When it comes to the Oscars, science fiction films are rarely rewarded outside the technical categories. So what chance does British director Chris Nolan's nominated film Inception have of being named best picture this year?
"Inception hasn't got a chance of winning in the same way that District 9 didn't have a chance last year," says Dave Calhoun, film editor of Time Out.
"If we had five instead of 10 best picture nominees it's unlikely that Inception would have been nominated."
The Academy increased the number of best picture nominees in 2010, which saw District 9 and James Cameron's 3D juggernaut Avatar rubbing shoulders with low-budget indie fare like the Coen brothers' A Serious Man and The Hurt Locker.
It was the latter film - Kathryn Bigelow's bomb disposal drama - that won on the day.
Technical awards
Oscars history shows that sci-fi films haven't fared well when up for best picture.
The original Star Wars (1977) may have starred a robot that looked like a golden Oscar statuette, but the top prize that year went to Woody Allen's Annie Hall.
George Lucas's space adventure was rewarded with seven other Oscars, including editing, visual effects and music.
In 1982, Steven Spielberg's blockbuster ET: The Extra-terrestrial was beaten by Gandhi.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12540392
Note: 24 February 2011 Last updated at 10:31 GMT