The fall is my favorite season for several reasons: the weather, the holidays, the foliage, the movies—oh, the movies. This is when studios release their best contenders for Oscar glory, more than four months away. Every year, I aim to watch all of the Oscar hopefuls before nominations are announced (this year on January 16, 2014).

Here is my second-annual list of this year’s major contenders in various categories, along with release dates.

Past Releases

FRUITVALE STATION

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

Currently in Theatres

12 YEARS A SLAVE

ALL IS LOST

BLUE JASMINE

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

ENOUGH SAID

GRAVITY

HER

LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER

PRISONERS

RUSH

WADJDA

Opens October 25

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

Opens November 1

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

Opens November 15

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Opens November 22

NEBRASKA

PHILOMENA

Opens November 29

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

Opens December 6

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

OUT OF THE FURNACE

Opens December 13

AMERICAN HUSTLE

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

SAVING MR. BANKS

Opens December 18

THE MONUMENTS MEN

Opens December 20

THE PAST

Opens December 25

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY