The 96th Academy Awards, held on March 10, 2024, celebrated a historic year in cinema characterized by the "Barbenheimer" cultural phenomenon and a return to large-scale auteur filmmaking. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer led the field with 13 nominations, followed closely by Poor Things with 11 and Killers of the Flower Moon with 10. This comprehensive list details every nominee across all 23 categories, documenting the achievements of the films that defined the 2023-2024 awards season.
The Landscape of the 96th Academy Awards
The 2024 Oscar season was marked by a significant shift in audience engagement and critical consensus. After several years of pandemic-related disruptions and shifting release schedules, 2023 provided a robust slate of theatrical releases that resonated both commercially and critically. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) faced the task of narrowing down a highly competitive field, resulting in a list of nominees that balanced massive blockbusters with intimate, international dramas.
Central to the narrative of the 2024 nominees was the dual success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. While Oppenheimer dominated the technical and traditional categories, Barbie secured its place in the cultural zeitgeist with eight nominations, including Best Picture. Meanwhile, international cinema continued its strong streak within the general categories, with films like Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest securing spots in major races beyond Best International Feature Film.
Best Picture Nominees
The Best Picture category remained the night's most prestigious honor, featuring ten films that represented a broad spectrum of genres, from satirical comedies to harrowing historical dramas.
- American Fiction: Produced by Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson, and Jermaine Johnson. A sharp satire on the commodification of Black culture in literature.
- Anatomy of a Fall: Produced by Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion. A French courtroom thriller that deconstructs a marriage through a forensic lens.
- Barbie: Produced by David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Robbie Brenner. A neon-hued exploration of existentialism and gender dynamics.
- The Holdovers: Produced by Mark Johnson. A character-driven "found family" story set in a 1970s New England prep school.
- Killers of the Flower Moon: Produced by Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese, and Daniel Lupi. A sprawling epic detailing the Osage Nation murders.
- Maestro: Produced by Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Fred Berner, and Amy Durning. A biographical look at the complex life of Leonard Bernstein.
- Oppenheimer: Produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan. A cinematic deep dive into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb.
- Past Lives: Produced by David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon, and Pamela Koffler. A quiet, profound meditation on destiny and lost connections.
- Poor Things: Produced by Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Emma Stone. A surrealist odyssey of self-discovery and liberation.
- The Zone of Interest: Produced by James Wilson. A chilling depiction of the banality of evil, focusing on the family of the commandant of Auschwitz.
Directing and Writing Categories
The Directing and Writing categories often serve as the structural backbone of the Academy Awards, highlighting the visionaries and architects behind the year's best stories.
Best Director
- Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall)
- Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon)
- Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)
- Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things)
- Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest)
Scorsese’s nomination marked his tenth in this category, further solidifying his status as the most-nominated living director. Christopher Nolan, however, entered the ceremony as the heavy favorite, having swept the precursor awards for his work on the scale and intimacy of the atomic age.
Best Adapted Screenplay
- American Fiction: Written for the screen by Cord Jefferson (based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett).
- Barbie: Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach (based on characters by Mattel).
- Oppenheimer: Written for the screen by Christopher Nolan (based on American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin).
- Poor Things: Written by Tony McNamara (based on the novel by Alasdair Gray).
- The Zone of Interest: Written by Jonathan Glazer (based on the novel by Martin Amis).
Best Original Screenplay
- Anatomy of a Fall: Written by Justine Triet and Arthur Harari.
- The Holdovers: Written by David Hemingson.
- Maestro: Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer.
- May December: Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik.
- Past Lives: Written by Celine Song.
Acting Categories: Lead and Supporting
The 2024 acting races were some of the most debated in recent memory, featuring career-defining performances and the emergence of new stars.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Bradley Cooper (Maestro)
- Colman Domingo (Rustin)
- Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)
- Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer)
- Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction)
Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer was widely cited for its "quiet intensity," while Paul Giamatti’s turn as a curmudgeonly teacher provided a sentimental favorite for many voters.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Annette Bening (Nyad)
- Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)
- Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall)
- Carey Mulligan (Maestro)
- Emma Stone (Poor Things)
This category featured a historic nomination for Lily Gladstone, the first Native American woman to be nominated in this category. She faced stiff competition from Emma Stone, whose transformative performance in Poor Things was a technical and emotional marvel.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction)
- Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon)
- Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)
- Ryan Gosling (Barbie)
- Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer)
- Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple)
- America Ferrera (Barbie)
- Jodie Foster (Nyad)
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)
Da'Vine Joy Randolph’s performance in The Holdovers was the most dominant run of the season, winning nearly every precursor award leading up to the Oscars.
Summary of Nominations and Wins for Major Films
The following table summarizes the performance of the most-nominated films of the 96th Academy Awards. This provides a clear overview of which productions dominated the various technical and artistic categories.
| Film Title | Total Nominations | Total Wins | Key Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oppenheimer | 13 | 7 | Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor |
| Poor Things | 11 | 4 | Best Actress, Production Design, Costume Design |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | 10 | 0 | - |
| Barbie | 8 | 1 | Best Original Song ("What Was I Made For?") |
| Maestro | 7 | 0 | - |
| American Fiction | 5 | 1 | Best Adapted Screenplay |
| The Anatomy of a Fall | 5 | 1 | Best Original Screenplay |
| The Holdovers | 5 | 1 | Best Supporting Actress |
| The Zone of Interest | 5 | 2 | Best International Feature, Best Sound |
Technical and Craft Categories
The technical categories in 2024 highlighted the incredible detail required to build worlds as diverse as the 1940s Los Alamos, a surrealist Victorian London, and a vibrant plastic "Barbieland."
