17 possible best director nominees for the 2023 Oscars
From giants like James Cameron and Steven Spielberg to indie darlings like Todd Field and The Daniels, the filmmaker field is loaded this year

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(Clockwise from bottom left:) Gina Prince-Bythewood on The Woman King (Ilze Kitshoff), Martin McDonagh on The Banshees Of Inisherin (Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures), Rian Johnson on Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (John Wilson / Netflix), Steven Spielberg on The Fabelmans (Merie Weismiller Wallace/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment), Jordan Peele on Nope (Glen Wilson/Universal Pictures) Graphic: The A.V. Club
There’s no Oscar category that’s more like comparing apples and oranges than Best Director. Should the Academy reward intimate, emotionally driven character studies—evidence that a director can masterfully guide their stars? Or should they go for impressive, “how’d they do that” spectacle? As this list of could-be and should-be nominees can attest, directing is a tricky thing to qualify. Read on for the 17 filmmaker contenders (technically 18, with double the Daniels in one slot) that may be in the mix at the 2023 Oscars and deserving of that shiny gold man.