Every year, we eagerly anticipate the Academy's announcement of all of the Oscar nominees, inevitably recoiling from a handful of snubs upon learning those officially in the running. Best actor, actress, and director are important categories, but most of us keep our eyes fixed on the biggest prize: best picture. It's everything that the one special night builds up to and can sometimes be the source of drama (e.g. the La La Land and Moonlight debacle).
This year's roster for the category is stacked, including everything from Black Panther to The Favourite. Before you cram all of the best picture contenders in one go, here's a helpful rundown about the nominees' plots, casts, and general buzz, which, yes, includes controversies (we're looking at you, Green Book).