Movies with the most 2020 Oscar nominations

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January 17, 2020
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Movies with the most 2020 Oscar nominations

The 92nd Academy Awards feature notable snubs and surprises, as well as a few records. The biggest successes came for the violent comic book story "Joker," and for the South Korean horror-inspired black comedy "Parasite." "Parasite" only has six nominations, but it's a standout as it's rare for a foreign-language film to secure nods beyond Best Foreign Language Film. Parasite scored that nomination in addition to one for Best Picture, while its director, Bong Joon Ho, became the first Korean person nominated for directing.

"Joker" is the 24th film to receive 11 nominations across Oscar history, while also leading in nominations this year. It has a long-shot chance to tie the record for most wins ever. It would need a clean sweep to share that honor with "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which is in a three-way tie with "Ben-Hur" and "Titanic." "Joker" is three nods shy of nomination record-holders "All About Eve," "Titanic," and "La La Land," with 14 each. This year's films didn't break records for the most nominations ever, though there are four Best Picture nominees with 10 or more nominations.

Since the Oscars aren't known for honoring blockbuster comic book movies, major wins for "Joker" could mark an upset. However, the cultural buzz around its nominations has spawned controversy. This year marked significant snubs for women, including Greta Gerwig in the Best Director category. "The Farewell" was also snubbed, with no nominations for Best Picture, actress Awkwafina, or writer-director Lulu Wang. Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Lopez also stood out as persons of color whose stellar performances were overlooked in acting categories.

This year's nominations had several records, including for streaming titan Netflix, which dominated with 24 total. We also saw records for the living person with the most nominations ever, composer John Williams. Also, seven people earned double nominations, including Scarlett Johansson and Cynthia Erivo, the single person of color nominated in an acting category.

Stacker compiled the full list of Oscar nominations released on Jan. 13 and ranked them according to most nods. The 92nd Academy Awards take place on Feb. 9, 2020. Read on to find out all the buzz around the records, snubs, and nods for the ranked films.

#18. The Lion King (tie)

- Director: Jon Favreau
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 55
- IMDb user rating: 7.0
- Runtime: 118 min

The live-action remake of Disney’s popular animated classic is nominated for Visual Effects. “The Lion King” seamlessly recreates the look of live-action footage through photorealistic CGI. Some fans considered the lack of nomination for Beyoncé’s “Spirit” for Best Original Song a notable snub.

#18. The Lighthouse (tie)

- Director: Robert Eggers
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 83
- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- Runtime: 109 min

Robert Eggers’ visually stunning “The Lighthouse” received a single nomination for Cinematography. The film, about two lighthouse keepers alone on a remote island in the 1890s, is shot in black-and-white as a means to capture both the era and the bleak, eventually nightmarish, experience of the men. Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke used rare film stock, custom filters, and antiquated lenses to achieve the film’s distinctive look.

#18. The Edge of Democracy (tie)

- Director: Petra Costa
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 81
- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- Runtime: 121 min

Netflix (leading the Oscar nominations with 24 total) has two films nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Critic David Ehrlich at IndieWire describes “The Edge of Democracy” as a “haunting portrait of Brazil’s recent slide back into the open jaws of dictatorship.” The documentary is crafted as a political thriller as it follows the rise and fall of Brazilian Presidents Dilma Rousseff and Lula da Silva.

#18. The Cave (tie)

- Director: Feras Fayyad
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 84
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Runtime: 107 min

“The Cave” director, Feras Fayyad, was previously nominated for a Best Documentary Feature Oscar for “Last Men in Aleppo” (2017). “The Cave” returns to the same subject, the Syrian War, this time examining an underground hospital. The film presents the experience of the women doctors who work there and the devastating circumstances that surround their patients during wartime.

#18. Rocketman (tie)

- Director: Dexter Fletcher
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 69
- IMDb user rating: 7.4
- Runtime: 121 min

Taron Egerton, who played Elton John in the musical biopic, “Rocketman,” was favored for a Best Actor Oscar nomination after he won the Best Actor Golden Globe (Musical or Comedy). But he was passed over for a nomination, in what was considered one of the season’s major snubs. The film’s single nomination is for Best Original Song. Elton John (Music) and Bernie Taupin (Lyrics) are nominated for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” which has a strong chance of winning.

