2017 Oscar Best Picture Nominees: The Full List
La La Land won the 2017 Oscar for Best Picture in one of the most notable mix-ups in Academy history, when presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty briefly announced Moonlight as the winner before the correction. This evergreen explainer provides the complete list of 2017 Best Picture nominees, final winner details, historic context about the Moonlight–La La Land error, and how the Academy’s rules shaped that year’s race. Dates, films, and verified details are referenced throughout.
Complete Nominees for the 89th Academy Awards
The 89th Academy Awards took place in February 2017, recognizing films released in 2016. Below is an ordered look at each nominee, its status at the time of the ceremony, and key context.
| Film | Genre / Typical Tone | Notable Cast or Directors | Verified Status at 2017 Ceremony |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Days Later | Drama | Not a 2017 nominee; confusion may arise from similar titles | |
| Arrival | Sci-Fi Drama | Directed by Denis Villeneuve | Nominee |
| Fences | Drama | Directed by Denzel Washington, starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis | Nominee |
| Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | Fantasy | Directed by David Yates | Nominee |
| Hacksaw Ridge | War Drama | Nominee | |
| Hell or High Water | Crime Drama | Directed by David Mackenzie | Nominee |
| Hidden Figures | Historical Drama | Directed by Theodore Melfi | Nominee |
| La La Land | Musical Romance | Directed by Damien Chazelle | Nominee; winner incorrectly announced |
| Lion | Directed by Garth Davis | Nominee | |
| Manchester by the Sea | Directed by Kenneth Lonergan | Nominee | |
| Moonlight | Directed by Barry Jenkins | Nominee; final winner | |
| Nine Lives | Directed by Bart Freundlich | Nominee | |
| Oxygen | Directed by Alexandre Aja | Nominee | |
| Silence | Directed by Martin Scorsese | Nominee | |
| Sully | Directed by Clint Eastwood | Nominee | |
| Truett | Directed by David Lowery | Not a 2017 nominee; confusion may arise from similar context | |
| Hidden Figures | Directed by Theodore Melfi | Nominee |
Confirmed Nominees and Winner
- Moonlight — Winner
- Arrival
- Fences
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Hacksaw Ridge
- Hell or High Water
- La La Land
- Lion
- Manchester by the Sea
- Oxygen
- Silence
- Sully
The Historic On-Air Mix-Up
The 2017 ceremony is best remembered for the on-air error in which La La Land was mistakenly announced as Best Picture winner. Presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty brought the envelope onstage; she read the card and declared La La Land the winner. After confusion on stage, producers and accountants confirmed that Moonlight was the actual winner. The incident spotlighted envelope security and the heightened drama of a close race.
Why This Year Felt Different: Rules and Strategy
The Best Picture field expanded to eight nominees for the 2016–2017 cycle, a one-time change designed to increase diversity and box office appeal. That expanded field created a fragmented race in which no film secured a clear early lead. La La Land led early, but Moonlight gained momentum as awards season favored intimate, socially resonant dramas over musicals. The mix-up reflected how closely matched the top two contenders were at the time votes were tallied.
Key Takeaways from the 2017 Best Picture Race
- An expanded nomination field increased unpredictability.
- Moonlight won by a narrow margin; La La Land was incorrectly declared winner live.
- The error led to tightened envelope and result protocols for future ceremonies.
- Ongoing conversations about representation and voter engagement trace partly to this cycle.
FAQ
Reader questions
Why was the 2017 Best Picture result so controversial?
Beyond the on-air mix-up, the race was controversial because of the expanded nominee format, concerns about voter demographics, and debates over which film best represented the year. The announcement error magnified underlying tensions about transparency and inclusion in awards voting.
How did the Academy change after 2017?
The Academy introduced mandatory diversity requirements for eligible films, revised voting membership to broaden representation, and tightened result procedures—all partly in response to the 2016–2017 cycle and the live announcing error.
Are any of the 2017 nominees considered classics today?
Yes. Moonlight, La La Land, and Hidden Figures are widely regarded as modern classics, frequently cited in retrospective discussions about 2010s cinema and representation in film.