With wins from Directors Guild, Producers Guild, and countless critics groups, The Hurt Locker is now officially the movie to beat. It's up for nine awards on Oscar night and, if Kathryn Bigelow strikes gold for Best Director, she'll be the first woman ever to take home the big prize. (She faces stiff competition, though, from her ex-husband, Avatar's James Cameron.)
Click to get a printer-friendly checklist of our 25 must-see films.
Dave Karger's guide on how to prioritize, whether you're planning to see only one -- or every last one -- of these contenders