#18. Richard Jewell (tie)

- Director: Clint Eastwood
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 69
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Runtime: 131 min

“Richard Jewell” marks Kathy Bates’ third nomination for Supporting Actress since her Best Actress win in 1990 for “Misery.” In “Richard Jewell,” directed by Clint Eastwood, Bates plays Bobi, the mother of the man wrongly accused of the Olympic Park Bombing. Adam Sandler, who played Bates’ son in “The Waterboy” (1998), tweeted congratulations to his movie “mama” while referencing his own snub in the Best Actor category for “Uncut Gems.”

#18. Missing Link (tie)

- Director: Chris Butler
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 68
- IMDb user rating: 6.7
- Runtime: 93 min

“Missing Link” received one nomination for Best Animated Feature. The well-reviewed story about Bigfoot was a box-office disappointment but scored a surprise Golden Globe win for Best Animated Movie despite going up against heavy-hitter franchises “Frozen 2,” “Toy Story 4,” “The Lion King” remake, and the third “How to Train Your Dragon.” The studio that made “Missing Link,” a small company based in Oregon, focuses on stop-motion animation with techniques much-admired by industry pros. It could garner another sneak attack win at the Oscars, though the Academy may be more likely to honor “Toy Story 4.”

#18. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (tie)

- Director: Joachim Rønning
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 43
- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- Runtime: 119 min

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” scored its single nomination for Makeup and Hairstyling. The first film, “Maleficent,” was a nominee for Costume Design in 2015. The movie features distinctive makeup that enhances star Angelina Jolie’s cheekbones and ears to create the look of the powerful fairy. Makeup designer and co-nominee David White designed looks for multiple fantasy characters inspired by natural environments with “each having its own color palette, textures, and style,” according to Variety’s Zoe Hewitt.

#18. Les Misérables (tie)

- Director: Ladj Ly
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 78
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Runtime: 102 min

According to the Academy Awards Database, France has the most nominations of any country for Foreign Language Film, now called International Feature Film. “Les Misérables,” a modern-day adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, but inspired by the 2005 Paris riots, marks France’s 38th nomination in this category. France has won nine awards and three special awards for Foreign Language Film with the last in 1992 for “Indochine.”

#18. Klaus (tie)

- Directors: Sergio Pablos, Carlos Martínez López
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 64
- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- Runtime: 96 min

Netflix’s first animated feature, “Klaus,” a story about the origins of Santa from Sergio Pablos Animation Studio in Madrid, is nominated for Best Animated Feature. The nomination came as a surprise and, according to Petrana Radulovic writing for Polygon, may have taken the place of the expected nominee “Frozen 2,” the blockbuster from Disney that was considered a shoo-in for this category.

#18. I Lost My Body (tie)

- Director: Jérémy Clapin
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 81
- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- Runtime: 81 min

Netflix is responsible for distributing “I Lost My Body,” though it doesn’t own the exclusive rights. The nominee for Best Animated Feature was also released in France and was the first animated film to win the Critics Week prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Carolyn Giardina, at The Hollywood Reporter, suggests its inclusion in this category accounts for Netflix’s increasing competitive edge over media companies like Disney after the projected favorite “Frozen II” was snubbed.

#18. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (tie)

- Director: Dean DeBlois
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 71
- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- Runtime: 104 min

The third installment in the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise joins the first and second films as nominees in the Best Animated Feature Film category. “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” has a single nomination just like its predecessors. If it wins, it’ll be a first for the franchise.

#18. Frozen II (tie)

- Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 64
- IMDb user rating: 7.2
- Runtime: 103 min

The first “Frozen” won both Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song (the powerhouse “Let it Go”) at the 86th Academy Awards in 2013. Though the sequel “Frozen II” is the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, it didn’t garner a nomination in the Best Animated Film category (widely considered a snub). Its single nomination is for Best Original Song “Into the Unknown.” It lost to fellow Oscar nominee “Rocketman” in the same category at the Golden Globes.

