98th Academy Awards: The State of the Supporting Actress Race (October Edition)

Instead of writing a full update on my Oscar predictions this week, I’m doing a deep dive on the six highest profile races: Picture, Director and the four acting derbies. It began with Supporting Actor and continues today with Supporting Actress. If you missed my write-up on Supporting Actor, you can find it here:

I published my first preview of the Supporting Actress field on April 6th. In that post, I listed my initial predictions for the quintet of hopefuls along with ten other possibilities. At that impossibly early stage of the game, my selections were:

Ayo Edebiri, After the Hunt

Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good

Angelina LookingGlass, The Rivals of Amziah King

Gwyneth Paltrow, Marty Supreme

Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another

Let’s dispense with a couple of those names. Angelina LookingGlass’s heralded work in The Rivals of Amziah King has not been scheduled for 2025. At this point, I’m assuming it will come out in 2026.

After the Hunt has lost its awards luster after a poor commercial and critical reaction. While her costar Julia Roberts may have a long shot chance at making the Actress cut, I don’t see the same for Edebiri.

The other three names are very much viable. Ariana Grande was nominated last year as Glinda the Good Witch and was probably runner-up to Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez). While For Good has yet to screen, it stands to reason that she could make a return to the lineup. I’ve had her ranked first the whole year and we’ll see if that remains when word-of-mouth comes in.

Teyana Taylor’s performance dominates the first third of One Battle After Another (arguably the BP frontrunner). That should be enough for her to be the most likely Supporting Actor nominee in the film and we’ll get to Regina Hall shortly.

Gwyneth Paltrow is not a guaranteed competitor like her costar Timothée Chalamet is in lead actor. However, her work in Marty Supreme is definitely viable in this unformed race. The same could be said for her costar Odessa A’Zion though I’d put Paltrow ahead.

My 10 other possibilities that I listed back in April are:

Emily Blunt, The Smashing Machine

Glenn Close, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Laura Dern, Jay Kelly

Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value

America Ferrera, The Lost Bus

Regina Hall, One Battle After Another

Greta Lee, Late Fame

Nia Long, Michael

Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman

Emily Watson, Hamnet

Let’s start with Regina Hall. When it was announced that Chase Infiniti would compete in lead Actress for Battle, it opened the door for Hall. I maintain that she’s behind her costar Taylor. I currently have her on the outside looking in, but wouldn’t be surprised if she hears her name called. In the 21st century, we’ve seen double nominees in this category 10 out of 25 times. The last example was 2022 when Jamie Lee Curtis won for Everything Everywhere All at Once while her cast mate Stephanie Hsu was also up. The other times were as follows:

2000: Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson, Almost Famous

2001: Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith, Gosford Park

2002: Catherine Zeta-Jones (winner) and Queen Latifah, Chicago

2006: Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

2008: Amy Adams and Viola Davis, Doubt

2009: Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air

2010: Melissa Leo (winner) and Amy Adams, The Fighter

2011: Octavia Spencer (winner) and Jessica Chastain, The Help

2018: Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Another possibility of two nominees from the same pictures lies with Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value) and her costar Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass. The former seems marginally more likely but Lilleass is absolutely a threat to make the quintet.

A third possibility of two actresses from one feature is Wunmi Mosaku and Hailee Steinfeld from Sinners. That’s a more remote possibility and the film would really have to over perform for either to get in.

Back to those 10 other possibilities. Michael was pushed to 2026 so there goes Nia Long. Laura Dern, America Ferrera, Greta Lee and Emily Watson are all long shots at best after their movies screened. For Dern and Watson, they could see some of their costars nominated.

Emily Blunt could factor in if she manages SAG or Critics Choice or a Globe nod. Yet The Smashing Machine was a major box office flop and that doesn’t help. The same logic applies to Jennifer Lopez for Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Glenn Close is arguably considered the best thespian who hasn’t won an Oscar despite eight attempts. That could help her cause in Rian Johnon’s latest murder mystery, but none of the actors from Knives Out and Glass Onion made it despite respective buzz for Ana de Armas and Janelle Monae.

One name not on my radar in April was Amy Madigan in Weapons. The summer sleeper gave the veteran actress an unforgettably creepy role that should inspire many a Halloween costume next week. I’m starting to really think she could find herself in the quintet.

So there you have it, readers! I would say Grande, Taylor, Fanning, Lilleass, Madigan, Paltrow and Hall are the seven likeliest contestants with potential surprises including Close, Lopez, Blunt and Mosaku. I will zone in on Best Actor in the next write-up!

98th Academy Awards: The State of the Supporting Actor Race (October Edition)

Instead of writing a full update on my Oscar predictions this week, I’m doing a deep dive on the six highest profile races: Picture, Director and the four acting derbies. It begins with Supporting Actor.

