Even with their newly expanded field, the Academy's visual effects branch still feels they must put films vying for the Oscar through a bake-off process. The first wave of contenders to survive the scrutinous procedure have been announced. They will later be trimmed down to ten before the final five are announced on nomination day.
There are no real surprises to be had at this early stage, but this branch can sometimes surprise when it all comes out in the wash. Last year's inclusion of Hereafter's subtle supporting effects over TRON Legacy's CG-heavy environs comes to mind (in fact, that Hereafter nomination is what has vindicated many guessers, myself included, to predict a nomination for The Tree of Life for the past several months).
See all fifteen finalists after the cut.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Cowboys and Aliens
Harry Potter
Hugo
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Sucker Punch
Super 8
Thor
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The Tree of Life
X-Men: First Class