Best Cinematography
- El Conde: Edward Lachman
- Killers of the Flower Moon: Rodrigo Prieto
- Maestro: Matthew Libatique
- Oppenheimer: Hoyte van Hoytema
- Poor Things: Robbie Ryan
Hoyte van Hoytema’s work on Oppenheimer was particularly noted for its pioneering use of IMAX black-and-white film stock, a first in cinema history.
Best Costume Design
- Barbie: Jacqueline Durran
- Killers of the Flower Moon: Jacqueline West
- Napoleon: Janty Yates and Dave Crossman
- Oppenheimer: Ellen Mirojnick
- Poor Things: Holly Waddington
Best Film Editing
- Anatomy of a Fall: Laurent Sénéchal
- The Holdovers: Kevin Tent
- Killers of the Flower Moon: Thelma Schoonmaker
- Oppenheimer: Jennifer Lame
- Poor Things: Yorgos Mavropsaridis
Best Production Design
- Barbie: Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
- Killers of the Flower Moon: Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis
- Napoleon: Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Elli Griff
- Oppenheimer: Production Design: Ruth De Jong; Set Decoration: Claire Kaufman
- Poor Things: Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek
Feature Categories: Animation, International, and Documentary
These categories highlight excellence in specific formats and global storytelling, often introducing Academy voters to narratives outside the Hollywood mainstream.
Best Animated Feature Film
- The Boy and the Heron: Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki
- Elemental: Peter Sohn and Denise Ream
- Nimona: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan, and Julie Zackary
- Robot Dreams: Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé, and Sandra Tapia Díaz
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal
The race saw a showdown between the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and the groundbreaking visual style of the Spider-Man sequel.
Best International Feature Film
- Io Capitano (Italy)
- Perfect Days (Japan)
- Society of the Snow (Spain)
- The Teachers' Lounge (Germany)
- The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom)
Best Documentary Feature Film
- Bobi Wine: The People's President: Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp, and John Battsek
- The Eternal Memory: Maite Alberdi
- Four Daughters: Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha
- To Kill a Tiger: Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe, and David Oppenheim
- 20 Days in Mariupol: Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, and Raney Aronson-Rath
20 Days in Mariupol provided one of the most sobering and impactful moments of the awards season, documenting the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Music and Sound Categories
The auditory experience of the 2024 nominees ranged from the sweeping orchestral arrangements of Ludwig Göransson to the pop-infused soundtrack of Barbie.
Best Original Score
- American Fiction: Laura Karpman
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: John Williams
- Killers of the Flower Moon: Robbie Robertson
- Oppenheimer: Ludwig Göransson
- Poor Things: Jerskin Fendrix
Best Original Song
- "The Fire Inside" from Flamin' Hot; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
- "I'm Just Ken" from Barbie; Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt
- "It Never Went Away" from American Symphony; Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson
- "Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)" from Killers of the Flower Moon; Music and Lyric by Scott George
- "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie; Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell
Best Sound
- The Creator: Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich, and Dean Zupancic
- Maestro: Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich, and Dean Zupancic
- Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One: Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor
- Oppenheimer: Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo, and Kevin O'Connell
- The Zone of Interest: Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn
Frequently Asked Questions
Which film had the most nominations at the 2024 Academy Awards?
Oppenheimer led the 96th Academy Awards with 13 nominations. It was a dominant force in both the "above-the-line" categories (Best Picture, Director, Acting) and "below-the-line" categories (Cinematography, Editing, Sound, Score).
Who hosted the 2024 Oscars?
Jimmy Kimmel returned to host the 96th Academy Awards. This marked his fourth time hosting the ceremony, providing a stable and experienced presence for the live broadcast on ABC.
Was "Barbie" snubbed in the major categories?
While Barbie received eight nominations, including Best Picture, there was significant public outcry regarding the omissions of Greta Gerwig for Best Director and Margot Robbie for Best Actress. However, both were still nominees in other capacities; Gerwig for Adapted Screenplay and Robbie as a producer for Best Picture.
What was the biggest surprise of the 2024 nominations?
One of the most notable surprises was the strong showing of Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest. Both international films secured five nominations each, including Best Picture and Best Director, which is relatively rare for non-English language or international co-productions in the same year.
How are the Oscar winners chosen?
The winners are chosen by the approximately 10,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Different branches (e.g., the Actors Branch, the Directors Branch) nominate within their specific categories, but the entire membership votes to determine the winners for most categories, including Best Picture.
Final Perspective on the 2024 Nominations
Looking back from 2026, the 2024 Academy Awards nominees represent a pivotal moment where high-concept blockbusters and rigorous artistic cinema found a rare equilibrium. The dominance of Oppenheimer signaled a renewed appetite for "grown-up" epics, while the success of Barbie and Poor Things showcased a thriving interest in bold, visual storytelling. For those looking to revisit these films, the official Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences archives provide exhaustive historical data on the 96th ceremony. Whether you are a student of film or a casual viewer, the 2024 list remains a benchmark for cinematic excellence in the mid-2020s.
