"Anchor" and "Conclave" are the critics' favorites for best picture at Sunday's upcoming Oscar gala.

Here are the 10 films nominated for cinema's biggest prize:

"Anchor"

Sean Baker's tragicomedy about sex workers, "Anora," is a film about class, capitalism and one girl's dreams that sparked universal admiration.

Last May, it became the first American film to win the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival since 2011. But the long road to Oscar success back home was far from certain. 

"Anchor" walked away from January's Golden Globes empty-handed before once again becoming the year's favorite, winning key awards from Hollywood producers, directors, writers and critics. 

"Conclave."

The convoluted thriller "The Conclave," based on Robert Harris's novel about the mysterious and unscrupulous politics of the Pope's election, has become a last-minute frontrunner along with "Anorra" for the top prize. 

The film debuted at the Telluride Film Festival in August and received positive reviews but did not generate serious interest. That changed dramatically at the start of awards season when the film won the top prize at the BAFTAs. 

Last weekend, "Conclave" - starring Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini - received the Hollywood Screen Actors Guild's top prize. 

"The Brutalist"

Immigrant saga "The Brutalist" looks set to bring a second best actor Oscar to Adrien Brody, who plays a genius architect and Holocaust survivor.

The film is also a potential contender for best picture. 

The longest Oscar-nominated film, which runs more than three and a half hours, looks like a lavish Hollywood epic but was made for less than $10 million. 

"Complete stranger"

This old-fashioned biopic about a young Bob Dylan, endorsed by the legendary singer himself, was the last Oscar contender shown to audiences last year.  It quickly gained favor and eight nominations. 

Megastar Timothee Shalame, 29, has the best chance at the Oscar, though some believe the film will serve up a surprise best picture. 

"Maleficent"

It's the biggest blockbuster on the list, with a whopping $730 million worldwide box office.

Voters can wait for the second and final installment to award this lavish adaptation. 

But that won't stop stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from bringing the house to its feet with a loudly advertised live musical performance at the Oscars.

"Emilia Perez"

No movie has had a more raucous campaign than "Emilia Perez."

French director Jacques Audiard's musical about a drug cartel boss who transforms into a woman and turns his back on crime was bought by Netflix before its Cannes debut. 

It won big at the Golden Globes and topped the Oscar nominations with 13 nominations. 

Its prospects evaporated when racist tweets by Oscar-nominated star Carla Sofia Gascon came to light. They intensified criticism of the film's Mexican clichés and use of artificial intelligence.

"The Thing"

Very few horror movies have ever been nominated for Best Picture, and this one about an aging Hollywood star addicted to a dangerous youth serum is even creepier than specimens like "The Exorcist."

Star Demi Moore is a favorite for the best actress prize.

"I'm still here"

Walter Salles' drama about a family torn apart by Brazil's military dictatorship has always been a strong contender for Best International Film. But it caused a huge shock by also receiving a Best Picture nomination.

Starring Fernanda Torres, who is also in contention for best actress, "I'm Still Here" has sparked a frenzy of support usually reserved for the World Cup in Brazil, and organizers of the carnival parades in Rio de Janeiro plan to live-stream information about the Oscars.

"Dune: Part Two"

A huge commercial hit - $715 million at the global box office, far exceeding that of the original - "Dune: Part Two" also received stellar reviews.

But the epic sci-fi sequel was released in February 2024, not usually a good period for Oscar contenders, and received only five nominations, with author Denis Villeneuve not receiving a best director award. 

His best picture hopes are diminished by the likelihood of a third Dune next year.

"The Boys from Nickel"

"The Nickel Boys" thrilled critics with its innovative use of first-person point of view to transport audiences to the trauma and abuse suffered by young black boys at a famed Florida reform school in the 1960s.

It is the smallest nominated film at the box office, with a global take of just $2.8 million. | BGNES, AFP