305 Films Eligible For Oscar
Monday, December 14, 2015 at 4:17PM 
The Academy has released the list of all titles that are eligible for Best Picture and general Oscar categories this year. (Note: a few of the categories have different rules like docs, animated films, foreign films). The most amusing thing about looking over the list is tallying how many you've never heard of and how many you forgot were actually released. It's also fun to see really odd juxtapositions that come from alpha order... like Tangerine sandwiched between two bro friendly franchises: Taken 3 and Ted 2...
For those of you that are like "hey, I thought ____ was in the running for foreign film last year". Yes it's true. There are some of those. But if a film does not have a theatrical qualifying release in the States the year it is submitted for foreign language film and then does not with the nomination for foreign film, it can be eligible for general categories the next year if it receives a theatrical release. That's what happened to City of God years ago; it was submitted for 2002 and snubbed for foreign only to be released in 2003 with shocking Oscar attention as a result. But not every foreign title, even if it gets a release during the calendar year it's Oscar submitted for best foreign language film does the paperwork to be eligible in other categories. For instance the fine Brazilian film The Second Mother was theatrically released and earned nearly $400,000 in the arthouses over the early fall but it is not eligible outside of foreign film this year. Same story with The Assassin which is now in theaters but only bothered to be considered for foreign film (in other words you won't see it as a surprise Best Cinematography nominee though many fans were rooting for that).
Other things worth noting. Some films that feel like 2015 films actually had qualifying runs in 2014 so they were eligible last year (damn those qualifying runs) -- Paddington is the biggest hit that fits that category. Maps to the Stars was lost somewhere between the two years. Notable films that hit theaters in 2015 that we talked about righ here on the blog but that won't be eligible (probably because they didn't bother to submit paperwork) include: the drug drama Animals, the period romance A Little Chaos with Kate Winslet, Song One with Anne Hathaway and Strangerland with Nicole Kidman.
The complete list is after the jump if you're interested...
ADULT BEGINNERS
AFTER WORDS
THE AGE OF ADALINE
ALLELUIA
ALOFT
ALOHA
ALTERED MINDS
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP
AMERICAN ULTRA
AMY
ANOMALISA
ANT-MAN
ARDOR
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
BEASTS OF NO NATION
BECOMING BULLETPROOF
BEFORE WE GO
BEST OF ENEMIES
BEYOND THE REACH
THE BIG SHORT
BIG STONE GAP
BLACK MASS
BLACKBIRD
BLACKHAT
BONE TOMAHAWK
A BORROWED IDENTITY
THE BOY AND THE BEAST
BOY AND THE WORLD
THE BOY NEXT DOOR
BOYCHOIR
BRAND: A SECOND COMING BRIDGE OF SPIES
BRIDGE OF SPIES
A BRILLIANT YOUNG MIND
BROOKLYN
BUEN DÍA, RAMÓN
BURNT
BY THE SEA
CAPTIVE
CAPTURE THE FLAG
CARE OF FOOTPATH 2
CARL(A)
CAROL
CARTEL LAND
CARTER HIGH
CENSORED VOICES
CHAMPS
CHAPPIE
CHI-RAQ
CHILD 44
A CHRISTMAS STAR
CINDERELLA
CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA
COMING HOME
CONCUSSION
COP CAR
CREED
CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES
CRIMSON PEAK
THE CUT
THE D TRAIN
DADDY’S HOME
THE DANISH GIRL
DANNY COLLINS
DELKA: STAND-UP TALL OR FALL
THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL
THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT
DIXIELAND
DOPE
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY
DUKHTAR
EDEN
EFFIE GRAY
THE END OF THE TOUR
ENTOURAGE
ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST
EVEREST
EVERY THING WILL BE FINE
EX MACHINA
EXPERIMENTER
FANTASTIC FOUR
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
FELT
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
5 FLIGHTS UP
5 TO 7
FOCUS
45 YEARS
FRAME BY FRAME
FREAKS OF NATURE
FREEDOM
FREEHELD
FURIOUS SEVEN
FUTURO BEACH
THE GALLOWS
GEMMA BOVERY
GET HARD
THE GIFT
GIRLHOOD
GLORIA
GODSPEED: THE STORY OF PAGE JONES
THE GOOD DINOSAUR
GOOD KILL
GOODNIGHT MOMMY
GOOSEBUMPS
GRANDMA
GUIDANCE
HAMLET’S GHOST
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
HE NAMED ME MALALA
HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT
HEMALKASA
HITMAN: AGENT 47
HOME
HOT PURSUIT
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2
THE HUNTING GROUND
I SMILE BACK
I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
IN THE HEART OF THE SEA
INFINITELY POLAR BEAR
INGRID BERGMAN – IN HER OWN WORDS
INSIDE OUT
THE INTERN
IRRATIONAL MAN
IT FOLLOWS
JALAM
JAMES WHITE
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS
