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'Everything Everywhere' tops Oscar nominations; 'Top Gun,' 'Avatar' contenders for best picture

Other best picture nods include 'Banshees,' 'Fabelmans'
Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'
Posted at 9:26 AM, Jan 24, 2023
and last updated 2023-01-24 09:59:57-05

NEW YORK — The multiverse-skipping sci-fi indie hit "Everything Everywhere All at Once" led nominations to the 95th Oscars as Hollywood heaped honors on big-screen spectacles like "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Avatar: The Way of Water" a year after a streaming service won best picture for the first time.

Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" landed a leading 11 nominations on Tuesday, including nods for Michelle Yeoh and comeback kid Ke Huy Quan.

The 10 movies up for best picture are: "Everything Everywhere All at Once," "The Banshees of Inisherin," "The Fabelmans," "Tár," "Top Gun: Maverick," "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Elvis," "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Women Talking" and "Triangle of Sadness."

Brendan Gleeson in 'The Banshees of Inisherin'
This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Brendan Gleeson in "The Banshees of Inisherin."

Nominations were announced Tuesday from the academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, by Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams.

The nominees for best actress are: Ana de Armas, "Blonde;" Cate Blanchett, "Tár;" Andrea Riseborough, "To Leslie;" Michelle Williams, "The Fabelmans;" Michelle Yeoh, "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

The nominees for best actor are: Brendan Fraser, "The Whale;" Colin Farrell, "The Banshees of Inisherin;" Austin Butler, "Elvis;" Bill Nighy, "Living;" Paul Mescal, "Aftersun."

The nominees for best supporting actress are: Angela Bassett, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever;" Hong Chau, "The Whale;" Kerry Condon, "The Banshees of Inisherin;" Jamie Lee Curtis, "Everything Everywhere All at Once;" Stephanie Hsu, "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

The nominees for best supporting actor are: Brian Tyree Henry, "Causeway;" Judd Hirsch, "The Fabelmans;" Brendan Gleeson, "The Banshees on Inisherin;" Barry Keoghan, "The Banshees of Inisherin;" Ke Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

RELATED: Full list of Oscar nominations

The nominees for international film are: "All Quiet on the Western Front" (Germany); "Argentina, 1985" (Argentina); "Close" (Belgium); "EO" (Poland); "The Quiet Girl" (Ireland).

The nominees for original screenplay are: "Everything Everywhere All at Once;" "The Banshees of Inisherin;" "The Fabelmans;" "Tár;" "Triangle of Sadness."

The nominees for best original score are: Volker Bertelmann, "All Quiet on the Western Front;" Justin Hurwitz, "Babylon;" Carter Burwell, "The Banshees of Inisherin;" Son Lux, "Everything Everywhere All at Once;" John Williams, "The Fabelmans."

The nominees for best animated film are: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio;" "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On;" "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish;" "The Sea Beast;" "Turning Red."

If last year's Oscars were dominated by streaming — Apple TV+'s "CODA" won best picture and Netflix landed a leading 27 nominations — movies that drew moviegoers to multiplexes after two years of pandemic make up many of this year's top contenders.

Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans" struggled to catch on with audiences, but the director's autobiographical coming-of-age tale is set to land Spielberg his 20th Oscar nomination and eighth nod for best-director. John Williams, his longtime composer, extended his record for the most Oscar nominations for a living person. Another nod for best score will give Williams his 53rd nomination, a number that trails only Walt Disney's 59.

Steven Spielberg on set of 'The Fabelmans'
This image released by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment shows Steven Spielberg on the set of "The Fabelmans."

Last year's broadcast drew 15.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen, up 56% from the record-low audience of 10.5 million for the pandemic-marred 2021 telecast. This year, ABC is bringing back Jimmy Kimmel to host the March 12 ceremony, one that will surely be seen as a return to the site of the slap.

But larger concerns are swirling around the movie business. Last year saw flashes of triumphant resurrection for theaters, like the success of "Top Gun: Maverick," after two years of pandemic. But partially due to a less steady stream of major releases, ticket sales for the year recovered only about 70% of pre-pandemic business. Regal Cinemas, the nation's second-largest chain, announced the closure of 39 cinemas this month.

Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun: Maverick'
Tom Cruise reprises his role as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in "Top Gun: Maverick," the sequel to 1986's "Top Gun."

At the same time, storm clouds swept into the streaming world after years of once-seemingly boundless growth. Stocks plunged as Wall Street looked to streaming services to earn profits, not just add subscribers. A retrenchment has followed, as the industry again enters an uncertain chapter.

In stark contrast to last year's Oscars, this year may see no streaming titles vying for the Oscars' most sought-after award — though the last spots in the 10-movie best-picture field remain up for grabs. Netflix's best shots instead are coming in other categories, notably with animated film favorite "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" and the German submission, "All Quiet on the Western Front."