Best Picture Nominees for the 2017 Oscars: Complete Guide

In 2017, the Academy Awards presented a slate of diverse and ambitious films contending for Best Picture. This guide profiles each nominee, highlighting distinctive achievements in storytelling, performance, and technical craft. From intimate dramas to sweeping historical pieces, the nominated films reflected varied creative visions and cultural conversations. Key details such as release dates, directors, and major awards are summarized for quick reference. The following sections examine each film’s path to the nominations, its thematic core, and its lasting impact on audiences and the industry.

Overview of the 2017 Best Picture Nominees

The 2017 Best Picture field featured a range of genres and approaches, showcasing the breadth of contemporary cinema. Nominees included works that explored identity, history, survival, and speculative futures. These films reached audiences through both critical acclaim and commercial resonance, earning consideration by Academy voters. The diversity of this year’s slate prompted discussion about evolving tastes and inclusion within the Academy. Below is a concise table summarizing core details for each nominee.

Quick Reference Table: 2017 Best Picture Nominees

La La Land: A Modern Musical Romance

La La Land captivated audiences with its nostalgic homage to classic Hollywood musicals while telling a contemporary love story between an aspiring actress and a jazz musician. The film’s visual style, choreography, and score contributed to its winning six Oscars, including Best Director for Damien Chazelle. Critics praised its ambition and emotional accessibility, and it became a cultural touchstone for discussions about artistic dreams in modern urban life. While it did not win Best Picture, its influence on musical filmmaking remains evident.

Key Filmmakers and Cast

Behind La La Land were key creative figures whose collaboration shaped its distinctive tone. The director and writer Damien Chazelle brought a precise, personal vision rooted in both musical tradition and modern storytelling. The lead performances by Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds (note: Ryan Gosling played the male lead) balanced chemistry with nuanced emotional arcs. Production design and cinematography emphasized saturated colors and sweeping long takes, reinforcing the film’s dreamlike quality. Music composition and choreography anchored the narrative in emotional truth rather than spectacle alone.

Moonlight: A Tender Portrait of Identity

Moonlight distinguished itself with its intimate exploration of a young Black man’s journey through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the film earned the Best Picture Oscar, highlighting stories often marginalized in mainstream cinema. Its three-act structure mirrors the protagonist’s evolving self-awareness, supported by restrained performances and luminous cinematography. Moonlight’s impact extended beyond awards, fostering broader conversations about masculinity, sexuality, and empathy in contemporary storytelling.

Craft and Performances

The film’s success relied on sensitive direction, thoughtful casting, and a script that trusted subtlety. Barry Jenkins’ direction emphasized silence and visual metaphor, allowing small gestures to carry significant emotional weight. The performances, particularly from Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, and Mahershala Ali, revealed layers of vulnerability and strength. The cinematography used natural light and close framing to create an immersive, empathetic perspective. Together, these elements made Moonlight a landmark in character-driven drama.

Hacksaw Ridge: Faith and Bravery in Wartime

Hacksaw Ridge recounted the true story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who served as a medic during World War II without carrying a weapon. Directed by Mel Gibson, the film juxtapose intense combat sequences with Doss’s steadfast moral convictions, earning recognition for editing and sound. The narrative emphasizes courage rooted in personal belief rather than ideology, resonating with audiences seeking stories of integrity under pressure. Its historical framework offered a clear, compelling reason for reflection on war and service.

Historical Accuracy and Storytelling

While dramatized for cinematic impact, Hacksaw Ridge maintained a recognizable timeline of Doss’s experiences, supported by thorough research. Consultants and veterans helped ensure that combat depictions honored the realities faced by medics. The film’s structure alternates between battlefield chaos and Doss’s earlier life, illustrating how his values were formed. Verifying historical details against military records confirms general accuracy in major events, though some narrative compression occurred for pacing.

Manchester by the Sea: Grief and Family Obligation

Manchester by the Sea offered a stark, unflinching look at grief and responsibility, earning nominations and two Oscars including Best Actor. Directed by Kenneth Lonergan, the film balances quiet, everyday moments with sudden emotional ruptures. Its careful pacing and naturalistic dialogue invited comparisons to real conversations and memories. The film’s influence lies in its refusal to simplify complex emotions, providing a textured portrait of how loss reshapes identity and familial ties.

Performance and Direction

Casey Affleck’s restrained performance anchors the film, supported by nuanced work from Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler. Lonergan’s direction emphasizes off-screen space and pause, allowing grief to be felt rather than explained. The writing leans on specific, concrete details rather than broad statements, making emotional beats feel earned. Cinematography complements the winter New England setting, using muted tones and wide frames to emphasize isolation. This approach underscores the film’s commitment to authenticity over sentimentality.

