14 Movies That Already Have Oscar Buzz

This year's big film festivals have already taken place, dripping their drops of Oscar buzz, and we are officially in the thick of Fall movie season — aka Oscar-qualifying season. Lots of the movies that are likely to get Oscar nominations are already out or coming out soon, so we're giving you the inside scoop on what films those are, and what you should see if you want to be ahead of award season before award season even gets here.

01
Spotlight
Open Road Films

Spotlight

The movie's premise is painful: it follows the Boston Globe's exposure of the Catholic church's methodical burying of molestation accusations — but Spotlight quietly shines. The movie is getting buzz for a best picture nomination, and though its collection of individual strong performances is one of the film's features, Mark Ruffalo's name is getting tossed around for a best supporting actor nod.

02
Carol
The Weinstein Company

Carol

Both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara have been getting raves for their performances since the Todd Haynes-directed film debuted at Cannes Film Festival. If both are nominated, look for Blanchett in the best actress category with Mara in the supporting category.

03
The Danish Girl
Focus Features

The Danish Girl

Eddie Redmayne is being set up for back-to-back Oscar nominations — if not wins — for his performance in this film about transgender pioneer Lili Elbe. It's not all about him, though: Alicia Vikander is also getting a lot of buzz for her role as Lili's wife.

04
Truth
Sony Pictures Classics

Truth

The account of Dan Rather's 2004 reporting controversy has been getting good reviews for both Robert Redford as Rather and Cate Blanchett as his producer, so it's entirely possible Blanchett could be up for two nods this year for two different movies.

05
Beasts of No Nation
Netflix

Beasts of No Nation

The movie that came to Netflix the same day as it premiered in theaters has people buzzing about Idris Elba for best actor and Cary Fukunaga for best director.

06
Sicario
Lionsgate

Sicario

Emily Blunt is so good in Sicario that we're hopeful for a best actress nomination for her, but it's also looking like her costar Benicio Del Toro is in the running for best supporting actor.

07
The Martian
20th Century Studios

The Martian

The Martian may not be destined to simply be an entertaining crowd-pleaser. The special-effects-heavy film is a shoo-in for technical awards, but could Matt Damon also score a nod for best actor? We're hopeful.

08
Black Mass
Warner Bros.

Black Mass

The biopic about Whitey Bulger got uneven reviews, but Johnny Depp's performance has gotten raves. He has a great shot at getting a nod for best actor.

09
Brooklyn

Brooklyn

The 1950s-set romantic drama starring Saoirse Ronan was well-received at film festivals and could be in the running for best picture.

10
Joy
20th Century Studios

Joy

David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence are basically a recipe for Oscars, so even though this movie has barely been screened, people are already saying Lawrence has a best actress nomination in the bag.

11
Room
FilmNation

Room

This standout film won the people's choice award at Toronto International Film Festival and is one of our favorite movies of the season. The story may be devastating (a woman and her son are held hostage in a shed for seven years), but the performances by Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay — who could be one of the youngest Oscar nominees ever — lift up the bleak premise. Larson, Tremblay, and Joan Allen are all getting acting nomination buzz.

12
The Revenant
20th Century Studios

The Revenant

Though it hasn't been screened yet, Alejandro González Iñárritu was 2015's best director, so hopes are high for his epic adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Stay tuned for more on this one.

13
Steve Jobs
Universal Pictures

Steve Jobs

While the portrayal of Steve Jobs as a person has been disputed, no one is arguing that Michael Fassbender isn't great as the late Apple cofounder. Also getting tossed around for a best supporting actress nomination is Kate Winslet as Jobs's assertive colleague.

14
Inside Out
Disney

Inside Out

Everyone loves a Pixar movie, especially the Academy. Inside Out was one of Summer's biggest hits and its most emotionally satisfying movie so far. We see this one as a lock for the winner of best animated film and maybe even a best picture contender.