The Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild announced nominees for their awards in December. They're often indicators of who will be on the list for Academy Award nominations, which will be announced Jan. 10.
Here's a look at the Globes' 10 best picture nominees, so you can get caught up with voters before the awards are handed out.
(Note: In the interest of space, we stuck to listing awards in the big categories like acting and directing. Many of the films were also nominated in technical categories.)
"Argo"
FILE - This film image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez, center, in "Argo," a rescue thriller about the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. (AP Photo/Warner Bros., Claire Folger)
Ben Affleck stars in this based-on-a-true-story movie about the a secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of Iran. But it's his work behind the camera -- the film is the third Affleck has directed -- that's really getting buzz.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-drama; best director, Ben Affleck; best supporting actor, Alan Arkin
Screen Actors Guild -- outstanding cast performance (the SAG's equivalent of best picture); outstanding actor in a supporting role, Alan Arkin
Where to see it: On DVD Feb. 19
"Django Unchained"
Quentin Tarantino's latest film is an ode to spaghetti westerns, with slavery and lots of violence thrown in for good measure.
FILE - From left, Jamie Foxx as Django and Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candle star in the film, "Django Unchained," directed by Quentin Tarantino. (AP Photo/The Weinstein Company, Andrew Cooper, SMPSP)
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-drama; best director, Quentin Tarantino; best supporting actor, Leonardo DiCaprio; best supporting actor, Christop Waltz
Where to see it: In theaters now
"Life of Pi"
When Ang Lee read the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, he didn't think it could be made into a movie. A lot of Hollywood's best directors tried and failed before Lee tackled the project.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-drama; best director, Ang Lee
Where to see it: In theaters now
"Lincoln"
FILE - This publicity film image released by Walt Disney Pictures shows Daniel Day-Lewis portraying Abraham Lincoln in the film "Lincoln."
The heavy favorite for a slew of awards, Steven Spielberg's film is based on the book "Team of Rivals," chronicling Lincoln's presidency. Daniel Day-Lewis disappears into his role as the 16th president -- expect him to clean house at all the award shows.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-drama; best director, Steven Spielberg; best actor-drama, Daniel Day-Lewis; best supporting actress, Sally Field; best supporting actor, Tommy Lee Jones
Screen Actors Guild -- outstanding cast performance; outstanding actor in a leading role, Daniel Day-Lewis; outstanding actress in a supporting role, Sally Field; outstanding actor in a supporting role, Tommy Lee Jones
Where to see it: In theaters now
"Zero Dark Thirty"
FILE - This undated publicity film image provided by Columbia Pictures shows Jessica Chastain in a scene from "Zero Dark Thirty." (AP Photo/Sony - Columbia Pictures, Jonathan Olley)
Director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal were already deep into research for the film, which chronicles the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden, when the al-Qaida leader was killed by S.E.A.L. Team 6. The film is unflinching in its depiction of torture used to elicit information, and the final raid on bin Laden's compound has been described as tense and heart pounding.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-drama; best director, Kathryn Bigelow; best actress Jessica Chastain
Screen Actors Guild -- outstanding performance by an actress in a leading role, Jessica Chastain
Where to see it: Opening Jan. 11
"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
This under-the-radar film about British retirees who travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. The movie, starring a who's who of British actors, charmed audiences and critics in the same way the hotel charms its visitors.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-comedy or musical; best actress-comedy or musical, Judi Dench
Screen Actors Guild -- outstanding cast performance; outstanding actress in a supporting role, Maggie Smith
Where to see it: Available on DVD
"Les Miserables"
The Tony-award winning show finally gets the big-screen musical treatment. Tom Hooper, who won a best director Oscar for "The King's Speech," took a different approach to filming a musical, having the cast perform the songs live on set. Anne Hathaway's haunting rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" makes her a near-lock for every best supporting actress award.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-comedy or musical; best actor-comedy or musical, Hugh Jackman; best supporting actress-comedy or musical, Anne Hathaway
Screen Actors Guild -- outstanding cast performance; outstanding actor in a leading role, Hugh Jackman; outstanding actress in a supporting role, Anne Hathaway
Where to see it: In theaters now
"Moonrise Kingdom"
In typical quirky Wes Anderson fashion, a young boy and girl run away from their New England town in the 1960s. Various factions team up to find them, and discover things about the town and themselves.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-comedy or musical
Where to see it: Available on DVD
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
When a sheik wants to bring fishing to his desert country, Britain's leading fisheries expert and the Prime Minister's press secretary team up to fulfill his dream. While on their quest, they also find love and face other challenges.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-comedy or musical; best actress-comedy or musical, Emily Blunt; best actor-comedy or musical, Ewan McGregor
Where to see it: Available on DVD
"Silver Linings Playbook"
FILE - This film image released by The Weinstein Company shows Jennifer Lawrence, left, and Bradley Cooper in "Silver Linings Playbook." (AP Photo/The Weinstein Company, JoJo Whilden)
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence play two misfits -- he's living with his parents after a stint in a mental institution and she's got her own problems -- who might just be exactly what the other one needs.
Nominated for:
Golden Globes -- best picture-comedy or musical; best actress-comedy or musical, Jennifer Lawrence; best actor-comedy or musical, Bradley Cooper
Screen Actors Guild -- outstanding cast performance; outstanding actor in a leading role, Bradley Cooper; outstanding actress in a leading role, Jennifer Lawrence; outstanding actor in a supporting role, Robert De Niro
Where to see it: In theaters now
When to watch
Golden Globe Awards: 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 13 on NBC
Screen Actors Guild Awards: 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 27 on TNT
Academy Awards: 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24 on ABC
Other top contenders
Though their films weren't nominated for best picture, these actors and actresses are getting lots of buzz for their performances and could take home gold during award season:
Naomi Watts -- best actress for "The Impossible"
Marion Cotillard -- best actress for "Rust and Bone"
Helen Mirren -- best actress for "Hitchcock"
Helen Hunt -- best supporting actress for "The Sessions"
John Hawkes -- best actor for "The Sessions"
Denzel Washington -- best actor for "Flight"
Philip Seymour Hoffman -- best supporting actor for "The Master"
Javier Bardem -- best supporting actor for "Skyfall"
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