#18. For Sama (tie)

- Directors: Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 89
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Runtime: 100 min

“For Sama” is one of the most well-reviewed films of 2019, having won over 50 awards so far, including at the Cannes Film Festival. It was distributed theatrically by PBS before premiering on "Frontline." The story follows a young Syrian mother during the uprising in Aleppo, and the film is named for her daughter.

#18. Corpus Christi (tie)

- Director: Jan Komasa
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 68
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- Runtime: 115 min

“Corpus Christi” marks Poland’s 12th nomination, and fifth since 2007, in the Best International Feature Film category, previously called Best Foreign Language Film. Poland won for “Ida” in 2014, and this year’s “Corpus Christi,” a religious prison drama, is the category's long-shot winner. It shares the category with three films nominated in additional categories—including “Parasite” for Best Picture, “Honeyland” for Best Documentary, and “Pain and Glory,” with a Best Actor nomination for Antonio Banderas.

#18. Breakthrough (tie)

- Director: Roxann Dawson
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 46
- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- Runtime: 116 min

Diane Warren achieved her 11th nomination for Best Original Song with her ballad, “I’m Standing With You,” from the faith-based film “Breakthrough.” Chrissy Metz, known for her role on the TV show “This Is Us,” performs the song in the film. ”I’m Standing With You” would be Warren’s first win. The song would have to beat stronger favorites in this category from “Rocketman,” “Toy Story 4,” and “Frozen II.”

#18. Avengers: Endgame (tie)

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 78
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Runtime: 181 min

The comic book blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame” received a single nomination in the Visual Effects category. Both previous franchise entries “Marvel’s The Avengers” and “Avengers: Infinity War” also received prior single nominations in this same category. So far, the franchise has not received a win.

#18. American Factory (tie)

- Directors: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 86
- IMDb user rating: 7.6
- Runtime: 115 min

Netflix, the media company with the most nominations, 24, has two nominations in the Best Documentary Feature category. “American Factory” joins “The Edge of Democracy” as Netflix’s double nominees for Documentary. “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story,” both from Netflix, also compete in the Best Picture category. “American Factory” was produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, and examines globalization through an in-depth look at Ohio factory workers who clash with the Chinese management.

#18. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (tie)

- Director: Marielle Heller
- Nominations: 1
- Metascore: 80
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Runtime: 109 min

Tom Hanks received the single Oscar nomination for the Fred Rogers biopic “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” for Best Supporting Actor. It’s the actor’s sixth acting nomination, and the first since 2000 when he was nominated for Best Actor for “Cast Away.” Hanks’ two Oscar wins came back-to-back for “Philadelphia” in 1993 and “Forrest Gump” in 1994.

#13. Toy Story 4 (tie)

- Director: Josh Cooley
- Nominations: 2
- Metascore: 84
- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- Runtime: 100 min

“Toy Story 4” earned two nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, neither of which was a surprise. Randy Newman’s “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” is the composer’s fourth nomination in the Original Song category for the “Toy Story” franchise. He previously won for “We Belong Together” for “Toy Story 3.” Randy Newman is also a double nominee. His second nod is for Original Score for “Marriage Story.”

#13. Pain and Glory (tie)

- Director: Pedro Almodóvar
- Nominations: 2
- Metascore: 88
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Runtime: 113 min

“Pain and Glory” marks the third Pedro Almodóvar film to be nominated in the International Feature Film category. “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” was nominated in 1988, while “All About My Mother” won in 1999. Almodóvar’s “Talk to Her” received two nominations, and one win, in 2007. Antonio Banderas for Best Actor represents the film’s second nomination. Banderas plays a semi-autobiographical version of an older film director, a character inspired by Almodóvar himself.

#13. Judy (tie)

- Director: Rupert Goold
- Nominations: 2
- Metascore: 66
- IMDb user rating: 7.0
- Runtime: 118 min

Renée Zellweger received her third Best Actress nomination for the Judy Garland biopic “Judy.” She was previously nominated in acting categories in three consecutive years (2001–2003) for Lead Actress in “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and “Chicago” before winning Supporting Actress for “Cold Mountain.” Zellweger is the favorite to win after taking both the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award in the same category. “Judy” earned a second nomination for Makeup and Hairstyling.

