With the unveiling of the Academy’s shortlists, we now know the final 10 films in contention for Best Visual Effects. While there were no massive snubs to speak of, it was disappointing to see something like The Substance miss out. Likewise, with the fact no animated films made it through, which is particularly frustrating in a year with films like The Wild Robot, Flow, and Inside Out 2.
Much like 2021, we’re likely looking at a scenario where Dune: Part Two sweeps this entire season with very little competition. Naturally, it entirely deserves to, but it does make writing these monthly pieces a little dull. At least for another month, we can have some fun speculating which four films will join it.
For now, I think the Academy will almost entirely match the Critics Choice Awards nominations with Wicked, Gladiator II, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes making it through. That fifth spot is proving tricky to predict. It absolutely could be Better Man or maybe Twisters. Purely on the fact the Academy nominated The Lion King in 2019, I’m going with Mufasa: The Lion King for now.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS PREDICTIONS:
1. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.) – CCA
2. Wicked (Universal Pictures) – CCA
3. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Studios) – CCA
4. Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures) – CCA
5. Mufasa: The Lion King (Walt Disney Pictures)
IN CONTENTION
Alien: Romulus (20th Century Studios)
Better Man (Paramount Pictures) – CCA
Civil War (A24)
Deadpool & Wolverine (Walt Disney)
Twisters (Warner Bros.)