Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the semi-finalists in ten categories for the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. These shortlists serve as an early indicator of potential contenders vying for the prestigious Oscar nominations, with films garnering recognition in areas such as International Feature Film, Documentary Feature, Original Song, Music Score, Sound, Visual Effects, and Makeup & Hairstyling.

Leading the pack with an impressive five mentions is the 2023 box office hit, "Barbie." The film snagged nominations across categories including Original Score, Sound, and three for Original Song. Notably, "Barbie" missed out on a spot in the Hair & Makeup category. Following closely behind are Martin Scorsese's "Killers Of The Flower Moon" and J.A. Bayona's Spanish Oscar entry "Society of the Snow," both receiving four nods. Other notable films with three shortlist mentions are "Oppenheimer," "The Color Purple," "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," "Poor Things," and "Napoleon."

These shortlists hold significance not only for showcasing which movies may gain traction within certain sections of the Academy but also for highlighting potential surprises and overlooked contenders. In fact, the leak of the Visual Effects semi-finalists excluded Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," which was expected to be a frontrunner. Conversely, these lists can also shine a spotlight on unexpected contenders that may catch industry and viewer attention.

Last year, the eventual International Film winner and Best Picture nominee, "All Quiet on the Western Front," dominated the shortlists with five mentions including Sound, Visual Effects, Makeup & Hair, and Original Music Score. This success translated into nominations across all five categories, with the film ultimately taking home two Oscars.

Netflix's International Film entry, Spain's "Society Of The Snow," appears to be following in the footsteps of "All Quiet on the Western Front" by securing four mentions on the shortlists. A24's "The Zone Of Interest" also demonstrates strength as a shortlist indicator of future glory with three nominations, including Sound and Score.

In terms of sheer numbers, "Barbie" leads the way with five mentions, although only two songs from any one movie can be nominated in the finals according to AMPAS rules. This puts "Barbie," "Killers Of The Flower Moon," and "Society Of The Snow" as the films with a legitimate shot at securing nominations in four different categories.

Notable snubs in the Original Song category include Bruce Springsteen's "Addicted To Romance" from "She Came To Me" and Jack Black's "Peaches" from "The Super Mario Bros Movie." Surprisingly, Disney failed to secure any nominations in the Song category, except for "The Fire Inside" from Searchlight's "Flamin' Hot," composed by Diane Warren, a perennial presence on these lists.

The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23. The ceremony itself will take place on March 10 at the Dolby Theater and will be broadcast live on ABC.

These shortlists offer an exciting glimpse into the potential contenders for the Oscars, stirring anticipation among fans and industry insiders alike. As the race for the coveted golden statuettes heats up, all eyes will be on the nominated films and artists when the nominations are finally revealed.