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25 Movies You Need to See Before Oscar Night

25 Movies You Need to See Before Oscar Night

Want to be in the know when the winners are announced on Feb. 26? Here's your research list.

By Dave Karger

Updated January 18, 2012 at 10:00 PM EST

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The Descendants

George Clooney heads an impressive cast (including breakout Shailene Woodley) in Alexander Payne's affecting family drama, which should score several big nods. (In theaters)

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BEST PICTURE War Horse

Credit: Andrew Cooper

What Lisa said: ''This is a beautifully built, classically framed movie, shot with the unshowy natural expressiveness of a John Ford Western by Spielberg's great cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski. The tears this War Horse wrings are honest, as Joey's fate becomes entwined with those of British and German soldiers equally capable (amidst bombs, gun blasts, and hideous barbed wire) of appreciating animal magnificence.'' A-

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The Help

Credit: Dale Robinette

Thanks to their indelible performances as maids Aibileen and Minny, Viola ?Davis and Golden Globe winner Octavia Spencer could be the first pair of African-American winners from the same film. (On DVD)

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Hugo

Credit: Jaap Buitendijk

Martin Scorsese's family film will woo voters with its film-preservation plotline. Expect nods in technical categories and possibly Best Director. (In theaters)

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Midnight in Paris

Credit: Roger Arpajou

Woody Allen's top grossing film, a Paris-set fantasy, is a sure thing for a screenplay nod. Nominations for Best Picture and Best Director are also strong possibilities. (On DVD)

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Moneyball

Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon

While Brad Pitt is a lock for a Best Actor nomination, director Bennett Miller's inside-baseball drama is also a contender for Picture, Adapted Screenplay, and Supporting Actor Jonah Hill. (On DVD)

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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?

Credit: Baldur Bragason

It's loud and violent, but riveting. The hipper Academy crowd could rally to push David Fincher for Best Director and Rooney Mara for Best Actress. (In theaters)

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The Tree of Life

Credit: Merie Wallace

Director Terrence Malick's trippy opus will divide Academy members, to be sure. But it could still amass enough No. 1 votes to land ?a Best Picture nod. (On DVD)

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Beginners

Credit: Andrew Tepper

Veteran star Christopher Plummer leads the Supporting Actor pack as a widower who comes out of the closet. (On DVD)

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 2

The final Harry Potter film certainly will be recognized in the visual effects and sound categories. But can it also break into the big dance? Of all the Harrys, it has the best shot. (On DVD)

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The Iron Lady

Credit: Alex Bailey

Coming on the heels of her Golden Globe win, Viola Davis' top competition for Best Actress is soon-to-be-17-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep for her jaw-dropping performance as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. (In theaters)

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Rango

It's not your typical cartoon, but Gore Verbinski's Western adventure with Johnny Depp should make the Animated Feature cut on uniqueness alone. (On DVD)

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Shame

Credit: Abbot Genser

Breakout star Michael Fassbender delivers a much-talked-about performance as a sex addict that should secure him a Best Actor nod. (In theaters)

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Albert Nobbs

Glenn Close (who also co-wrote the screenplay) and costar Janet McTeer are poised for nods for playing women passing as men in 19th-century Ireland. (Goes wide Jan. 27)

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The Ides of March

Credit: Saeed Adyani

With its mix of cynicism and smarts, George Clooney's acclaimed directorial effort could score nods for Picture and Adapted Screenplay. (On DVD)

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Kung Fu Panda 2

Credit: Dreamworks Animation

The highest-grossing animated film of the year also scored the most nominations from the Annie Awards. Can Po top Tintin? (On DVD)

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Bridesmaids

Credit: Suzanne Hanover

Star and co-writer Kristen Wiig is a good bet for a screenplay nod, while costar Melissa McCarthy could land a rare nomination for a comic role. (On DVD)

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J. Edgar

Leonardo DiCaprio's Hoover exposé got mixed reviews, but he could still land a Best Actor nod. And Armie Hammer is in the mix for Supporting Actor. (In theaters)

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We Need to Talk About Kevin

Credit: Nicole Rivelli

It's not easy to watch, but 2007 Supporting Actress winner Tilda Swinton's portrait of a psychopath's mom is nothing short of riveting. (In theaters)

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Drive

Credit: Richard Foreman Jr

Ryan Gosling's violent ?drama has emerged as a stealth contender. Its best shot: villain Albert Brooks for Best Supporting Actor. (On DVD Jan. 31)

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Young Adult

Credit: Phil Caruso

2003 Best Actress winner Charlize Theron could return to the race — as could Adult's 2007 Original Screenplay winner, Diablo Cody. (In theaters)

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Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's controversial doc about three teens from West Memphis, Ark., who were convicted (some say wrongly) of murder is the one to beat. (HBO On Demand)

23 of 25

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Credit: Francois Duhamel

Though the post-9/11 drama has been shut out by most of the early awards groups, Tom Hanks and Thomas Horn make a poignant father-son team; supporting players Sandra Bullock and Max von Sydow also impress. (Goes wide Jan. 20)

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My Week With Marilyn

Credit: Laurie Sparham

Michelle Williams is a certain Best Actress nominee for her convincing portrayal of Marilyn Monroe, while Kenneth Branagh stands to earn a supporting nod for playing acting legend Sir Laurence Olivier. (In theaters)

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The Artist

Credit: Peter Iovino

The last silent film to win the Oscar was actually the first-ever Best Picture: Wings, all the way back in 1929. Eighty-two years later, we may just have the second. From its debut at Cannes (where debonair star Jean Dujardin won the Best Actor prize) to its phenomenal art-house success to its Best Musical or Comedy win at the Golden Globes and its Best Picture victory from the New York Film Critics Circle, director Michel Hazanavicius' ode to the films of yesteryear is as fascinatingly educational as it is delightfully timeless. (In theaters)

Replay gallery

Up Next

By Dave Karger

Account

25 Movies You Need to See Before Oscar Night

1 of 25

The Descendants

1 of 25

2 of 25

BEST PICTURE War Horse

2 of 25

3 of 25

The Help

3 of 25

4 of 25

Hugo

4 of 25

5 of 25

Midnight in Paris

5 of 25

6 of 25

Moneyball

6 of 25

7 of 25

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?

7 of 25

8 of 25

The Tree of Life

8 of 25

9 of 25

Beginners

9 of 25

10 of 25

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 2

10 of 25

11 of 25

The Iron Lady

11 of 25

12 of 25

Rango

12 of 25

13 of 25

Shame

13 of 25

14 of 25

Albert Nobbs

14 of 25

15 of 25

The Ides of March

15 of 25

16 of 25

Kung Fu Panda 2

16 of 25

17 of 25

Bridesmaids

17 of 25

18 of 25

J. Edgar

18 of 25

19 of 25

We Need to Talk About Kevin

19 of 25

20 of 25

Drive

20 of 25

21 of 25

Young Adult

21 of 25

22 of 25

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

22 of 25

23 of 25

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

23 of 25

24 of 25

My Week With Marilyn

24 of 25

25 of 25

The Artist

25 of 25

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