The number of films that have qualified for Academy Award consideration is up slightly from the 2016 total.
While a few dozen films will command the lion’s share of the nominations when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces its noms for the 90th Academy Awards on Jan. 23, there are actually 341 feature films that are eligible to compete for the best picture Oscar this year, the Academy announced Tuesday.
The total number of eligible films is up slightly from 2016, when 336 qualified, and 2015, when 305 films were under consideration. The number reflects films that, given their theatrical runs, are eligible to compete in the best picture and other categories, but doesn't include foreign films that are not having theatrical runs in Los Angeles in 2017.
To be eligible, a feature film must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, Dec. 31, beginning a minimum run of seven consecutive days. Under Academy rules, a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.
Feature films that receive their first public exhibition or distribution in any manner other than as a theatrical motion picture release are not eligible for Academy Awards in any category, although films that open theatrically the same day as they appear on streaming services like Netflix do qualify. A reminder list of productions eligible for the 90th Academy Awards is available at
oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility.
The 90th Academy Awards will be held Sunday, March 4, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and will be televised live on ABC.