As another year in film gets underway, we're taking a look at possible Best Picture contenders for the 2021 Oscars. Considering how far away the 93rd Academy Awards are, it seems a bit foolish to be making predictions this early in the year. However, just by looking at films' on-paper potential, it is possible to make semi-accurate picks long before anything screens. Our first list of 2020 Best Picture predictions was published in March 2019 (11 months prior to the ceremony) and included five of the nine nominees: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, and Ford v Ferrari. Of course, there were some misfires (that initial version also featured The Goldfinch), but 5/9 is a decent clip.

This year sees several of the industry's premier auteurs return, with new offerings from Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, Spike Lee, and more on the horizon. There's always the chance some of these don't live up to their promise, but right now, with only trailers and synopses to go off of, it's hard for cinephiles to not be excited about these films and envision them competing for major awards on the next Oscar Sunday. Without further ado, here are our 2021 Best Picture predictions.

It goes without saying this list will be updated multiple times throughout the year. Parasite wasn't even on our radar at this point in 2019.

West Side Story


The original West Side Story is one of the most acclaimed musicals of all-time, winning 10 Oscars in 1961 (including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress). That makes the prospect of the upcoming remake somewhat dubious, but by now, Steven Spielberg has earned the benefit of the doubt. After developing the project for years, Spielberg finally moved forward on one of his passion projects, and the new West Side Story is set to be released over the holiday season in December. 20th Century has it positioned to be a massive hit, and if Spielberg knocked his first musical out of the park, West Side Story will definitely be in the running for some Oscars.

Spielberg isn't quite the box office behemoth he was during his heyday when Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. ruled the multiplex, but he's remained a strong filmmaker throughout his career. In his latter stages, historical dramas like Lincoln, Bridge of Spies, and The Post all scored Best Picture nominations, suggesting the Academy continues to have a soft spot for Spielberg. Voters would be hard-pressed to pass this one up considering it's up to snuff.

Tenet


Christopher Nolan has a fascinating relationship with the Academy. He has multiple nominations on his résumé (including Best Director for Dunkirk), but he's also been a notable snub on more than one occasion. It'll be interesting to see how Oscar voters go for sci-fi drama Tenet, which promises to be as mind-bending and complex as Nolan's other genre pieces. Inception was able to crack this field 10 years ago, so that will be the path for Tenet to follow. There is a precedent for a tentpole like this making the lineup.

Nolan is also building an overdue case for himself, with an impressive body of work that includes Memento, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and Dunkirk. As has happened in the past, it wouldn't be surprising if the Academy gave him one of their patented "career achievement" Oscars one day. Whether it's for Tenet or something else remains to be seen. The safer money may be on this one contending in the technical categories.

Trial Of The Chicago 7


Aaron Sorkin is one of the most accomplished screenwriters of all-time, winning an Oscar for The Social Network and earning two more nods (on top of his acclaimed scripts that weren't nominated). In 2017, he made the jump behind the camera and directed Molly's Game, demonstrating he had a future as a helmsman. While the crime drama fell short of being a contender across the board (Sorkin's screenplay was its only nomination), Molly's Game was nominated for Best Picture at the Producers Guild Awards, suggesting it fell just short of the Oscars. Sorkin is out to prove his directorial debut wasn't a fluke with Trial of the Chicago 7.

The film is based on the true story about the Chicago Seven, a group of countercultural protestors who were charged with various crimes during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Despite being a period piece, its themes and narrative remain relevant to today's divided times, so there's a chance Sorkin's script is laced with social commentary that packs a powerful message. Trial of the Chicago 7 also features an all-star cast including the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eddie Redmayne, Michael Keaton, and Mark Rylance, meaning this could be one the actors branch really goes for.

News Of The World


The last time Tom Hanks and director Paul Greengrass collaborated, it was on Best Picture nominee Captain Phillips. They're hoping for similar results on their new film, News of the World, which stars Hanks as a traveling newsreader in the aftermath of the Civil War. His character crosses paths with a young orphan, and embarks on a mission to bring her back to her family. Universal, fresh off just missing Best Picture with 1917, is already building industry buzz for this one, promising another terrific Hanks performance.

The studio clearly has high hopes for News of the World, positioning it in the thick of awards season. Hanks, of course, is Hollywood royalty with two Oscars under his belt and several other nominations (including Best Supporting Actor this past year for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood). Greengrass has a bit of history with the Academy himself, earning a Best Director nomination for United 93 in 2006. If this one lands and is a hit, voters may be unable to resist.