The 95th Academy Awards feature nominations that contain surprises. Popular films like Avatar: The Way of Water have received due credit while story-driven works such as The Banshees of Inisherin have also been recognized. Since the Oscars' criteria aren't strictly dependent on critical reviews, it's interesting to see how the nominees rank according to reviewers.
Rotten Tomatoes is the go-to indicator for how critics feel about films. The rating varies quite a bit between a few of the releases, which shows why some of them are contenders that were unexpected. Certain others have received unanimously positive reviews, so it's worth taking a deeper look into all the nominees' ratings.
10 Triangle Of Sadness Is A Satire About Rich People
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 72%
Triangle of Sadness is a surprise nomination for the Oscars since it doesn't have an overwhelmingly positive reception. But the movie has still garnered good reviews, as critics enjoy its satirical take on rich and famous people. The film starts off on a luxurious yacht that meets several problems.
The idea of elite people struggling to survive is played for laughs since they're so out of touch with common methods of survival. Triangle of Sadness doesn't do much in terms of character development, but the film is meant to depict how immaterial fame and money are.
9 Elvis Is About The Singer's Rise In Stardom
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 77%
The most popular Elvis Presley adaptation yet, Austin Butler's performance has helped in the biopic's acclaim. The story follows Presley's struggling days into his time as a superstar. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and his hold over Presley serve as the main backdrop.
Austin Butler fully embodies the titular singer in Elvis, performing many of his signature songs. Although its positive reception isn't extremely unanimous, Butler's performance has pushed its reputation. Elvis has also been praised for Baz Luhrmann's depiction of the '60s and '70s.
8 Avatar: The Way Of Water Continues The Na'vi's Conflict With Humans
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 77%
Avatar: The Way Of Water is as much a spectacle as its predecessor. It boasts incredible visuals, with the movie taking viewers to the water tribe of the Na'vi. Protagonists Jake Sully and Neytiri escape with their children to the water tribe after humans return to resume their conflict.
The sequel does a great job at setting up further movies, along with establishing the roles of the new generation of characters. However, the primary reason for Avatar: The Way of Water's Oscar campaign has been the breathtaking sights it offers to viewers.
7 Women Talking Depicts An All-Important Discussion For The Characters
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 90%
Women Talking is a drama film about women from an unnamed Mennonite colony who hold a meeting to decide their futures. Their discussion is to agree to either stay, fight the abusive men, or flee entirely. The movie follows the in-depth portrayal of what input each woman has over the matter.
Women Talking has a slow pace since the subject is mainly about the meeting. But the film manages to hold interest due to the heavy themes it contains. Women Talking has been praised for the performances of the cast and the screenplay; the latter has also been nominated for an Oscar.
6 Tár Follows The Mental Struggle Of A Music Conductor
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 90%
Tár is a psychological drama about conductor Linda Tár, who begins to break down due to the struggles of maintaining her top position. Linda's predatory behavior toward her juniors comes back to haunt her as her life starts to unravel with the weight of many accusations.
Tár has received positive reviews across the board, also garnering Oscar nominations for Cate Blanchett's performance as well as Todd Field's direction and screenplay. The movie is noted for being a character piece, following one person from start to finish as she goes through several phases of mental catastrophes.
5 The Fabelmans Is Based On Steven Spielberg's Younger Days
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 92%
Steven Spielberg has directed many well-received films, and he helms a semi-biographical film in The Fabelmans. Based on his own life, the main character is teenager Sammy Fabelman, who goes through a transitional phase when his dysfunctional family's issues come to light.
The Fabelmans is lauded for the coming-of-age premise and how Spielberg's love for filmmaking can be understood. Although the premise sounds heavy-handed, The Fabelmans has many lighthearted moments that help viewers to connect with the characters. While not a box office success, the film has claimed the admiration of critics.
4 All Quiet On The Western Front Shows The Futility Of War
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 92%
All Quiet on the Western Front is a war film, following a young German soldier during WWI. The protagonist's dreams of being a hero are quickly dashed when he realizes the true horrors of war. The film doesn't hold back on how brutal it is to be in a conflict of such magnitude, which the main character tries to escape.
All Quiet on the Western Front's critical opinion agrees that it effectively communicates to viewers that war is ultimately futile. Moreover, it depicts the impact living in terrible conditions has on people. The movie serves as an eye-opener to a subject that is very real.
3 Everything Everywhere All At Once Is A Multiversal Comedy-Drama
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 95%
Everything Everywhere All at Once has an interesting spin on the idea of a multiverse. The main character is whisked away into an adventure featuring different versions of herself. She's ultimately thrust with the responsibility of subverting the complete destruction of all realities.
Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan are mainly responsible for driving the goodwill for Everything Everywhere All at Once. The performance of the cast has been highlighted as an absolute win, complemented by the stellar direction of the Daniels. The movie balances its comedy with a memorable touch of emotional depth.
2 Top Gun: Maverick Shows A New Group Of Fighter Pilots
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 96%
Tom Cruise returned after a four-year hiatus from the big screen. Top Gun: Maverick is one of 2022's best films, with Cruise returning as Pete "Maverick." The main character has to train a new group of fighter pilots to take out an enemy's uranium plant while dealing with personal losses.
Classic storytelling about good versus bad and heartwarming themes of friendship pushed Top Gun: Maverick as a critical favorite. The incredible flying sequences are a sheer delight to watch, which Cruise ensured were completely legit. They also bring replay value to the movie since the stunt work looks so awe-inspiring.
1 The Banshees Of Inisherin Depicts The Fallout From The End Of A Friendship
Rotten Tomatoes Rating – 97%
The Banshees of Inisherin is a comedy-drama about the dissolution of a friendship. A man called Colm starts to ignore his longtime friend Pádraic, claiming the latter is too dull. The angered Pádraic then makes plans to torment Colm, which inadvertently impresses him since it brings out a different side of Pádraic.
The Banshees of Inisherin has a bizarre premise that it fully embraces, which helps to highlight how inherently lonely the men are. Critics enjoyed the chemistry between Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, both of whom also garnered acting nominations for carrying the movie. It's simultaneously a comedy and a tragedy, making it deeply relatable.