14 Movies That Already Have Oscar Buzz

The movie's premise is painful: it follows the Boston Globe's exposure of the Catholic church's methodical burying of molestation accusations — but Spotlight quietly shines. The movie is getting buzz for a best picture nomination, and though its collection of individual strong performances is one of the film's features, Mark Ruffalo's name is getting tossed around for a best supporting actor nod.

Both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara have been getting raves for their performances since the Todd Haynes-directed film debuted at Cannes Film Festival. If both are nominated, look for Blanchett in the best actress category with Mara in the supporting category.

Eddie Redmayne is being set up for back-to-back Oscar nominations — if not wins — for his performance in this film about transgender pioneer Lili Elbe. It's not all about him, though: Alicia Vikander is also getting a lot of buzz for her role as Lili's wife.

The account of Dan Rather's 2004 reporting controversy has been getting good reviews for both Robert Redford as Rather and Cate Blanchett as his producer, so it's entirely possible Blanchett could be up for two nods this year for two different movies.

The movie that came to Netflix the same day as it premiered in theaters has people buzzing about Idris Elba for best actor and Cary Fukunaga for best director.

Emily Blunt is so good in Sicario that we're hopeful for a best actress nomination for her, but it's also looking like her costar Benicio Del Toro is in the running for best supporting actor.

The Martian may not be destined to simply be an entertaining crowd-pleaser. The special-effects-heavy film is a shoo-in for technical awards, but could Matt Damon also score a nod for best actor? We're hopeful.

The 1950s-set romantic drama starring Saoirse Ronan was well-received at film festivals and could be in the running for best picture.

David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence are basically a recipe for Oscars, so even though this movie has barely been screened, people are already saying Lawrence has a best actress nomination in the bag.

This standout film won the people's choice award at Toronto International Film Festival and is one of our favorite movies of the season. The story may be devastating (a woman and her son are held hostage in a shed for seven years), but the performances by Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay — who could be one of the youngest Oscar nominees ever — lift up the bleak premise. Larson, Tremblay, and Joan Allen are all getting acting nomination buzz.

Though it hasn't been screened yet, Alejandro González Iñárritu was 2015's best director, so hopes are high for his epic adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Stay tuned for more on this one.

While the portrayal of Steve Jobs as a person has been disputed, no one is arguing that Michael Fassbender isn't great as the late Apple cofounder. Also getting tossed around for a best supporting actress nomination is Kate Winslet as Jobs's assertive colleague.

Everyone loves a Pixar movie, especially the Academy. Inside Out was one of Summer's biggest hits and its most emotionally satisfying movie so far. We see this one as a lock for the winner of best animated film and maybe even a best picture contender.