The Producers Guild of America, above all other groups, looks to films that succeed financially oftentimes before the ones that succeed critically. Take for example the inclusion of Deadpool, a film that won’t come within a country mile of Best Picture versus the absent Jackie, a film with critical acclaim, but no love from those who find it a bit clinical. For the most part, the titles we’ve been expecting to see as contenders are here.
Arrival, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, La La Land, Lion, Manchester by the Sea, and Moonlight were almost certainties. Fences had been facing weakened support recently, so its inclusion is a boost to the film as is the inclusion of Hidden Figures, which didn’t pick up a nomination from the Golden Globes, but managed to place on the Screen Actors Guild list.
Other titles whose omission likely means their rejection by the Academy: the aforementioned Jackie, Martin Scrosese’s Silence, Supreme Court case drama Loving, Clint Eastwood’s Sully, and Jake Gyellnhaal/Amy Adams art film Nocturnal Animals.
On the animated side, it’s even more apparent the group went for quantity over quality with Kubo and the Two Strings being the only film on the list not to make more than $200 million at the U.S. box office. That doesn’t say a lot, though it gives Kubo an advantage if it can win over the two Disneys and the Pixar.
The Nominations
Best Picture
Arrival
Deadpool
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Best Animated Feature
Finding Dory
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
The Secret Life of Pets
Zootopia
Producers Guild of America Data
Year Founded: 1950 Film; 1957 TV; 1962 Unified
First Awards: 1989 (27)
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