Oscar Season is upon us!

This week, studios will continue to unveil new contenders, but they will also face competition from new popcorn flicks that attempt to continue surging at the box.

So what's in store for audiences?

The Judge

Perhaps the biggest awards hopeful of the week is the Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall starrer. The new film tells the story of big city lawyer Hank Palmer, who returns to his childhood home where his father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family. The drama opened at the Toronto Film Festival, where it disappointed and scored mixed reviews. While Downey Jr. and Duvall's performances were raved about, buzz has gone down and awards seem unlikely. However, the film will open in 2,700 theaters and it is likely to become a huge box office hit.

Addicted

William Levy is back at the box office with his latest film about a gallerist who risks her family and flourishing career when she enters into an affair with a talented painter and slowly loses control of her life. Also starring Sharon Leal, Boris Kodjoe and John Newberg, Lionsgate is barely pushing the film and has not given it a huge marketing campaign. Opening in 800 theaters, the drama has not obtained a single review and will likely only reach Levy's fan base and an African American audience.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

After a summer filled with mixed results, Disney returns with this new comedy. The film, starring Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, tells the story of Alexander's day, which begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by more calamities. Although he finds little sympathy from his family and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him, his mom, dad, brother and sister all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day soon after. Miguel Arteta directed the flick which has scored good reviews. Critics have called it entertaining and fun. Disney will unveil "Alexander" in 3,000 theaters and hopes to win the box office.

Dracula Untold

Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper and Sarah Gadon star in Universal's tale about Vlad Tepes, who makes a deal with dangerous supernatural forces -- whilst trying to avoid succumbing to the darkness himself -- when he faces threats to his kingdom and his family. The supernatural horror drama has been getting a strong marketing push but critics have stated that it is "neither awful enough to suck nor sharp enough to bite, Dracula Untold misses the point of its iconic character's deathless appeal." The film is similar to this year's "The Legend of Hercules" and "I, Frankenstein" and while this one has bigger stars, it is likely to flop with so many other films coming out this week.

Kill the Messenger

Focus Features returns to the big screen with another anticipated film. The new drama, starring Jeremy Renner, tells the story of a reporter who becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA's role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. The film was once seen as a major Oscar contender but Focus has not pushed it like pundits believed. "Kill the Messenger" received no festival premiere but has screened to terrific reviews. Like all the other releases this year, Focus is dropping it in 350 theaters instead of giving it a regular platform release. The strategy seems telling and makes it seem as if the company will not bother with an awards campaign.

Whiplash

The Sundance winner will finally be released after screening at Cannes, Telluride, Toronto and New York Film Festivals. Damien Chazelle's latest tells the story of a promising young drummer who enrolls at a cutthroat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential. Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons star in the film and Simmons has generated a lot of buzz for his performance. Sony Pictures Classics has been building buzz through the festival circuit and mounting a huge awards campaign. The film will open in limited release before expanding nationwide.

St. Vincent

The new Bill Murray starrer tells the story of a young boy, whose parents just divorced, who finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic war veteran who lives next door. Also starring Naomi Watts and Melissa McCarthy, the Weinstein Company premiered "St. Vincent" at the Toronto Film Festival, where it scored mixed reviews. Murray, however, scored raves and many pundits believe he will get a Golden Globe nomination. The Weinstein Company originally expected it would be an Oscar contender, but, after Toronto, buzz has decreased.

One Chance

A year after premiering at Toronto, the Weinstein Company will finally release the biopic about Paul Potts. Last year the studio campaigned the film for the Oscars and it received a Golden Globe nomination. However, it was delayed four times without any explanation. While it will be released a year after its original release date, the film cannot qualify for awards. "One Chance" has already screened for free on Yahoo and the theatrical run is likely to be a short one given the lack of marketing.

Focus Features will also release "I am Ali" while Drafthouse will open "The Overnighters." Roadside Attractions is also unveiling the horror drama "The Devil's Hand" and Paramount will expand "Men, Women, and Children" nationwide hoping to expand its audience and grosses.

Other films opening are Well Go USA's "Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead" and Rocky Mountain Pictures' "Christian Mingle."

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