The Artist
What do you call a black-and-white, French silent movie? A major Best Picture contender.
Bridesmaids
An Original Screenplay nod for the Kristen Wiig comedy? Probably. A Best Picture nomination? Well, if Academy voters know a good engagement-party toast when they see one...
The Descendants
Even more than The Ides of March, this comedy-drama looks to be George Clooney's ticket to the Academy Awards—and maybe a second career acting Oscar.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Tom Hanks. Sandra Bullock. 9/11. The combination will get the drama from Stephen Daldry (The Reader) a serious look for Best Picture.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
If the Best Picture category goes with more than five nominees, David Fincher's English-language take on Stieg Larsson's pitch-black thriller could find itself in the spotlight—just like its star, and Best Actress hopeful, Rooney Mara.
The Help
The Civil Rights-era drama with Emma Stone made a ton; Viola Davis made an impression. Look for the film and the actress to be rewarded accordingly.
Hugo
Martin Scorsese doesn't always win at the Oscars, but he's almost always in the game. And this valentine to the movies should keep him playing.
The Iron Lady
Meryl Streep's 28-year-long Oscar drought could be over with a Best Actress win for her uncanny take on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
J. Edgar
Clint Eastwood's biopic of the longtime FBI czar has its fans—even if Leonardo DiCaprio's old-man makeup doesn't.
Midnight in Paris
Given how much the Oscars heart Woody Allen, you gotta imagine they're going to heart his biggest-ever hit that much more—maybe all the way up to the Best Picture category.
Moneyball
The outside-the-lines baseball flick looks like a lock for the Best Picture and Best Actor races. (Get ready, red carpet, here comes Brad Pitt!)
The Tree of Life
Don't understand it? No worries. The Oscars telecast will somehow, someway sum it up for you when its Best Picture package airs.
War Horse
More than any other hopeful, the oddsmakers believe this Steven Spielberg equine epic is the movie to beat for Best Picture.