If Oppenheimer didn’t exist, here’s what would be winning the 2024 Oscars-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

People think one films has it in the bag ahead of the 2024 Oscars on Sunday… (Picture: AP/Shutterstock)

We are mere days away from the 96th Academy Awards, with an array of excellent films from Poor Things to Barbie, Past Lives and Anatomy of a Fall hoping to nab one (if not more) of the most prestigious gongs in showbiz.

If it weren’t, that is, for Christopher Nolan’s cerebral blockbuster Oppenheimer.

Many critics and fans alike seem convinced that the Oscars 2024 are all sewn up thanks to the domination of the movie so far this awards season at the likes of the Golden Globes and Baftas, where it swept the ceremony with seven wins.

It’s hard to argue against the quality of Oppenheimer, which is finally allowing perpetual bridesmaid Nolan to have his moment in the sun after narrowly missing out on award wins with past efforts Dunkirk and Inception.

However, that also means there are plenty of excellent other films and performances that are likely to miss out on the ultimate movie accolade.

So allow us to imagine, just for a moment, what could have happened this year if Oppenheimer was not leading the race…

Best picture

(Picture: Yorgos Lanthimos/Searchlight)

The Academy has once again opted to nominate the maximum possible number of nominees in this category at 10, such was the wealth of quality on offer at the cinema in the past 12 months.

Oppenheimer is the shoo-in, but there are so many fine and deserving winners if it were an other year – no skips, as the kids say, in this category.

Last year, the award went to Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This year’s contenders:

American Fiction

Anatomy of a Fall

Barbie

The Holdovers

Killers of the Flower Moon

Maestro

Oppenheimer

Past Lives

Poor Things

The Zone of Interest

Prediction: With no Oppenheimer, it would likely be a nod for The Holdovers or Poor Things.

Best actor

(Picture: Seacia Pavao/Focus Features)

This year’s leading actor categories have shown some differences between awards bodies, with Past Lives’ Teo Yoo and Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan both in contention at the Baftas.

And while Cillian Murphy has already netted multiple awards for his turn as father of the atomic bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer, Paul Giamatti has enjoyed a celebrated season too, picking up a Critics Choice Award and a Golden Globe.

Last year, the award went to Brendan Fraser for The Whale.

This year’s contenders:

Bradley Cooper

Colman Domingo

Paul Giamatti

Cillian Murphy

Jeffrey Wright

Prediction: Without Oppenheimer’s Cillian Murphy, this would a deserved win for his nearest competitor this season, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers.

Best actress

(Picture: Apple TV+)

Last year, the award went to Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This year’s contenders:

Annette Bening

Lily Gladstone

Sandra Hüller 

Carey Mulligan

Emma Stone

Prediction: The one major category without an Oppenheimer nomination to impact it, Emma Stone is a favourite but it’s equally possible Lily Gladstone will get her historic win instead.

Best director

(Picture: Getty)

Last year, the award went to Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This year’s contenders:

Martin Scorsese

Justine Triet

Yorgos Lanthimos

Christopher Nolan

Jonathan Glazer

Prediction: Without Oppenheimer’s Christopher Nolan, the Academy would likely have plumped for Martin Scorsese and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Best supporting actor

(Picture: Warner Bros)

Last year, the award went to Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This year’s contenders:

Sterling K. Brown

Robert De Niro

Robert Downey Jr.

Ryan Gosling

Mark Ruffalo

Prediction: Without Downey Jr. in play, this could have been a rare comedy performance victory with Ryan Gosling and his more-than-Kenough turn in Barbie.

Best supporting actress

(Picture: Seacia Pavao/Focus Features)

Last year, the award went to Jamie Lee Curtis for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

This year’s contenders:

Emily Blunt

Danielle Brooks

America Ferrera

Jodie Foster

Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Prediction: Emily Blunt has been a regular bridesmaid in this category so far this season, and it seems likely that trend will continue with a final win for Da’Vine Joy Randolph and The Holdovers.

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