The American Film Institute has spoken, further legitimizing the Oscar prospects of female-driven titles from 2017, six of which were hailed Thursday as the nonprofit organizations best movies of the year.
Benefitting most from this trustworthy Oscar foreteller are Patty Jenkins blockbuster hitWonder Woman,which picks up its first major precursor accolade here, as well as Greta GerwigsLady Birdand Guillermo del TorosThe Shape of Water both of which maintained significant profiles on the awards circuit in recent weeks.
Though not directed by women,The Shape of Water, Martin McDonaghsThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Steven SpielbergsThe Post, and Sean BakersThe Florida Projectall feature women at the head of their respective narratives, making this list a refreshingly female collective when compared to previous years.
Credit: Clay Enos/Warner Bros.; Merie Wallace/A24; Justin Lubin/Universal
Jordan PeelesGet Outand Luca GuadagninosCall Me by Your Namesimilarly occupy space on the AFIs top 10, rounding out what has been a remarkable year for representation in the run-up to the Academy Awards.
Since the Academy expanded the best picture category in 2009 to include anywhere between five and 10 nominees after a preferential vote, the AFIs list has matched roughly five to eight Academy contenders per year.
Most recently, seven 2016 best picture contenders preceded their Oscar nominations with an appearance on the AFIs top 10.
Joe WrightsDarkest Hour, pegged out of the fall festivals as a contender to watch in multiple above the line categories, also missed the AFIs list, but for good reason: the Winston Churchill biopic is a British production, and the AFI only recognizes movies with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States, per official rules.
Missing out on an AFI notice shouldnt harm the films standing with industry voters as the Screen Actors Guild prepares to close its nominations voting on Sunday.
Though its funding dollars came from a wide range of countries (including the U.S., Brazil, Italy, and France), those rules did not apply toCall Me by Your Name,which has flexed significant muscle on the precursor trail thus far.Three Billboardswas similarly funded with foreign dollars.
Check out AFIs top 10 movies and TV shows (in alphabetical order) below, and be sure to keep track of the contenders in the Oscar race with EWs awards season scoreboardhere.
AFI top 10 movies of 2017:
The Big SickCall Me by Your NameDunkirkThe Florida ProjectGet OutLady BirdThe PostThe Shape of WaterThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, MissouriWonder Woman
AFI top 10 TV shows of 2017:
Big Little LiesThe CrownFeud: Bette and JoanGame of ThronesThe Good PlaceThe Handmaids TaleInsecureMaster of NoneStranger ThingsThis Is Us
AFI special award:The Vietnam War
