10 Possible Oscar Contenders From The First Half Of 2014

1. The Lego Movie

Let’s get this one out of the way first, given how much of a lock it is. There’s no way that Academy voters will pass up the chance to applaud this hilarious, heartfelt and extraordinarily inventive family adventure. The Lego Movie succeeded on absolutely every level, entertaining viewers with an engaging and original story about the nature of imagination, a lively voice cast, jaw-droppingly vibrant animation and a giant, beating emotional heart.

Expect a win, not just a nomination, for Best Animated Feature, and a nomination for Best Original Song (for the inexplicably catchy “Everything is Awesome”), at the very least. I wouldn’t put any money on a nomination for Best Picture, though it could maybe hold a place as an extremely dark horse in that race, depending on how this fall shakes out. I seriously doubt, especially given how some received it as a feature-length LEGO advertisement, that Oscar voters will show it the same kindness they showed Up and Toy Story 3.