#13. Honeyland (tie)

- Directors: Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov
- Nominations: 2
- Metascore: 86
- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- Runtime: 86 min

According to the Academy Awards Database, 34 Best Foreign Language Film nominees have also been nominated for Best Documentary; “Honeyland” is the 35th, nominated for both International Feature Film (for North Macedonia) and for Best Documentary feature. It has stiff competition in both categories and a much better chance of winning in the Documentary category. “Honeyland” tells the story of a beekeeper clashing with her neighbor in ways that mirror larger issues around sustainability, the natural environment, and profit.

#13. Harriet (tie)

- Director: Kasi Lemmons
- Nominations: 2
- Metascore: 66
- IMDb user rating: 6.3
- Runtime: 125 min

Seven people received two nominations each for the 92nd Academy Awards, one of whom is Cynthia Erivo for “Harriet.” She’s up for Best Actress and as co-writer for Original Song with “Stand Up.” Claire Shaffer at Rolling Stone reports that Erivo is the third actress in three years to be nominated in both an Acting category and for Original song for the same movie, joining Mary J. Blige for “Mudbound” and Lady Gaga for “A Star is Born.”

#10. The Two Popes (tie)

- Director: Fernando Meirelles
- Nominations: 3
- Metascore: 75
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Runtime: 125 min

Co-stars Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins have been nominated for acting honors for their performances in “The Two Popes” throughout awards season. Pryce is nominated for Best Actor (as Pope Francis) with Hopkins in the running for Supporting Actor (as Pope Benedict). “The Two Popes” also received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay but was shut out of the Best Picture category.

#10. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (tie)

- Director: J.J. Abrams
- Nominations: 3
- Metascore: 54
- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- Runtime: 142 min

Composer John Williams received a nomination for Best Original Score for his work on “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” the ninth film he’s scored in the “Star Wars” franchise. This nod marks his 52nd Academy Award nomination, the most for any living person (Walt Disney holds the record for most ever with 59). Williams’ last win was for “Schindler’s List” in 1993. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” also received nominations for Sound Editing and Visual Effects.

#10. Bombshell (tie)

- Director: Jay Roach
- Nominations: 3
- Metascore: 65
- IMDb user rating: 6.7
- Runtime: 109 min

Charlize Theron received a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of Megyn Kelly in “Bombshell,” the true story of the women who came forward with sexual harassment claims against Fox News magnate Roger Ailes. Theron tells Roisin O’Connor of The Independent that “Bombshell” is not a Megyn Kelly biopic, but rather the story of a situation that “will be a historical marker for women’s rights.” Margot Robbie received a nomination for Supporting Actress, while “Bombshell” was also nominated for Makeup and Hairstyling, recognizing Theron’s stunning physical transformation into Kelly.

#9. Ford v Ferrari

- Director: James Mangold
- Nominations: 4
- Metascore: 81
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Runtime: 152 min

“Ford v Ferrari,” the car race drama, was recognized for its technical prowess with nominations for Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. “Ford v Ferrari” also scored a Best Picture nomination. It’s a dark horse in that category as it’s up against heavy hitters with 10 or more nominations. However, the true story about visionary car enthusiasts was both well reviewed and popular with audiences, which could propel it to a surprise win.

#5. Parasite (tie)

- Director: Bong Joon Ho
- Nominations: 6
- Metascore: 96
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Runtime: 132 min

“Parasite” is the 11th film to be nominated for both Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film. A Best Picture win would be the first foreign-language film to do so. Director Bong Joon Ho is also the first Korean director to be nominated in the directing category. “Parasite” has an impressive U.S. box office (over $25 million), giving it a wider audience than most foreign language film nominees. Its six nominations also include Production Design, Editing, and Original Screenplay.

