The 2017 Best Picture Nominees: A Complete Guide to the Oscar Contenders

Introduction to the Nominated Best Picture Class of 2017

The 2017 Academy Award Best Picture nominees represent a wide spectrum of storytelling, from intimate character studies to epic historical reflections. Chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, this year’s roster highlights distinctive directorial voices, standout performances, and varied cinematic forms. Films such as La La Land, Moonlight, and The Shape of Water not only defined the conversation that season but also influenced creative trends long after the ceremony. This guide unpacks each nominee, explaining the artistic vision, key contributors, major themes, critical reception, and lasting impact for readers seeking a deeper understanding of their place in cinema history.

Overview of the 2017 Best Picture Nominees

Each nominee in the Best Picture category introduced something singular to the cultural conversation, ranging from musical ambition to urgent social commentary. La La Land emerged as both a love letter to classic Hollywood and a poignant meditation on dream-chasing, while Moonlight offered an evocative, quietly powerful portrait of identity and vulnerability. The Shape of Water blended genre play with heartfelt romance, and Hidden Figures illuminated overlooked contributions to science and civil rights. The breadth of subjects and storytelling approaches invited broader audiences to engage with diverse perspectives. Understanding the context of each film’s recognition helps clarify how the Academy balanced artistic risk with mainstream resonance in one of the most talked-about years in recent memory.

La La Land: A Modern Musical Dream

Narrative and Concept

La La Land centers on Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a devoted jazz pianist, whose ambitions and relationship unfold against the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles. Director Damien Chazelle deliberately invokes classic Hollywood musicals while acknowledging contemporary uncertainties about career and commitment. The film’s structure allows for elaborate set pieces grounded in emotional stakes, making its genre play feel both nostalgic and fresh. Its central theme—balancing personal dreams with shared life choices—resonated widely, contributing to its strong initial box office and lasting cultural footprint.

Creative Team and Performances

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone lead an ensemble that elevates every sequence, turning dance numbers and cityscapes into character-driven storytelling. Justin Hurwitz’s score and the cinematography’s saturated tones amplify the romantic idealism inherent in the narrative. Behind the camera, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lyrics and the choreography fuse storytelling with spectacle. This combination of talent and careful homage helped position La La Land as a frontrunner throughout awards season, ultimately securing six Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards.

Moonlight: Intimate Portrait of Identity

Narrative and Concept

Moonlight traces the life of Chiron across three chapters, exploring his journey as a young Black man reconciling his sexuality, vulnerability, and sense of self in a rough Miami neighborhood. Director Barry Jenkins approaches the material with restraint and visual lyricism, using sparse dialogue and immersive imagery to convey emotional nuance. The film foregrounds questions of masculinity, community, and acceptance, offering a perspective often underrepresented in mainstream cinema. Its measured pacing and attentive framing create space for viewers to connect deeply with Chiron’s internal conflicts.

Creative Team and Performances

Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris deliver grounded, powerful supporting turns, while Trevante Rhodes authentically embodies multiple life stages of the protagonist. Cinematographer James Laxton’s use of natural light and tight compositions underscores the intimacy of each moment. Composer Nicholas Britell’s subtle score complements the tactile atmosphere. The collective craft behind Moonlight helped it achieve broad critical acclaim, culminating in the Best Picture win at the 89th Academy Awards and recognition for its poignant, humanistic storytelling.

The Shape of Water: Genre and Heart

Narrative and Concept

The Shape of Water presents a fantastical tale centered on a mute custodian who forms a bond with an amphibious creature held in a Cold War-era laboratory. Director Guillermo del Toro balances eerie tension with tenderness, using production design and sound to evoke wonder and unease. The film is noted for its allegorical treatment of otherness, communication, and forbidden connection. By fusing genre elements with a deeply emotional core, it attracted both audience affection and industry recognition, securing four Oscars and demonstrating how unconventional romance can find broad appeal.

Creative Team and Performances

Sally Hawkins leads a carefully assembled cast, with Michael Shannon and Octavia Spencer providing crucial support. Del Toro’s direction, alongside cinematographer Dan Laustsen’s atmospheric lighting, crafts a tactile world that feels both intimate and mythic. The score underscores the story’s yearning tone, while production design transforms the laboratory into a character of its own. These elements collectively underpin the film’s critical success and its standing as one of the decade’s most celebrated fantasies grounded in human feeling.

Hidden Figures: History and Recognition

Narrative and Concept

Hidden Figures chronicles the untold story of three African-American women mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race, highlighting both professional excellence and systemic barriers. Director Theodore Melfi structures the film around institutional challenges and personal triumphs, weaving factual events with character-driven drama. The narrative emphasizes perseverance, collaboration, and quiet revolution, bringing attention to historical contributions that had long been marginalized. Its thoughtful pacing and informative storytelling make complex achievements accessible without sacrificing dramatic tension.

Creative Team and Performances

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe anchor the film with compelling, distinct performances that convey intelligence, wit, and resilience. Composer Hans Zimmer and lyricist Pharrell Williams contribute a memorable score, while production design and costumes authentically recreate the era. The film’s blend of history and entertainment struck a chord with critics and audiences, earning three Academy Awards and reinforcing the power of biographical storytelling to rectify historical omissions.

Directorial Signatures and Thematic Threads

Across the nominated best picture 2017 slate, distinctive directorial signatures emerge, from Chazelle’s rhythmic precision to Jenkins’s empathetic intimacy and del Toro’s painterly fantasy. Common themes include self-discovery, societal constraints, and the search for meaningful connection. Each film balances personal stakes with broader contexts, whether through period detail, genre conventions, or emotional realism. This directorial diversity allowed the category to resonate with varied voter demographics, reflecting both risk-taking and audience accessibility. Understanding these signatures helps viewers recognize how individual authorship shapes a film’s reception and longevity beyond awards cycles.

Critical Reception and Long-Term Impact

In the months leading to the ceremony, critical reception ranged from rapturous admiration for Moonlight and La La Land to cautious appreciation for more genre-driven efforts like The Shape of Water. Retrospective assessments have largely affirmed the vitality of these films, with Moonlight and La La Land frequently cited in “best of the decade” lists. The Shape of Water and Hidden Figures maintain strong educational and cultural relevance, demonstrating how nominated best picture 2017 titles addressed timely topics with enduring resonance. Their influence is evident in subsequent projects that embrace bold storytelling, inclusive representation, and formal experimentation.

Conclusion: Why These Nominees Still Matter

The nominated best picture 2017 class remains a touchstone for conversations about artistic ambition, representation, and cinematic craft. La La Land revitalized musical storytelling for modern audiences, Moonlight redefined intimacy on screen, and The Shape of Water expanded the possibilities of genre romance. Hidden Figures offered necessary historical reckoning, and each nominee contributed to a broader dialogue about who gets to tell stories and how. For viewers today, these films continue to offer insightful perspectives on identity, aspiration, and the human condition, ensuring their place in long-term cultural memory.