Introduction to the 2017 Oscars Best Picture Nominees
The 89th Academy Awards, held in 2017, honored the best in film for 2016 releases. The Best Picture lineup featured a mix of commercial hits and critical darlings, reflecting a year of strong storytelling and technical craft. This guide explores each nominee, context, and the eventual winner, with verified details and a comparison of the contenders at a glance.
Full List of 2017 Best Picture Nominees
The Academy announced the ten Best Picture nominees in January 2017, highlighting films ranging from intimate dramas to sweeping historical pieces. Each entry brought distinct creative achievements and audience appeal, making the race competitive and widely discussed in both trade circles and mainstream media.
- La La Land
- Moonlight
- Hacksaw Ridge
- Hell or High Water
- Manchester by the Sea
- Lion
- Arrival
- Fences
- Hidden Figures
- Silence
Profile of Each Nominee
Below are concise profiles covering genre, key creative roles, and major accolades leading into the Oscars. These details help clarify why each film earned a spot on the list and how they compared in terms of awards momentum.
| Film | Genre | Director | Key Accolades (examples) | Major Acting Nominees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La La Land | Musical/Romance | Damien Chazelle | Golden Globes: 7 wins including Musical/Comedy | Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone |
| Moonlight | Drama | Barry Jenkins | Golden Globes: Best Drama, 3 wins | Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris |
| Hacksaw Ridge | War/Biography | Mel Gibson | 6 Oscar nominations, Golden Globe Nominations | Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington |
| Hell or High Water | David Mackenzie | 4 Oscar nominations, critical praise | Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine | |
| Manchester by the Sea | Kenneth Lonergan | 6 Oscar nominations, Golden Globe Nominations | Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams | |
| Lion | Garth Davis | 6 Oscar nominations, Golden Globe Nominations | Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman | |
| Arrival | Denis Villeneuve | 8 Oscar nominations including Best Picture | Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner | |
| Fences | Denzel Washington | 4 Oscar nominations, Golden Globe Nominations | Denzel Washington, Viola Davis | |
| Hidden Figures | Theodore Melfi | 3 Oscar nominations, Golden Globe Nominations | Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer | |
| Silence | Martin Scorsese | 3 Oscar nominations, critical acclaim | Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver |
Narrative and Awards Trajectory
Going into the 2017 Oscars, the conversation centered on two main arcs: awards-season momentum and broader voter appeal. Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea led critics’ circles, while La La Land dominated audience and guild endorsements early. The field also included major contenders from prior years, such as Hacksaw Ridge and Arrival, extending the discussion about which attributes typically drive a Best Picture win.
Early Season and Guild Indicators
Guild awards often provide insight into subsequent Oscar movement. La La Land performed strongly with the Producers and Directors Guilds, while Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea built support within the Writers and Actor groups. These indicators framed expectations but did not guarantee final outcomes, as Academy voting introduces a broader electorate.
Oscar Night and the Historic Tie
The 2017 ceremony is remembered for a rare tie in the Best Picture category, where La La Land and Moonlight were incorrectly announced as joint winners due to a miscommunication. After the card was corrected, Moonlight was confirmed as the sole winner, underscoring the stakes and the unpredictable nature of such a competitive field.
Comparative Snapshot: Nominees at a Glance
The table below compares key attributes to help distinguish each nominee in terms of awards breadth, creative leadership, and primary genre. This summary complements the detailed profiles above.
| Film | Director | Oscar Nominations | Golden Globe Result | Thematic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La La Land | Damien Chazelle | 14 | Winner — Musical/Comedy | Artistic ambition, romance |
| Moonlight | Barry Jenkins | 8 | Winner — Drama | Identity, community |
| Hacksaw Ridge | Mel Gibson | 6 | Nominee | Faith, courage |
| Hell or High Water | David Mackenzie | 4 | Nominee | Economic change, family |
| Manchester by the Sea | Kenneth Lonergan | 6 | Nominee | Grief, responsibility |
| Lion | Garth Davis | 6 | Nominee | Memory, belonging |
| Arrival | Denis Villeneuve | 8 | Nominee | Communication, time |
| Fences | Denzel Washington | 4 | Nominee | Family, race |
| Hidden Figures | Theodore Melfi | 3 | Nominee | Race, gender, STEM |
| Silence | Martin Scorsese | 3 | Nominee | Faith, persecution |
Context and Legacy
The 2017 Best Picture race is frequently cited in discussions about awards predictability and the weight of critical versus popular reception. Moonlight’s victory was seen as a corrective to years of more conventional musical and spectacle-driven winners, yet La La Land’s early dominance showed the strength of broad appeal. The night’s events and the ultimate correction fueled long-term conversations about voting protocols and representation, ensuring the year remains relevant in retrospective analyses.
Evergreen Takeaways
Examining the 2017 Best Picture nominees offers lessons about genre diversity, the influence of awards seasons, and the factors that resonate with Academy voters. Significant nominations such as Moonlight and La La Land demonstrated how films can connect differently with critics, guilds, and the general public, while the historic tie highlighted the importance of process in high-stakes recognition.
Conclusion
The 2017 Oscars Best Picture nominees illustrated a broad spectrum of styles and themes, from intimate character studies to large-scale historical and musical storytelling. Reviewing the nominees, their accolades, and the eventual outcome provides a lasting reference for understanding contemporary awards dynamics and how certain films achieve lasting cultural relevance.