I published my first preview of the Supporting Actor field on April 5th. In that post, I listed my initial predictions for the quintet of hopefuls along with ten other possibilities. At that impossibly early stage of the game, my selections were:

Colman Domingo, Michael

Andrew Garfield, After the Hunt

Mark Hamill, The Life of Chuck

Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly

Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

Let’s dispense with some of those names. Domingo’s work as the Jackson family patriarch in Michael won’t be seen until 2026 after the studio delayed it.

The Life of Chuck, despite winning the coveted audience prize at 2024’s Toronto Film Festival, never picked up steam as a contender when it opened this summer. Hamill would desperately need a Globe or SAG or Critics Choice nom to have any shot at the big dance. I don’t see it happening.

Then there’s Garfield. In April, I envisioned Luca Guadagnino’s Hunt as a surefire player in several races. Yet it’s become a critical and commercial disappointment and I suspect it could be completely blanked come nomination morning.

As for the 10 other possibilities, those names:

Joe Alwyn, Hamnet

Jonathan Bailey, Wicked: For Good

Bradley Cooper, Is This Thing On?

Brendan Fraser, Pressure

Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

LaKeith Stanfield, Die, My Love

Jeremy Strong, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Tyler, the Creator, Marty Supreme

Denzel Washington, Highest 2 Lowest

Jeffrey Wright, Highest 2 Lowest

Brendan Fraser’s work as Dwight Eisenhower in the war drama Pressure is looking like a 2026 release. When it comes to Alwyn in Hamnet, I was assuming that Paul Mescal’s performance in that pic was going to be a lead actor submission. It has just recently been confirmed that Mescal will go supporting and it is he and not Alwyn who’s viable.

Denzel Washington is definitely a lead contender for Lowest and we’ll address his chances in that post. As for Cooper, Stanfield, Tyler, the Creator, and Wright – that quartet of performances did not garner awards buzz upon their unveilings.

So let’s talk about who is viable, shall we? In my estimation, there are three hopefuls whose nominations seem assured or darn close to it.

One Battle After Another will receive a BP nod and it has a real chance of winning. Two-time winner in lead Actor Sean Penn should be up for his villainous turn, marking his seventh overall at bat and first in the supporting field. It’s actually been 17 years since his last nom when he took gold for Milk.

Stellan Skarsgård is the name in my original top five that I’m still confident remains. Sentimental Value, while possibly losing a little luster in recent weeks, should make the BP cut and his work is arguably the most heralded.

The third performer I’m convinced of is Paul Mescal. Like Battle and Value, Hamnet is looking solid in BP. His costar Jessie Buckley is the frontrunner in Actress and he should come along for the ride.

Then it gets complicated. Adam Sandler has been in my #4 spot for a few weeks. The SNL alum has not seen his name called by the Academy despite chatter for Punch-Drunk Love and especially Uncut Gems. This offers a legit opportunity for voters to honor him. However, Sandler’s fortunes could be tied to whether Jay Kelly makes BP and that’s very much in question. As for now, I have him in but it’s far from assured.

Jeremy Strong was up last year in this category for The Apprentice. He could make it two years in a row as The Boss’s longtime manager Jon Landau in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. I’m less convinced the biopic makes BP than any of the other pictures above. He’s still a strong (no pun intended) possibility to join his costar Jeremy Allen White on the red carpet.

So, at the moment, my five would consist of Penn, Skarsgård, Mescal, Sandler and Strong (in that order). Who could change that dynamic?

Benicio del Toro could. 25 years years after he emerged victorious in Supporting Actor for Traffic, his comic relief as the helpful sensei in One Battle After Another is quite memorable. If the movie is indeed the BP force it might be, the coattails could leave room for him. The Academy has had a habit of nominating two performances from the same film here. From 2017 to 2022, it happened at every ceremony but one:

2017 – Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson from Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Rockwell won)

2019 – Al Pacino and Joe Pesci from The Irishman

2020 – Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield from Judas and the Black Messiah (Kaluuya won)

2021 – Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Power of the Dog

2022 – Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan from The Banshees of Inisherin

I came very close to putting him in over Strong in my update a week ago.

In 2020, Delroy Lindo was expected to be up for Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods but he was snubbed. Members could give him his first nom for Sinners, which is another likely BP nominee. I like his chances better than costars Miles Caton or Jack O’Connell though they’ve been mentioned too.

Ethan Hawke’s lead work in Blue Moon is being predicted by more prognosticators recently and that includes me. He could bring costar Andrew Scott along with him.

If Frankenstein makes BP, it increases the chances that Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of The Monster is alive in the minds of those filling out ballots.

