The 2027 film awards circuit has witnessed an unprecedented disruption following the box-office debut of A24's hybrid documentary "You Can See Everything." Helmed by filmmakers Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the nonfiction project chronicles the final 34 days of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes before she reported to federal prison, with cameras continuing to capture events afterward. Following a secret premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, the film registered a rare $15 million domestic opening weekend—an exceptional figure for a documentary release.
Alongside its commercial debut, the project has garnered critical consensus across major review aggregates, posting a 99 score on Metacritic and a 98% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. On audience evaluation platforms, the film secured a 4.7 out of 5 on Letterboxd and a 9.4 score on IMDb. These metrics have positioned the film as a distinct cultural force, sparking conversations over whether a documentary can achieve a milestone never reached in the 98-year history of the Academy Awards: securing a nomination for Best Picture.
99th Academy Awards Projected Nomination Leaders
| Projected Film | Studio | Projected Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| The Odyssey | Universal Pictures | 15 |
| Dune: Part Three | Warner Bros. | 11 |
| La Bola Negra | Netflix | 10 |
| Project Hail Mary | Amazon MGM Studios | 8 |
| The Invite | A24 | 6 |
Full Campaign Strategy and Acting Eligibility Approvals
In response to the critical and commercial reception, A24 has formally committed to a campaign across all major categories rather than confining the film to nonfiction consideration. The studio’s awards submissions place directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim alongside producers Tatiana Bears, Maggie Ambrose, and Jack Davis in contention for the Academy's top prize, in addition to pursuing recognition for directing, film editing by Adam Locke-Norton, cinematography by David Bolen, and original score by Ari Balouzian.
Further distinguishing the release is its hybrid narrative framework, which incorporates dramatic portrayals of real figures. Amanda Seyfried, who previously won an Emmy Award portraying Holmes in the limited series "The Dropout," appears in the film credited both as herself and as the Theranos founder. Seyfried has received clearance to campaign for Best Supporting Actress. Actor Christopher Abbott, who portrays Holmes' spouse Billy Evans in reenacted segments, is similarly cleared to compete for Best Supporting Actor. While Fielder appears on screen as himself, confirmation indicates he will not submit for performance consideration.
Goliath Matchup: Navigating Nolan's Odyssey and Studio Frontrunners
The positioning of "You Can See Everything" puts it directly against Christopher Nolan's major theatrical success, "The Odyssey," released by Universal Pictures. Industry analysts have framed the clash as an alternative dynamic of Elizabeth Holmes against the classical figure Odysseus, rather than a traditional underdog contest. Nolan's billion-dollar release currently projects to lead overall Academy Award nominations with 15 nods, dominating technical and above-the-line categories including Best Picture, Directing, and acting slots for Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway.
Despite the scale of Universal's contender, A24 leads overall studio projections with 17 total anticipated nominations across its slate. Alongside the documentary's technical and directing bids, the distributor has major contenders including "The Debut" and "The Invite." Other leading campaign operations for the upcoming cycle include Warner Bros. with Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Three," Netflix's Spanish contender "La Bola Negra" from Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, and Amazon MGM Studios' space drama "Project Hail Mary."
Golden Globes Reject Musical Category Placement for Michael Biopic
Elsewhere on the awards landscape, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has officially denied an eligibility request from Lionsgate regarding the forthcoming Michael Jackson biographical film. The studio had petitioned the Golden Globes to classify the production, titled "Michael," under the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category. Following the administrative denial, the feature has been assigned to the Drama category, placing star Jaafar Jackson in a competitive race for limited slots.
The drama classification places the Jackson biopic into direct friction with dominant dramatic contenders like "The Odyssey" and "La Bola Negra." The Golden Globe governing body's ruling solely impacts the principal film genre division; supporting performers Colman Domingo and Nia Long will remain eligible in unified supporting fields that do not differentiate between drama and comedy.
Key Voting Timelines for the 99th Academy Awards
The preliminary timeline toward the Oscars will officially ramp up at the Governors Awards on Sunday, November 15, where the Academy will honor industry veterans Glenn Close and Ridley Scott. Shortlist voting across 12 specific disciplines is scheduled to take place from December 7 through December 11, with the official 12-category shortlists revealed on Tuesday, December 15.
Following the final closure of the calendar eligibility period on December 31, 2026, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will conduct official nomination balloting from January 11 to January 15, 2027. Nominations will be publicly presented on Thursday, January 21, 2027. The season culminates on Sunday, March 14, 2027, with the live presentation of the 99th Oscars broadcast on ABC from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, hosted by Conan O’Brien.
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Source: Variety
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