Oscars Predictions: Best Cinematography – Is ‘Oppenheimer’ the Frontrunner or Could Two ‘Killers’ Charm More Voters?

VarietyAwards Circuitsection is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

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2024 Oscars Predictions:

Best Achievement in Cinematography

A24 Weekly Commentary (Updated Sept. 14, 2023): It was announced Oppenheimer cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema will be honored with Varietys Creative Impact in Cinematography award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, pushing the D.P. to the forefront of the Oscar race.

The Dutch D.P. has worked with director Christopher Nolan on his last three movies Dunkirk (2017), Interstellar (2014) and Tenet (2020). He was nominated for his work on the 2017 film but lost out to Roger Deakins for Blade Runner 2049. With Nolans movie being the current frontrunner, as agreed upon by pundits, and Dune Part Two moving out of the year, multiple tech noms (and wins) will be required if it hopes to cross the finish line.

Also in the race are some overdue veterans like Rodrigo Prieto, who has two films in the race Barbie and the more likely Killers of the Flower Moon. Respected in Hollywood, cinematographers such as Dariusz Wolski (Napoleon) and ukasz al (The Zone of Interest) will have passionate backers.

We also have past winners in the conversation such as Erik Messerschmidt, who also has double shots at goal this year with Neons Ferrari and Netflixs The Killer. Hell compete for one of the five slots against previous winners like Linus Sandgren for Saltburn and Robert Richardson for Air.

Read:VarietysAwards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.

The submission deadline for general categories is Nov. 18, 2023. Preliminary shortlist voting will begin on Dec. 18, with the results announced on Dec. 21. The voting period will run from Jan. 11-16, 2024, with the official nominations announcement on Jan. 23.

The 96th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 10.