A couple of other possibilities to address. While Josh O’Connor grew raves at screenings for the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, I’m not buying him being the franchise’s first acting nominee. Rental Family doesn’t appear to be a threat in BP and that hurts Akira Emoto’s inclusion. The mixed reaction to Anemone might leave Daniel Day-Lewis out of Best Actor. That makes the chances of Sean Bean making the quintet remote at best.

The only unseen performance worth mentioning in my view is Jonathan Bailey in Wicked: For Good. He managed a SAG nod as Fiyero in part 1 last year. If part 2 is generally perceived as equal to what preceded it, the cast could be rewarded beyond Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

So there you have it, readers! I would say Penn, Skargård and Mescal are in with Sandler, Strong, del Toro, Lindo, Scott, Elorodi and Bailey battling for the remaining two slots. Let’s see if and how that changes as the weeks roll along. My in-depth look at Supporting Actress is up next!

Oscar Predictions: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Based on a 2000 novel from Amélie Nothomb, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain was first seen at the Cannes Film Festival. The animated coming-of-age tale has already been released in its native France and is likely to see stateside distribution by year’s end. Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han co-direct with a voice cast including Loïse Charpentier, Victoria Grosbois and Yumi Fujimori.

In a Best Animated Feature race that isn’t exactly overflowing with possibilities, I’ve had Amélie making the cut in recent weeks via the 4th or 5th slot. The reviews are there with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. I don’t think it’s a threat to win and that’s partly due to the cultural juggernaut that is KPop Demon Hunters. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

98th Academy Awards Predictions: October 12th Edition

The New York Film Festival has wrapped up with Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On? debuting prior to its December release. Being that his previous two directorial efforts (A Star Is Born, Maestro) were up for BP, Thing was a curious piece to the emerging awards puzzle. The verdict? While some reviews were strong, I don’t think it’s enough to factor into the Oscar conversation with the possible exception of Original Screenplay. You won’t find Will Arnett, Laura Dern or Cooper in my acting possibilities. I do think the film could get attention at the Globes if it’s placed in Musical/Comedy.

This is the time of year where category placements are becoming clearer. Not surprisingly, Paul Mescal is confirmed as a Supporting Actor hopeful for Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet.

More surprisingly, it was revealed that Chase Infiniti will contend for lead Actress in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. I had her slotted in Supporting Actress and getting a nomination in that race last week. This upends the dynamic. I absolutely think she could get in the lead derby, but I went back and forth between her, Emma Stone (Bugonia) and Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee) with only two of them making the cut and Seyfried coming out on the short end. The Infiniti announcement also means Regina Hall could join her costar Teyana Taylor in supporting. For now I have Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass joining her Sentimental Value costar Elle Fanning in that group of five. Under a best case scenario, Battle could see six of its performers (Leonardo DiCaprio, Infiniti, Taylor, Hall, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro) up for gold. That would set an Academy record for thespians competing. It might be a long shot, but it is a possibility.

While Another’s chances are plenty, the continued poor box office performance of The Smashing Machine (with around a 70% plummet in weekend #2) confirms my feeling that Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s campaigns are on life support at best. They both drop from my 10 possibilities.

Perhaps the biggest story of the week was New York’s “surprise” screening of Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme prior to its December release. Unlike Bradley Cooper’s third picture, Safdie’s inaugural behind the camera production solidified its status as a top five BP contender. Timothée Chalamet, it turns out, appears to deserve the #1 ranking I’ve had him with all along in Best Actor. Much like Battle, Supporting Actress is more confusing. While Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A’Zion could see their names called among the quintet (with the former seemingly more realistic), both are far from automatic. I am elevating Safdie back in the directorial five. That’s at the expense of Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value).

In Best Actor, I’m putting Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) in the high five for the first time with Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) now on the outside looking in.

And in BP, Bugonia is back in and clinging to the 10 spot with No Other Choice dropping. A note that I came very close to putting Frankenstein in.

You can read all the movement below and that includes Sean Penn rising to 1st in Supporting Actor after Stellan Skarsgård has held that position for many weeks.

