2024 Oscars Best Cinematography nominees: 5 past contenders seek 1st win

The films in contention for the 2024 Best Cinematography Oscar are “El Conde,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Poor Things.” Our odds currently favor “Oppenheimer” (31/10) taking the prize, followed in order by “Killers of the Flower Moon” (4/1), “Poor Things” (4/1), “Maestro” (9/2), and “El Conde” (9/2).

After 2013 and 2016, this is the third time that a 21st century cinematography lineup has exclusively consisted of previously nominated lensers. This case differs from the preceding two, however, in that none of the current contenders have ever won before. The one with the most losses so far is Rodrigo Prieto, whose bid for “Killers of the Flower Moon” is his third for a Martin Scorsese-directed film, following “Silence” (2017) and “The Irishman” (2020). Having initially earned a notice for his work on “Brokeback Mountain” (2006), he remains the category’s second most recognized Latin American-born nominee behind fellow Mexican Emmanuel Lubezki.

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Currently on their respective third nominations are Edward Lachman (“El Conde”) and Matthew Libatique (“Maestro”), the former of whom is, at 75, the oldest hopeful (and only non-quinquagenarian) in this bunch. He was previously nominated for the Todd Haynes movies “Far from Heaven” (2003) and “Carol” (2016), while Libatique picked up his first two bids for “Black Swan” (2011) and “A Star Is Born” (2019), the latter of which was, like “Maestro,” helmed by Bradley Cooper. With his new mention, Libatique solely ranks behind 10-time contender James Wong Howe as the second most recognized cinematographer of Asian descent.

Rounding out this roster with one past nomination apiece are Robbie Ryan (“Poor Things”) and Hoyte van Hoytema (“Oppenheimer”), whose previous bids came for “The Favourite” (2019) and “Dunkirk” (2018), which were respectively helmed by “Poor Things” and “Oppenheimer” directors Yorgos Lanthimos and Christopher Nolan. Ryan is now involved in a rematch with Libatique, who lost alongside him five years ago to Alfonso Cuarón (“Roma”).

Excluding “Killers of the Flower Moon,” four of the films in this lineup incorporate significant amounts of black-and-white photography, with “El Conde” being the 18th completely non-color nominee since this specific category was established 56 years ago. To date, the only primarily black-and-white films that have won during that time are “Schindler’s List” (1994), “Roma,” and “Mank” (2021).

Since 2004, each film that has won Best Cinematography has also collected at least one other Oscar. The most overlap has occurred in the Best Production Design category, as evidenced by the recent dual success of “All Quiet on the Western Front” as well as eight earlier movies. Competing for both trophies in this case are “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Poor Things.”

The films that won in this category most recently are “All Quiet on the Western Front” (2023), “Dune” (2022), “Mank” (2021), and “1917” (2020). This year’s winner will be revealed during the 96th Academy Awards ceremony, airing March 10 on ABC.

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