" before returning to his twist-tie box. Other performers to look forward to include Jon Batiste with "It Never Went Away" from "American Symphony," Becky G with "The Fire Inside" from "Flamin' Hot," and Scott George and the Osage Singers with "Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)" from "Killers of the Flower Moon."

In addition to the performances, the key contests to watch out for include Billie Eilish's potential win with "What Was I Made For?" in the category.

Emma Stone in "Poor Things."

Emma Stone in "Poor Things."

The ceremony is expected to bring some surprises, even though certain categories already have clear frontrunners. Nolan is almost guaranteed to win best director, marking his first Oscar win. Da’Vine Joy Randolph has been sweeping up awards for supporting actress for her role as a grieving mother in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” Similarly, Robert Downey Jr. is a strong contender for supporting actor, playing Lewis Stauss in “Oppenheimer.”

Jonathan Glazer's Holocaust film "The Zone of Interest" is a strong contender for the best international feature category. If it wins, it would be the first time a film from the UK, spoken in German and shot in Poland, takes home the award. The original front runner, Justine Triet's "Anatomy of a Fall," lost its chance when France did not submit it for consideration. This situation highlights the need for reform in this category.

In the best lead actress category, Sandra Hüller from "Anatomy of a Fall" is up against Emma Stone and Lily Gladstone. The competition is fierce and unpredictable. Stone and Gladstone have each won different awards leading up to this event. The race is tight, with Gladstone potentially becoming the first indigenous person to win, while Stone could secure her second best actress title at the age of 35.

Potential surprises

JaNae Collins, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion in "Killers of the Flower Moon"

JaNae Collins, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion in "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Melinda Sue Gordon/Apple TV+

Could there be surprises at the upcoming awards show? When it comes to the best picture category, it's unlikely. However, in other categories, there could be some unexpected outcomes. If the movie "Gladstone" doesn't win, there's a chance that "Killers of the Flower Moon" with its 10 nominations might leave empty-handed. This would be the second time in a row that a masterpiece from Martin Scorsese is overlooked, following the 2019 film "The Irishman," which also had 10 nominations but didn't win. On the other hand, if "Stone" doesn't win, there's a slim possibility that Yorgos Lanthimos' "Poor Things," with 11 nominations, might also not take home any awards. However, "Poor Things" is expected to do well in categories like best production design and best costume design, where its main competition is "Barbie." (It was a great year for films featuring women in visually stunning existential dilemmas.)

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"

Sony Pictures Animation

The animated feature competition is between "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and "The Boy and the Heron." On one side, we have the top superhero movie of 2023, and on the other, a beautifully melancholic creation from the renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. Spider-Man is currently leading, but there is still room for surprises as it was once a contender for the best picture nomination.

It's important to remember that there will always be unexpected outcomes. If your favorite movie doesn't win, it doesn't diminish your love for it. As Steven Spielberg once said, "The creation of art is not a democratic process." It's strange to base our opinions of movies on awards, but people enjoy them, and the public loves a good show. Hollywood excels at putting on grand events, and that's one thing they know how to do well.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming Oscars ceremony promises to be a star-studded event filled with excitement and anticipation. "Oppenheimer," a highly acclaimed film about the father of the atomic bomb, leads the race for best picture and several other coveted awards. However, despite its impressive 13 nominations, it is unlikely to achieve the same level of success as past winners like "Titanic" and "The Return of the King." Nonetheless, the Oscars remain a prestigious platform for recognizing exceptional talent in the film industry.

While "Oppenheimer" is a strong contender, the competition in various categories is fierce. Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Robert Downey Jr. are frontrunners for supporting actress and actor, respectively, while the best lead actress category features a close race between Sandra Hüller, Emma Stone, and Lily Gladstone. The best international feature category could also see an upset, with "The Zone of Interest" potentially snatching the award from the heavily favored "Anatomy of a Fall." These potential surprises add an element of uncertainty to the ceremony, making it even more captivating for viewers.