Oscars 2017
Best Picture Nominees Ranked by Tomatometer

Critics Consensus: Moonlight uses one man's story to offer a remarkable and brilliantly crafted look at lives too rarely seen in cinema.

Synopsis: A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mahershala Ali, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes

Directed By: Barry Jenkins

Critics Consensus: Hell or High Water offers a solidly crafted, well-acted Western heist thriller that eschews mindless gunplay in favor of confident pacing and full-bodied characters.

Synopsis: Toby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham

Directed By: David Mackenzie

Critics Consensus: Manchester by the Sea delivers affecting drama populated by full-bodied characters, marking another strong step forward for writer-director Kenneth Lonergan.

Synopsis: After the death of his older brother Joe, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked that Joe has made him sole guardian of his teenage nephew... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges

Directed By: Kenneth Lonergan

Critics Consensus: From its reunited Broadway stars to its screenplay, the solidly crafted Fences finds its Pulitzer-winning source material fundamentally unchanged -- and still just as powerful.

Synopsis: Troy Maxson makes his living as a sanitation worker in the 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo

Directed By: Denzel Washington

Critics Consensus: Arrival delivers a must-see experience for fans of thinking person's sci-fi that anchors its heady themes with genuinely affecting emotion and a terrific performance from Amy Adams.

Synopsis: Linguistics professor Louise Banks leads an elite team of investigators when gigantic spaceships touch down in 12 locations around the world. As nations teeter on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

Critics Consensus: La La Land breathes new life into a bygone genre with thrillingly assured direction, powerful performances, and an irresistible excess of heart.

Synopsis: Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But as success mounts they are... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt

Directed By: Damien Chazelle

Critics Consensus: In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlooked -- and crucial -- contributions from a pivotal moment in American history.

Synopsis: Three brilliant African American women at NASA, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner

Directed By: Theodore Melfi

Critics Consensus: Lion's undeniably uplifting story and talented cast make it a moving journey that transcends the typical cliches of its genre.

Synopsis: Five-year-old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, Nicole Kidman

Directed By: Garth Davis

Critics Consensus: Hacksaw Ridge uses a real-life pacifist's legacy to lay the groundwork for a gripping wartime tribute to faith, valor, and the courage of remaining true to one's convictions.

Synopsis: The true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer

Directed By: Mel Gibson