The 90th Oscars take place on Sunday, with "The Shape of Water" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" expected to do battle for the main prizes.
But the statistical quirks that the annual event throws up can be as intriguing as tracking which movie wins the most statuettes.
Here are some fun facts and figures about this year's list of nominees:
Female filmmakers recognized:
The 7,000-plus voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences managed to remember this year that women make movies too.
Greta Gerwig, recognized for "Lady Bird," is only the fifth female best director nominee, and the first since Kathryn Bigelow won for "The Hurt Locker" in 2010
Rachel Morrison, the director of photography on "Mudbound," is the first woman ever to receive a nomination for best cinematography.
Long live Queen Meryl:
Meryl Streep has increased her lead as the most nominated performer in history with her 21st nod for Steven Spielberg's "The Post."
Her three wins were for "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979), "Sophie's Choice" (1982) and "The Iron Lady" (2011).
All hail the maestro:
ohn Williams has added to his record number of music scoring nominations with his 46th for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."
His overall total of 51 nominations -- including five for original song -- is the most for any living person, and second only to Walt Disney at 59.
Kobe Bryant -- shown here addressing reporters in December as the Los Angeles Lakers prepared to retire his numbers -- is an unlikely Oscar nominee
AFP
Kobe Bryant -- shown here addressing reporters in December as the Los Angeles Lakers prepared to retire his numbers -- is an unlikely Oscar nominee AFP