Some will watch the Academy Awards for the glitz and glam of the red carpet. Some will watch for the awkward acceptance speeches. Others will watch simply to see if Leonardo DiCaprio will finally take home that long-awaited Oscar. But whether or not you decide to tune in to the 86th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, you can becertain—millions of other people will be watching.

Last year over forty million viewers tuned in to see Argo take home the coveted award for Best Picture. This year, nine films ranging from low-budget indie flicks to high-budget sci-fi thrillers and historical dramas have been nominated for the title.

Recent online buzz and blogger predictions point to a battle between 12 Years a Slave and Gravity as the frontrunners in this category. This showdown is similar to the previous years’ predictions which pitted a historically realistic and less-marketed film against a commercially successful 3D fantasy film (think The Hurt Locker versus Avatar).

Captain Phillips, described by critics and moviegoers as a powerfully emotional film, doesn’t stand a chance against the intensity that Gravity and 12 Years a Slave bring to the table. Sandra Bullock’s one-woman performance forces all who watch Gravity to put themselves in her place while 12 Years a Slave takes viewers on a heartbreaking journey of twists and turns until they have no idea what’s coming.

In the past few years, the smaller historical films have beaten out the more expensive films. This fact, along with its recent Golden Globe win for Best Motion Picture, Drama, puts 12 Years a Slave in a good position to win the Oscar.

However, American Hustle also won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. It has received constant praise from film critics across the country, and its star-studded and crowd-pleasing cast makes it a popular pick for movie fans.

It’s likely that one of these three films will take home the prize next month. However, the Academy has been known to throw curveballs, and many film buffs would be happy to  see the underdog sweep the competition.

Dallas Buyer’s Club, which is almost sure to take home an Oscar or two for acting, and Her, which seems to be the favorite for Best Original Screenplay, are both low-budget independent films starring well-known actors. As pleasing as it would be to see one of them win Best Picture, the quiet simplicity of Her and the absence of media hype towards Dallas Buyer’s Club could hinder their odds.

Nebraska and Philomena, though both exquisitely charming and touching stories about younger generations butting heads with the elderly and eventually learning a life lesson or two, lack the excitement that many look for in an Oscar-worthy film.

A film that most definitely doesn’t lack that excitement is The Wolf of Wall Street. However, Martin Scorse’s most recent undertaking has received the lowest rating on Rotten Tomatoes—76 percent—of all the nominees. Its scandalous combination of drugs, sex, cursing, and crime had many viewers walking out of the theaters.

Although people were surprised that films such as Saving Mr. Banks and the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis were snubbed for several of the awards, there’s no denying that overall this year’s list of nominees for Best Picture is extremely impressive. Regardless, when the time comes to open that envelope and reveal the winner, everyone will be watching to see who takes home that Oscar.