#5. Marriage Story (tie)

- Director: Noah Baumbach
- Nominations: 6
- Metascore: 93
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- Runtime: 137 min

“Marriage Story,” along with “The Irishman,” helped propel Netflix’s lead over other studios with 24 Oscar nods. “Marriage Story” scored nominations in four of the “Big Five Academy Awards.” Those include Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay. “Marriage Story” is only missing a Director nod for Noah Baumbach, though he is nominated for Original Screenplay. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are nominated in the top acting categories, with Laura Dern in Supporting Actress. The film also received a nomination for Original Score for Randy Newman, his second nomination after Best Original Song for “Toy Story 4.”

#5. Little Women (tie)

- Director: Greta Gerwig
- Nominations: 6
- Metascore: 91
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Runtime: 135 min

“Little Women” received a Best Picture nod, but director Greta Gerwig was notably left out—considered one of this year’s biggest Oscar snubs. Nominee announcer Issa Rae quipped, “Congratulations to those men,” right after the Director category was revealed. Gerwig was nominated for Adapted Screenplay for writing the acclaimed film. “Little Women” also received nominations for Saoirse Ronan (Best Actress) and Florence Pugh (Supporting). Its other nods were for Original Score and Costume Design.

#5. Jojo Rabbit (tie)

- Director: Taika Waititi
- Nominations: 6
- Metascore: 57
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- Runtime: 108 min

Scarlett Johansson is the 12th person to receive two acting nominations in the same year, according to the Academy Awards Database. In addition to Best Actress for “Marriage Story,” she also has a Supporting Actress nomination for “Jojo Rabbit.” The film was also nominated for Best Picture, though Taika Waititi did not receive a Director nomination, instead nominated for Adapted Screenplay. “Jojo Rabbit” also received nominations for Production Design, Editing, and Costume Design.

#2. The Irishman (tie)

- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Nominations: 10
- Metascore: 94
- IMDb user rating: 8.1
- Runtime: 209 min

The 10 nominations for “The Irishman” helped catapult streaming giant Netflix to its record 24 nods. This is Netflix’s first time leading all studios for most nominations in a single year, including two Best Picture nominees for this film and “Marriage Story.” Though Robert De Niro was overlooked for Best Actor, both Al Pacino and Joe Pesci were recognized in the Supporting Actor category. Martin Scorsese received his ninth nomination for Directing (his single win is for “The Departed” in 2006). “The Irishman” also has nominations for Adapted Screenplay, Visual Effects, Production Design, Costume Design, Cinematography, and Editing.

#2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (tie)

- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Nominations: 10
- Metascore: 83
- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- Runtime: 161 min

Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor in the Best Picture nominee “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Co-star Brad Pitt scored his fourth acting nomination—this year for Supporting Actor, which could be his first win (he’s the running favorite and beat out the same slate of nominees at the Golden Globes). Quentin Tarantino received nominations for both Original Screenplay and Director. He was also nominated for this combo for “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglourious Basterds,” both of which were also nominated for Best Picture. No Tarantino film has won Best Picture, but he’s won twice for Original Screenplay for “Pulp Fiction” and “Django Unchained.” The film’s other nominations include Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.

#2. 1917 (tie)

- Director: Sam Mendes
- Nominations: 10
- Metascore: 79
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Runtime: 119 min

Writing for IndieWire, Anne Thompson calls “1917” a “surprise overachiever” for this year’s Oscars, predicting its chance to knock out the bigger favorites to take Best Picture. The war film didn’t score any acting nominations, so a win would make it only the 12th Best Picture winner without acting nods. Sam Mendes was nominated for Directing and Original Screenplay as a co-writer. The film also achieved nominations for Cinematography, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects.

#1. Joker

- Director: Todd Phillips
- Nominations: 11
- Metascore: 59
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Runtime: 122 min

“Joker” garnered the most Oscar nominations, 11 total, which sparked controversy among critics and fans. BuzzFeed News’ Scaachi Koul reported on the umbrage from critics decrying the film’s violence and shallow male victim, even though “Joker,” by its conclusion can be seen as presenting a “hero to disaffected people everywhere.” In addition to Best Picture and Director, “Joker” received nominations for Makeup and Hairstyling, Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Costume Design, Cinematography, Original Score, and Adapted Screenplay. Joaquin Phoenix received his fourth acting nomination for Best Actor. He reportedly lost 52 pounds to play the title role and is a strong favorite to win.

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