276 features eligible for 94th Academy Awards

The Academy said on Thursday (20) that 276 films are eligible for the 94th Academy Awards best picture category this season.

Leading contenders The Power Of The Dog, Belfast, Dune, West Side Story, King Richard, Don’t Look Up, Licorice Pizza, Coda, The Lost Daughter, tick, tick… BOOM!, The Tragedy Of Macbeth, Nightmare Alley, Drive My Car, Spencer, Being The Ricardos and Spider-Man: No Way Home are all on the list.

This season a fixed 10 films will be nominated for the best picture category in a change from recent years where members could nominate between five and 10 on a preferential ballot.

All 276 titles have met the qualifying criteria of opening in a commercial cinema in one of six US metropolitan areas including Los Angeles County and the five boroughs of New York City between March 1 and December 31 2021 and complete a minimum qualifying run of seven consecutive days in the same venue. Drive-in cinemas open nightly are included as qualifying commercial venues in the cities.

Films intended for theatrical release but initially made available through commercial streaming, VoD service or other broadcast may qualify if the film is made available on the secure Academy Screening Room member site within 60 days of the streaming/VOD release or broadcast. Feature films must have a running time of more than 40 minutes.

Distributors and campaigners behind features eligible for consideration must also have submitted a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards entry, although meeting inclusion thresholds will not be required for eligibility in the best picture category until the 96th Oscars in two years’ time.

Nominations voting runs from January 27-February 1, 2022, and the Academy will announce the nominations on February 8 ahead of the ceremony on March 27 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland® in Hollywood. ABC will televise the ceremony live.

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