1. Lincoln
2. Zero Dark Thirty
3. Les Misérables
4. Argo
5. Life of Pi
6. Silver Linings Playbook
7. Amour
8. Beasts of the Southern Wild
9. Moonrise Kingdom
10. Skyfall
There will be at least six nominees this year (the list can go as high as 10, depending on how many films get #1 votes from Academy members). The top six listed here are definite, and the bottom four a little more questionable. Although I thought Django Unchained was a blast, I haven't heard enough commitment and passion from voters to make me believe it cracks the list but that's one I could be wrong about. Skyfall, on the other hand, could be the first James Bond film to get a best picture nomination. A lot of voters love this movie, and it may be the popcorn vote of the season.
Actors, writers, directors, and Best Picture stakeholders that Anthony Breznican, a.k.a. EW's Prize Fighter, expects will be very happy Thursday morning