Ah, Oscar season. Can you smell it? That time of the year between November and the end of December where the films destined to win Academy Awards make their theatrical debuts. Many of the films destined to win the coveted award of Best Picture have already been seen by critics and are now waiting to be appreciated by the public eye.

This year, Oscar season is getting started a little earlier than usual, with some much anticipated films hitting theaters within the next few weeks.

The biggest contender to watch out for is Danny Boyle’s “Steve Jobs,” which stars Michael Fassbender as the former head of Apple. Boyle has had great success at the Oscars in the past, most notably for his recognition for “Slumdog Millionaire.” I wouldn’t put it past the director to sweep the awards show yet again with this biopic.

Other films to be released in October include the Netflix and IMAX exclusive “Beasts of No Nation” about child soldiers in Africa; Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies” which is set during the Cold War, starring Tom Hanks and written by the Coen brothers; and “Room,” an indie film which has picked up decent buzz at recent film festivals.

November’s slate is filled with films that tackle important, yet potentially controversial subject matter. First out of the gate is “Spotlight,” a movie based on a true story which stars Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams as the Boston Globe reporters who brought public attention to the Catholic sex abuse scandal. The buzz around this film has been intriguing and is sure to strike a nerve in the Catholic community.

Rounding out the month are two films with narratives focusing on LGBTQ characters. The first film is “Carol,” which stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. The film tells the story of a young female photographer who develops a relationship with an older married woman. Following is “The Danish Girl,” directed by Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”) and starring Eddie Redmayne, last year’s Academy Award winner for Best Actor, who portrays Lili Elbe, the first recipient of sex reassignment surgery.

December is set to round out the season with three heavy hitters. Amid the hype surrounding the new “Star Wars” film comes “The Revenant,” a revenge tale which stars Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hardy as fur trappers who run into trouble in the uncharted American wilderness. The film is directed by last year’s Best Director winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu and is sure to garner attention at the Oscars.

The other two films are Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” and David O. Russell’s “Joy.” Tarantino needs no introduction and even Russell has become recognized as a prestigious filmmaker following his nomination for Best Director a few years ago for “Silver Linings Playbook.” Both these films come out on Christmas day and are sure to draw huge crowds over the holiday season.

If the above list is anything to go off, it is going to be a tight race for Best Picture nominees this year. So grab your friends, grab your family and make sure you get out to the theaters and experience some of the madness and wonder of Oscar season for yourself.