JENNY’S WEDDING
JIMMY’S HALL
JOY
JUPITER ASCENDING
JURASSIC WORLD
JUST BEFORE I GO
KAHLIL GIBRAN‘S THE PROPHET
KILLING THEM SAFELY
KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE
KRAMPUS
KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER
KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK
LA JAULA DE ORO
LABYRINTH OF LIES
THE LADY IN THE VAN
LAMBERT & STAMP
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
THE LAST WITCH HUNTER
THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE – PART 0
LEARNING TO DRIVE
LEGEND
A LEGO BRICKUMENTARY
THE LETTERS
LILA AND EVE
LITTLE ACCIDENTS
THE LONGEST RIDE
THE LOOK OF SILENCE
LOST BIRDS
LOST RIVER
LOVE & MERCY
LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT
MACBETH
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
MAGGIE
MAGIC MIKE XXL
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
MANGLEHORN
THE MARTIAN
MATCH
MAX
MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS
MCFARLAND, USA
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
MEADOWLAND
MEDITERRANEA
MERU
MINIONS
MISERY LOVES COMEDY
MISS YOU ALREADY
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION
MISSISSIPPI GRIND
MR. HOLMES
MISTRESS AMERICA
MOOMINS ON THE RIVIERA
MORTDECAI
MUHAMMAD: THE MESSENGER OF GOD
MUSTANG
MY ALL AMERICAN
NACHOM-IA KUMPASAR
THE NIGHT BEFORE
99 HOMES
NO ESCAPE
THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED
OUR BRAND IS CRISIS
PAN
PAPER TOWNS
PARANOID GIRLS
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION
PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2
PAULO COELHO’S BEST STORY
PAWN SACRIFICE
THE PEANUTS MOVIE
THE PERFECT GUY
PINK & BLUE: COLORS OF HEREDITARY CANCER
PITCH PERFECT 2
PIXELS
POACHED
POD
POINT BREAK
POLTERGEIST
PROJECT ALMANAC
QUEEN AND COUNTRY
RACING EXTINCTION
RANGITARANGA
REGULAR SHOW: THE MOVIE
REMEMBER
A REUNION
THE REVENANT
RICKI AND THE FLASH
RIDE THE THUNDER – A VIETNAM WAR STORY OF VICTORY & BETRAYAL
THE ROAD WITHIN
ROCK THE KASBAH
ROOM
THE RUMPERBUTTS
RUN ALL NIGHT
SAINT LAURENT
SALT BRIDGE
THE SALVATION
SAMBA
SAN ANDREAS
SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
SECRET IN THEIR EYES
SERENA
SET FIRE TO THE STARS
SEVENTH SON
71
SEYMOUR: AN INTRODUCTION
SHARKSKIN
SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE
SHELTER
SICARIO
SISTERS
SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
SON OF SAUL
SOUTHPAW
SPECTRE
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER
SPOTLIGHT
SPY
THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
STEVE JOBS
STEVE MCQUEEN: THE MAN & LE MANS
STONEWALL
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
STRANGE MAGIC
SUFFRAGETTE
THE SUMMER OF SANGAILE
SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT
TAKEN 3
TANGERINE
TED 2
10,000 KM
TERMINATOR GENISYS
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH
THESE FINAL HOURS
THE 33
TIME OUT OF MIND
TINKER BELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE NEVERBEAST
TOM AT THE FARM
TOMORROWLAND
TRAINWRECK
THE TRIBE
TRUE STORY
TRUMBO
TRUTH
TWINSTERS
TWO MEN IN TOWN
UNCLE JOHN
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
UNFRIENDED
VACATION
VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN
VICTORIA
THE VISIT
THE WALK
A WALK IN THE WOODS
WAR ROOM
THE WATER DIVINER
WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS
THE WEDDING RINGER
WELCOME TO ME
WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT
WHILE WE’RE YOUNG
WHITE GOD
THE WIDOWMAKER
WOLF TOTEM
THE WOLFPACK
WOMAN IN GOLD
XENIA
YOU CARRY ME
YOUTH
Z FOR ZACHARIAH
Reader Comments (22)
Seems weird that The Second Mother didn't submit the paperwork, or whatever. I've seen ads promoting Regina Case for Best Actress. Maybe that was strictly for the Golden Globes. Sad, it was one of my Top 5 for the year.
It's such a shame that MOMMY got stuck between years and didn't make much awards impact.
Julianne deserves mentions for Maps to the Stars.
Sadly no one cares about the movie...
Thought the Phoenix folks might at least submit it.
Really sucks that The Assassin won't qualify for the visual awards.
And that Pigeon Sat on a Branch... won't be up for Production Design, Makeup, or Single Funniest Line in a Cafeteria.
Aloha. Lol.
From what I saw here in Brazil, this is my top 10:
BOY AND THE WORLD
DOPE
EX MACHINA
IT FOLLOWS
LA JAULA DE ORO
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
MAGIC MIKE XXL
MISTRESS AMERICA
SPY
VICTORIA
But all the oscar hopefuls waits until late january to release around here to get a boost with nominations
sigh =/
Thank goodness "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2" is eligible. I was worried this cinematic treasure would be lost on the Academy.