***The list below is not final and will be updated throughout the awards season.

And the Predicted Nominees Are:Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures) Hoyte van HoytemaKillers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures) Rodrigo PrietoThe Zone of Interest (A24) ukasz alSaltburn (Amazon MGM Studios) Linus SandgrenThe Killer (Netflix) Erik Messerschmidt Next in LinePoor Things (Searchlight Pictures) Robbie RyanNapoleon (Apple Original Films/Sony Pictures) Dariusz WolskiMaestro (Netflix) Matthew LibatiquePast Lives (A24) Shabier KirchnerEl Conde (Netflix) Edward Lachman Other Top-Tier PossibilitiesAir (Amazon MGM Studios) Robert RichardsonFerrari (Neon) Erik MesserschmidtOrigin (Neon) Matthew J. LloydBarbie (Warner Bros.) Rodrigo PrietoThe Holdovers (Focus Features) Eigil BryidThe Bikeriders (20th Century Studios) Adam StoneThe Iron Claw (A24) Mtys ErdlyThe Taste of Things (IFC Films/Sapan Studio) Jonathan RicquebourgThe Color Purple (Warner Bros.) Dan LaustsenAll of Us Strangers (Searchlight Pictures) Jamie D. Ramsay Also In ContentionDumb Money (Sony Pictures) Nikolas KarakatsanisMay December (Netflix) Christopher BlauveltAnatomy of a Fall (Neon) Simon BeaufilsRustin (Netflix) Tobias A. SchliesslerAsteroid City (Focus Features) Robert YeomanFair Play (Netflix) Menno MansPriscilla (A24) Philippe Le SourdBlackBerry (IFC Films) Jared RaabFreuds Last Session (Sony Pictures Classics) Ben Smithard **The Burial (Amazon Studios) Maryse Alberti All Eligible Titles (Alphabetized by Studio)** A Haunting in Venice (20th Century Studios)The Bikeriders (20th Century Studios)Beau is Afraid (A24)Dream Scenario (A24)The Iron Claw (A24)Janet Planet (A24) **Past Lives (A24)Priscilla (A24)Showing Up (A24)Tuesday (A24) **When You Finish Saving the World (A24)You Hurt My Feelings (A24)The Zone of Interest (A24)Air (Amazon MGM Studios)The Burial (Amazon MGM Studios)Cassandro (Amazon MGM Studios)Foe (Amazon MGM Studios)Saltburn (Amazon MGM Studios)Fingernails (Apple Original Films)Flora and Son (Apple Original Films)Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)Napoleon (Apple Original Films/Sony Pictures)The Pigeon Tunnel (Apple Original Films)Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple Original Films)Across the River and Into the Trees (Bleecker Street)Golda (Bleecker Street)The Origin (Bleecker Street)Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (DreamWorks Animation)Trolls Band Together (DreamWorks Animation)Asteroid City (Focus Features)Every Body (Focus Features)The Holdovers (Focus Features)My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (Focus Features)A Thousand and One (Focus Features)The Boy and the Heron (GKids)BlackBerry (IFC Films)Monica (IFC Films)R.M.N. (IFC Films)The Taste of Things (IFC Films/Sapan Studio)Flamin Hot (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)Evil Does Not Exist (Janus Films)Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret (Lionsgate)The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Lionsgate)John Wick Chapter 4 (Lionsgate)Joy Ride (Lionsgate)Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures)Master Gardener (Magnolia Pictures)Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quanumania (Marvel Studios)Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Marvel Studios)The Marvels (Marvel Studios)Bottoms (MGM/Orion)The Boys in the Boat (MGM)Creed III (MGM)Landscape with Invisible Hand (MGM)American Fiction (MGM)The Eternal Memory (MTV Documentary Films)The Delinquents (Mubi)Fallen Leaves (Mubi)The Settlers (Mubi)Unclenching the Fists (Mubi)Anatomy of a Fall (Neon)Eileen (Neon)Ferrari (Neon)How to Blow Up a Pipeline (Neon)La Chimera (Neon)Longlegs (Neon)Mothers Instinct (Neon)Origin (Neon)Perfect Days (Neon)The Royal Hotel (Neon)The Deepest Breath (Netflix)El Conde (Netflix)Fair Play (Netflix)The Killer (Netflix)Leave the World Behind (Netflix)May December (Netflix)Maestro (Netflix)Nyad (Netflix)Rebel Moon (Netflix)Reptile (Netflix)Rustin (Netflix)Society of the Snow (Netflix)Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)Lee (No U.S. Distribution)Memory (No U.S Distribution)Monster (No U.S. Distribution)Bob Marley: One Love (Paramount Pictures) **Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount Pictures)Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (Paramount Pictures)Please Dont Destroy This Project (Peacock)Black Ice (Roadside Attractions)Camp Hideout (Roadside Attractions)Dreamin Wild (Roadside Attractions)The Last Rider (Roadside Attractions)Moving On (Roadside Attractions)Somewhere in Queens (Roadside Attractions)All of Us Strangers (Searchlight Pictures)Chevalier (Searchlight Pictures)Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures)Theater Camp (Searchlight Pictures)Dumb Money (Sony Pictures)The Equalizer 3 (Sony Pictures)Freuds Last Session (Sony Pictures Classics)A Little Prayer (Sony Pictures Classics)The Miracle Club (Sony Pictures Classics)Persian Version (Sony Pictures Classics)Shadya (Sony Pictures Classics)Shortcomings (Sony Pictures Classics)Teachers Lounge (Sony Pictures Classics)Cocaine Bear (Universal Pictures)The Exorcist: Believer (Universal Pictures)Fast X (Universal Pictures)M3gan (Universal Pictures)Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)She Came to Me (Vertical Entertainment)Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Warner Bros.)Barbie (Warner Bros.)Blue Beetle (Warner Bros.)The Color Purple (Warner Bros.) The Flash (Warner Bros.)Wonka (Warner Bros.) Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Warner Bros.)The Little Mermaid (Walt Disney Pictures) 2022 category winner: All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix) James Friend

** indicates an unconfirmed release date in 2023 or could campaign in the lead or supporting categories. All release dates are subject to change.

Oscars Predictions Categories BEST PICTURE | DIRECTOR | BEST ACTOR | BEST ACTRESS | SUPPORTING ACTOR | SUPPORTING ACTRESS | ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY | ADAPTED SCREENPLAY | ANIMATED FEATURE | PRODUCTION DESIGN | CINEMATOGRAPHY | COSTUME DESIGN | FILM EDITING | MAKEUP HAIRSTYLING | SOUND | VISUAL EFFECTS | ORIGINAL SCORE | ORIGINAL SONG | DOCUMENTARY FEATURE | INTERNATIONAL FEATURE | ANIMATED SHORT | DOCUMENTARY SHORT | LIVE ACTION SHORT

About the Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywoods most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners have been selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Seventeen branches are represented within the nearly 10,000-person membership. The branches are actors, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists representatives), music, producers, production design, short films and feature animation, sound, visual effects and writers.