Hell or High Water: Modern Western and Economic Struggle

Hell or High Water reimagined the Western for the 21st century, focusing on economic disparity and loyalty. Directed by David Mackenzie, the film earned one Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and multiple nominations. Its blend of genre tropes and grounded social commentary highlighted tensions between rural communities and financial institutions. The story’s moral ambiguity challenged viewers to consider systemic issues alongside individual choices, making it a notable entry in the year’s nominees.

Themes and Tone

The film juxtaposes wide-open landscapes with intimate family dynamics, exploring how economic pressures affect personal relationships. The brothers’ motivations are neither wholly heroic nor villainous, reflecting real-world complexity. The restrained direction avoids sensationalism, letting character decisions speak for themselves. Music and sound design emphasize the arid environment, reinforcing themes of desperation and endurance. This measured approach contributed to its critical and audience resonance.

Silence: Scorsese’s Spiritual and Historical Inquiry

Silence, directed by Martin Scorsese, examined themes of faith, persecution, and doubt through the lens of 17th-century missionaries in Japan. Although it did not receive Oscars, the film earned significant nominations and critical attention for its ambition. Scorsese’s long-gestating project brought historical and philosophical questions to the screen with meticulous detail. Its focus on inner conviction versus outward conformity invited reflection on the cost of belief in hostile contexts.

Visual and Narrative Approach

The film’s muted palette and deliberate pacing mirrored its themes of silence and endurance. Long takes and composed frames evoked the isolation and discipline faced by the missionaries. Performances, particularly from Andrew Garfield and Liam Neeson, balanced spiritual yearning with human vulnerability. Historical consultants helped ensure cultural and religious details were treated with care. While its reception was mixed, Silence remains a significant work in Scorsese’s exploration of institutional and personal faith.

Fences: The Weight of History and Family

Fences, directed by Denzel Washington, earned Oscars including Best Supporting Actress for Viola Davis. Adapted from August Wilson’s play, the film examined race, ambition, and family dynamics in mid-20th century America. Its grounded setting and powerful performances brought a theatrical work to vivid life on screen. The narrative focused on the tensions between personal dreams and familial responsibility, offering a poignant look at how history shapes individual lives. Its recognition affirmed the importance of stage-derived stories in cinema.

Direction and Performances

Washington’s direction balanced intimacy and restraint, allowing the emotional core of the story to emerge gradually. The performances, led by Washington and Davis, conveyed decades of shared history in subtle gestures and measured dialogue. Production design reflected the time period authentically, using domestic spaces to reveal character dynamics. The screenplay preserved much of Wilson’s language while adapting it for cinematic rhythm. These choices made Fences a deeply felt exploration of legacy and resilience.

Hidden Figures: Celebrating Scientific Achievement and Resilience

Hidden Figures highlighted the contributions of Black women mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race, earning nominations despite not winning major awards. Directed by Theodore Melfi, the film combined historical education with engaging storytelling. Its focus on overcoming systemic barriers resonated with audiences, particularly in educational and cultural contexts. The film’s emphasis on accurate representation in STEM fields added depth to its narrative appeal.

Research and Representation

Writers consulted historians and the families of the featured mathematicians to ensure factual accuracy in key events. The performances by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe captured both professionalism and personal struggle. Production design and costumes reflected the era authentically, supporting the story’s credibility. Though it did not secure Oscars, Hidden Figures remains influential for its cultural impact and role in broadening historical narratives in mainstream film.

Lion: Journey Across Memory and Home

Lion followed a young boy’s search for his birth family after being lost and adopted, earning multiple nominations including Best Picture. Directed by Garth Davis, the film combined emotional sincerity with striking visuals. Its exploration of memory, identity, and belonging connected with global audiences. While it did not win the top award, its unique perspective and heartfelt storytelling secured its place among notable films of the year.

Emotional and Visual Storytelling

The film’s use of warm tones and intimate close-ups emphasized the protagonist’s internal journey. Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman delivered grounded performances that balanced vulnerability and strength. Production design differentiated between past and present settings, using color and texture to signal temporal shifts. The score supported the narrative’s emotional peaks without overpowering quieter moments. This combination of techniques made Lion a memorable entry in the year’s nominated films.

Arrival: Communication, Time, and Choice

Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve, earned widespread acclaim and eight nominations, including Best Picture. The film reimagined first contact storytelling by emphasizing language and perception. Its non-linear structure challenged viewers while delivering a cohesive emotional arc. The exploration of choice, sacrifice, and communication resonated across audiences, establishing it as both a critical and popular success. Its influence on science fiction cinema continues to be felt.

Concept and Execution

The film’s design relied on linguistic theory and thoughtful world-building, with consultants helping shape the alien language and spacecraft aesthetics. Amy Adams’ performance centered the story around empathy and intellectual curiosity, supported by a strong ensemble cast. Cinematography used muted, expansive visuals to convey both wonder and uncertainty. Editing structured the narrative around circular motifs, reinforcing themes of time and causality. These elements made Arrival a distinct entry in the year’s nominated slate.