With just a month left of the year, it’s time to start looking at the race for the 2016 Academy Awards. Unlike last year’s two horse race, the Best Picture award is wide open.

Yes, Tom McCarthy’s incredible Spotlight has looked like the frontrunner, but there are still wild cards that have yet to hit theaters. While critics have seen Alejandro G. Inarritu’s The Revenant and David O. Russell’s Joy is just starting to be shown to the industry, it’s not clear where they stand until reviews are finally published.

Those aren’t the only three expected to take up the eight-to-10 slots that make up the list of Best Picture nominees. John Crowley’s heartwarming Brooklyn, Tom Hooper’s historical drama The Danish Girl and Todd Haynes’ lesbian romance story Carol will probably be taking up three slots.

All three films, along with Spotlight, have done incredibly well at the box office so far in their limited releases. It shows that these are connecting with audiences, not just the critics who have praised them repeatedly. Hooper and Haynes are also loved by the Academy already, with Hooper winning for The King’s Speech and Haynes nominated for Far From Heaven back in 2003.

Room, which will likely be nominated for Best Actress because of Brie Larson’s performance, might be the token small indie Best Picture nominee.

Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies is expected to take a slot, which wouldn’t be surprising since anything he does lately seems to at least get a Best Picture nomination. I’d be surprised if the film made it, only because of the unexcited response to it.

Expect some blockbusters to be in the running, ensuring that this year’s field has earned more money than last year’s. Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out should ride its good reviews all the way to the Oscars. Creed has become instantly loved by critics and audiences, so there would be a huge backlash if that gets ignored. The Martian is already guaranteed a spot thanks to its revival of the box office after the summer.

While it would certainly be cool if Mad Max: Fury Road got a nomination, but I think that’s a long shot. And, as a Star Wars geek, I’d love to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens in there. Straight Outta Compton is another summer release that has a real shot at earning a nod.

Update: I initially forgot about Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, another late opener. That will definitely be in the mix, too. With that in mind, Room will probably be left out.

My Current Picks:
Spotlight
Brooklyn
Carol
The Danish Girl
Inside Out
Joy
The Revenant
The Martian
The Hateful Eight
Creed