Oscar Watch: A Look at This Year’s Top VFX Contenders

The Oscar for Best Visual Effects is notoriously hard to predict, and this year is no different. The nomination process unfolds in three stages: first, the executive committee selects 20 eligible films. Then, this list is narrowed to 10 semi-finalists, which were announced on December 17. In January, the Academy hosts a virtual screening of these films, where VFX professionals can discuss their work, leading to the announcement of the final five nominees on January 19. The entire Academy membership then votes for the winner.

As in previous years, the frontrunners are typically films that rely heavily on cutting-edge visual effects to bring their stories to life. Recent winners like Avatar: The Way of Water (2023), Dune (2022), Tenet (2021), and Blade Runner 2049 (2018) exemplify this trend. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s top VFX contenders:

Alien: Romulus

Director: Fede Álvarez

Release Date: August 16, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Eric Barba

VFX Houses: ILM, Wētā FX, Tippett Studio, Image Engine, and others

Notes: This entry seeks to capture the essence of the Alien franchise with a blend of practical effects and digital wizardry. The team crafted Facehugger puppets, used a combination of CGI and animatronics for key scenes, and employed AI to recreate the facial expressions of the late Ian Holm for the android character Rook.

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Better Man

Director: Michael Gracey

Release Date: December 25, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Luke Millar

VFX Houses: Wētā FX

Notes: In this biopic of Robbie Williams, the VFX team at Wētā FX brings a CG version of Williams to life as a primate, using cutting-edge techniques developed for the Planet of the Apes franchise. The effects team ensured the ape was capable of expressing human-like emotions, making for an incredibly realistic performance.

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Civil War

Director: Alex Garland

Release Date: April 26, 2024

VFX Supervisor: David Simpson

VFX Houses: Framestore, TPO VFX

Notes: This film required extensive urban destruction, including the recreation of Washington D.C. and scenes of warfare, with a mix of practical effects and CGI crowds. The VFX team used creative techniques to transform Atlanta into a war-torn city, blending live-action with digital enhancements.

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Deadpool & Wolverine

Director: Shawn Levy

Release Date: July 26, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Swen Gillberg

VFX Houses: ILM, Framestore, Wētā FX, and others

Notes: Known for its irreverent humor, this film still required complex effects work, including the creation of a giant corpse of Giant-Man and intricate digital set extensions. Special attention was given to the animation of Deadpool’s mask to reflect his emotional responses.

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Dune: Part Two

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Release Date: March 1, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Paul Lambert

VFX Houses: DNEG, Wylie Co., Rodeo FX, and others

Notes: Dune: Part Two will feature a sandworm ride that required the creation of an entire worm unit and months of preparation. Other standout effects include the Harkonnen Harvester attack and the iconic blue eyes from spice consumption, aided by machine learning.

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Gladiator II

Director: Ridley Scott

Release Date: November 22, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Mark Bakowski

VFX Houses: ILM, Framestore, Ombrium, and others

Notes: This film’s naval battles were brought to life using innovative techniques to create realistic water effects, including the use of remote-controlled transporters to position ships. VFX was also used for a legless motorized rhino and a dramatic baboon fight in the Colosseum.

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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Wes Ball

Release Date: May 10, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Erik Winquist

VFX Houses: Wētā FX

Notes: The film’s visual effects team utilized advanced motion capture technology to enhance facial expressions and dialogue in its digital ape cast. Major action sequences focused on realistic water simulations, drawing from the technology used in Avatar: The Way of Water .

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Mufasa: The Lion King

Director: Barry Jenkins

Release Date: December 20, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Adam Valdez

VFX Houses: MPC

Notes: The prequel to The Lion King will feature photorealistic animation, employing cutting-edge VR and Unreal Engine technology to animate the characters’ faces with great detail. The VFX team also used this technology to extend practical sets digitally and create hundreds of animals for various scenes.

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Twisters

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Release Date: July 19, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Ben Snow

VFX Houses: ILM, BOT VFX, Hybride Technologies, and others

Notes: Twisters will showcase six different tornado sequences, ranging from EF-1 to EF-5, with extensive use of fluid dynamics tools and simulated debris. Efforts to replace sky plates and adjust lighting were crucial for realism, especially in scenes depicting the destruction of a farmers' market and a water tower.

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Wicked

Director: Jon M. Chu

Release Date: November 22, 2024

VFX Supervisor: Pablo Helman

VFX Houses: ILM, Framestore, OPSIS, and others

Notes: Based on the iconic musical, Wicked features flying monkeys and a giant, animated goat professor. The VFX team used a combination of practical makeup and digital enhancements for Elphaba’s iconic green skin, while Unreal Engine was employed to design the Emerald City set.

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These films represent a wide range of techniques, from photorealistic animation to intricate simulations, ensuring that the race for Best Visual Effects will be more competitive than ever. Stay tuned for the final nominees!