This year has been a condensed season, and because of that, expect to hear many of the same films dominate. In most seasons, the extra ten days allow unusual narratives to develop in some categories. For others, it allows the competition to get their final shots off, weakening the strongest films. This year, I’m expecting a nice spread, but several popular movies will be left out regardless. While The Farewell and Uncut Gems, might have helped define the year at the movies, they will likely not be invited to its biggest party.
Below are my guesses for who will receive nominations. They in no way will be the films that I personally endorse in most of these categories. That ballot will come out soon, but in the meantime, enjoy a look at our predictions below.
Projected Nomination Leaders
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood – 10
1917 – 9
The Irishman – 8
Jojo Rabbit, Joker, & Little Women – 7
Marriage Story – 6
Rocketman & Ford v Ferrari – 4
Predictions for the 92nd Annual Academy Awards
Best Picture
- PREDICTING 8 NOMINEES
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
If 9 – Ford v Ferrari
If 10 – Pain & Glory
Potential Spoilers
Knives Out, Bombshell, A Hidden Life, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Hustlers
Best Director
Bong Joon-ho – Parasite
Greta Gerwig – Little Women
Sam Mendes – 1917
Martin Scorsese – The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Potential Spoilers
Taika Waititi – Jojo Rabbit, Todd Phillips – Joker, Pedro Almodovar – Pain & Glory, James Mangold – Ford v Ferrari, Josh and Bennie Safdie – Uncut Gems
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story
Saorise Ronan – Little Women
Charlize Theron – Bombshell
Potential Spoilers
Cynthia Erivo – Harriet, Awkwafina – The Farewell, Jessie Buckley – Wild Rose, Florence Pugh – Midsommar, Alfre Woodard – Clemency
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Antonio Banderas – Pain & Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Adam Driver – Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
Potential Spoilers
Christian Bale – Ford v Ferrari, Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes, Robert De Niro – The Irishman, Eddie Murphy – Dolemite is My Name, Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems
Best Supporting Actress
Laura Dern – Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit
Jennifer Lopez – Hustlers
Florence Pugh – Little Women
Margot Robbie – Bombshell
Potential Spoilers
Zhao Shuzhen – The Farewell, Nicole Kidman – Bombshell, Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell, Annette Bening – The Report, Margot Robbie – Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood*
*Note: Unlike the BAFTAs, an actor or actress can only be nominated once in a category at Oscar. Because Bombshell and Once Upon a Time are in the same category, she can only receive a nomination for one of the two. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson’s nominations are in lead and supporting, so she can earn two nominations.
Best Supporting Actor
Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Al Pacino – The Irishman
Joe Pesci – The Irishman
Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Song Kang Ho – Parasite
Original Screenplay
1917
Knives Out
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
Potential Spoilers
The Farewell, Pain & Glory, Booksmart, Uncut Gems, Us
Best Adapted Screenplay
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Potential Spoilers
The Two Popes, Dark Waters, Hustlers, Toy Story 4, Just Mercy
Best Editing
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Parasite
Potential Spoilers
Uncut Gems, Joker, 1917, Marriage Story, Bombshell
Best Production Design
1917
Jojo Rabbit
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Parasite
Potential Spoilers
The Irishman, Joker, Ford v Ferrari, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, Aladdin
Best Costume Design
Dolemite Is My Name
Judy
Little Women
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Rocketman
Potential Spoilers
Downton Abbey, The Irishman, 1917, Aladdin, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Best Cinematography
1917
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Joker
Potential Spoilers
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Parasite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, A Hidden Life, Ad Astra
Best Sound Editing
*Created Sounds
1917
Ford v Ferrari
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Potential Spoilers
The Irishman, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rocketman, Avengers: Endgame, Uncut Gems
Sound Mixing
*Balancing Sounds, Music, Dialogue, direction of Sound
1917
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Rocketman
Potential Spoilers
Uncut Gems, The Irishman, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Avengers: Endgame, Jojo Rabbit
Best Original Song
“I’m Gonna Love Me Again” from Rocketman
“Into the Unknown” from Frozen II
“Letters to My Godfather” from The Black Godfather
Potential Spoilers
“Glasgow,” “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “I’m Standing with You,” “Speechless,” “A Glass of Soju”
Best Original Score
1917
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Potential Spoilers
Marriage Story, Ford v Ferrari, Pain & Glory, Motherless Brooklyn, Us
Best Visual Effects
1917
The Irishman
The Lion King
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Potential Spoilers:
Terminator: Dark Fate, Alita: Battle Angel, Captain Marvel, Gemini Man, Cats
Best Animated Feature
I Lost My Body
Toy Story 4
Potential Spoilers
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Abominable, Weathering with You, Spies in Disguise, Funan
Best Documentary
American Factory
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
One Child Nation
Potential Spoilers
Apollo 11, Midnight Family, The Cave, The Great Hack, Knock Down the House
Best International Feature Film
Corpus Christi
Les Misérables
Pain & Glory
Parasite
Those Who Remained
Potential Spoilers
Beanpole, Atlantics, Honeyland, The Painted Bird, Truth and Justice
