Space travelers, spies, and superheroes are well represented among the 20 films vying for best visual effects honors at the next Oscars ceremony.
The preliminary shortlist of contenders announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Monday includes Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Martian, Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, Spectre, Ant-Man, and Avengers: Age of Ultron, to name a few.
The initial selection of 20 films (increased from 15 this year in a rules tweak) was made by the executive committee of the academy’s visual effects branch and will be narrowed to 10 later this month. The five finalists will be named when Oscar nominees are announced Jan. 14.
The 88th Oscars will be held Feb. 28, with Chris Rock hosting.
The 20 films up for the VFX award are:
- Ant-Man
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Bridge of Spies
- Chappie
- Everest
- Ex Machina
- Furious 7
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — 2
- In the Heart of the Sea
- Jupiter Ascending
- Jurassic World
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Martian
- Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation
- The Revenant
- Spectre
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Terminator Genisys
- Tomorrowland
- The Walk