#PBforBP
On a serious note, it is unfortunate that some really great films aren't going to be competing this year because of weird qualifying runs and paperwork decisions. I would have loved to see "Mommy" slip in somewhere.
Seeing this list, I am truly mystified that Bradley Cooper didn't receive the NYFCC Best Actor citation for Aloha, Serena, Burnt and Joy.
Out of these, I think my alphabetical top 10 would look like this:
CREED
GIRLHOOD
GRANDMA
INSIDE OUT
IT FOLLOWS
MISTRESS AMERICA
ROOM
SPOTLIGHT
SPY
WHILE WE'RE YOUNG
I've seen around 35 movies from the list.
Mommy was included in the eligibility list last year, eh?
Carlos -- i believe it was, yes.
Why isn't SLOW WEST with Michael Fassbender on this list? I saw (and loved ) it in a movie theater earlier this year.
Wait, no BRIDGE OF SPIES?
Carlos -- I double checked and it is on there. I pulled the list from THE WRAP since the Oscar page didn't have type you could copy, just pdf. But BRIDGE OF SPIES is on there.
I've seen 30, but less than half are even close to featuring in the season.
I really must make better choices.
No The Lobster?
Macbeth should get more awards and nominations. It's very unique film, stunning in visuals, brilliant performed, outstanding music and sound, a great achievement in direction and extraordinary piece of art.
Marion Cotillard is superb in it, her Lady Macbeth isn't one-side character which makes the role and the whole film more interesting. She really deserves an Oscar nomination for that marvelous work.
I've only seen 35, but by end of January it'll be at least 50 of them. And most "in the conversation."
Ian -- it never opened here. i suppose they're saving it until next year but that's so strange since there was so much conversation. it's Maps to the Stars all over again (sigh)
Paul Outlaw: that's dedication. I have no idea how you find the time. (I might do 8 more before end Jan).
Makes you wonder how many a voter has the opportunity to see.
@ BJT:
It's my unpaid part-time job. ;-) I'm expecting screeners in the mail (or digitally) in the next few weeks and I still have to see eight of the 16 SAG acting nominees. Another seven (docs, animated, foreign language) by January 31 should be easy...
According to the reminder list of eligible releases...
Inelegible:
Addicted To Fresno (2015) Jamie Babbit
Dark Places (2015) Gilles Paquet-Brenner
Digging For Fire (2015) Joe Swanberg
Entertainment (2015) Rick Alverson
Gabriel (2014) Lou Howe
Hungry Hearts (2014) Saverio Costanzo
The Keeping Room (2014) Daniel Barber
Life (2015) Anton Corbijn
A Little Chaos (2014) Alan Rickman
The Little Death (2014) Josh Lawson
Love The Coopers (2015) Jessie Nelson
Maps To The Stars (2014) David Cronenberg
Nasty Baby (2015) Sebastián Silva
The Overnight (2015) Patrick Brice
Partisan (2015) Ariel Kleiman
Queen Of Earth (2015) Alex Ross Perry
Results (2015) Andrew Bujalski
The Riot Club (2014) Lone Scherfig
A Royal Night Out (2015) Julian Jarrold
Self/Less (2015) Tarsem Singh
Slow West (2015) John Maclean
Strangerland (2015) Kim Farrant
Last year nominees [this ineligibility rule must be revoked]
Tangerines (2013) Zaza Urushadze
Timbuktu (2014) Abderrahmane Sissako
The foreign releases:
Difret (2014) Zeresenay Mehari
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (2015) Tadayoshi Yamamuro
The Farewell Party (2014) Tal Granit & Sharon Maymon
Far From Men (2014) David Oelhoffen
La French / The Connection (2014) Cédric Jimenez
Huevos: Little Rooster's Egg-cellent Adventure (2015) Gabriel Riva Palacio Alatriste & Rodolfo Riva-Palacio Alatriste
Love (2015) Gaspar Noé
Phoenix (2014) Christian Petzold
Trash (2014) Stephen Daldry
The Wonders (2014) Alice Rohrwacher
The foreign submissions:
The Assassin (2015) Hsiao-Hsien Hou
A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence (2014) Roy Andersson
The Second Mother (2015) Anna Muylaert
Theeb (2014) Naji Abu Nowar
The documentaries [they don't need to open to qualified?]
Going Clear - Scientology And The Prison Of Belief (2015) Alex Gibney
Heart Of A Dog (2015) Laurie Anderson
Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015) Kent Jones
Janis - Little Girl Blue (2015) Amy Berg
Listen To Me Marlon (2015) Stevan Riley
Tab Hunter Confidential (2015) Jeffrey Schwarz
3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets (2015) Marc Silver
We Come As Friends (2014) Hubert Sauper
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015) Liz Garbus
Winter On Fire (2015) Evgeny Afineevsky