2) Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Best Picture
The Academy has never looked too kindly upon science fiction films as a rule, but exceptions are occasionally made for the most popular examples of the genre, including Avatar and the original Star Wars movie back in 1977.
Prequels aside, it’s impossible to underestimate how important Star Wars is, appealing to audiences across all demographics. The hype for J.J. Abrams’ take on the franchise was unimaginable, yet The Force Awakens has exceeded all expectations, smashing every box office record while retaining the magic that made us all fall in love with the original films in the first place.
Nominations for technical awards were a given, including Sound Mixing, Film Editing and Original Score, but the film that defined 2015 is nowhere to be seen in either the Best Picture or Best Director categories. The Academy Awards may regret this, as the film’s inclusion in the high-profile categories would have surely provided the telecast with a huge boost, one sorely needed at a time when the Oscars are becoming less and less relevant to younger audiences with each passing year.