Best Picture

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (Previous Ranking: 1) (Even)

2. Hamnet (PR: 3) (+1)

3. Sinners (PR: 2) (-1)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Sentimental Value (PR: 4) (-1)

6. Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (E)

7. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 7) (E)

8. Jay Kelly (PR: 8) (E)

9. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 9) (E)

10. Bugonia (PR: 11) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

11. Frankenstein (PR: 12) (+1)

12. No Other Choice (PR: 10) (-2)

13. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 13) (E)

14. A House of Dynamite (PR: 14) (E)

15. The Secret Agent (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Is This Thing On?

Best Director

Predicted Nominees:

1. Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Ryan Coogler, Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Chloé Zhao, Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme (PR: 6) (+2)

5. Jafar Pahani, It Was Just an Accident (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Park Chan-wook, No Other Choice (PR: 7) (E)

8. Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia (PR: 8) (E)

9. Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Kathryn Bigelow, A House of Dynamite

Best Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Jessie Buckley, Hamnet (PR: 1) (E)

2. Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value (PR: 2) (E)

3. Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (E)

4. Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked – moved from Supporting Actress)

5. Emma Stone, Bugonia (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Jennifer Lawrence, Die, My Love (PR: 8) (E)

9. Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Julia Roberts, After the Hunt (PR: 7) (-3)

Dropped Out:

Tessa Thompson, Hedda

Best Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme (PR: 1) (E)

2. Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Jeremy Allen White, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 3) (E)

4. George Clooney, Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon (PR: 8) (+3)

Other Possibilities:

6. Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Jesse Plemons, Bugonia (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent (PR: 7) (-1)

9. Daniel Day-Lewis, Anemone (PR: 9) (E)

10. Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Dwayne Johnson, The Smashing Machine

Best Supporting Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another (PR: 3) (+1)

3. Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value (PR: 2) (-1)

4. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass, Sentimental Value (PR: 6) (+2)

5. Gwyneth Paltrow, Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Regina Hall, One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked)

7. Amy Madigan, Weapons (PR: 7) (E)

8. Odessa A’Zion, Marty Supreme (PR: Not Ranked)

9. Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Glenn Close, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 10) (E)

Dropped Out:

Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another (moved to lead Actress)

Emily Blunt, The Smashing Machine

Best Supporting Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sean Penn, One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (+1)

2. Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (-1)

3. Paul Mescal, Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jeremy Strong, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Delroy Lindo, Sinners (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein (PR: 8) (E)

9. Jonathan Bailey, Wicked: For Good (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Andrew Scott, Blue Moon (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Akira Emoto, Rental Family

Best Original Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Marty Supreme (PR: 3) (E)

4. Jay Kelly (PR: 4) (E)

5. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Is This Thing On? (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Blue Moon (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Sorry, Baby (PR: 6) (-2)

9. The Secret Agent (PR: 9) (E)

10. Weapons (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Rental Family

Best Adapted Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Hamnet (PR: 2) (E)

3. Bugonia (PR: 3) (E)

4. No Other Choice (PR: 4) (E)

5. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Train Dreams (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Frankenstein (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Wicked: For Good (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Song Sung Blue (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Hedda

Best International Feature Film

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 2) (E)

3. The Secret Agent (PR: 4) (+1)

4. No Other Choice (PR: 3) (-1)

5. The Voice of Hind Rajab (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Left-Handed Girl (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Sirât (PR: 6) (-1)

8. The President’s Cake (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Sound of Falling (PR: 8) (-1)

10. The Love That Remains (PR: 10) (E)

Best Animated Feature

1. KPop Demon Hunters (PR: 1) (E)

2. Zootopia 2 (PR: 2) (E)

3. Arco (PR: 3) (E)

4. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Elio (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. A Magnificent Life (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Scarlet (PR: 6) (-1)

8. In Your Dreams (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Ne Zha 2 (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Animal Farm (PR: 10) (E)

Best Documentary Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Perfect Neighbor (PR: 1) (E)

2. Cover-Up (PR: 4) (+2)

3. Mr. Nobody Against Putin (PR: 3) (E)

4. 2000 Meters to Andrivka (PR: 2) (-2)

5. Apocalypse in the Tropics (PR: 10) (+5)

Other Possibilities:

6. Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Seeds (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Orwell 2 + 2 = 5 (PR: 9) (+1)

9. The Alabama Solution (PR: Not Ranked)

10. The Librarians (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Cutting Through Rocks

The Eyes of Ghana

Best Casting

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Wicked: For Good (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 7) (+3)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Hamnet (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Sentimental Value (PR: 3) (-5)

9. Bugonia (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 9) (-1)

Dropped Out:

Rental Family

Best Cinematography

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (E)

5. Frankenstein (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Jay Kelly (PR: 6) (E)

7. Bugonia (PR: Not Ranked)

8. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 10) (+2)

9. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 7) (-2)

10. Train Dreams (PR: 9) (-1)

Dropped Out:

F1

Best Costume Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. Hamnet (PR: 4) (E)

5. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Marty Supreme (PR: 6) (E)

7. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 7) (E)

8. One Battle After Another (PR: 8) (E)

9. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: Not Ranked)

10. The Phoenician Scheme (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Snow White

Hedda

Best Film Editing

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Marty Supreme (PR: 3) (E)

4. Wicked: For Good (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. F1 (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Hamnet (PR: 9) (+2)

8. No Other Choice (PR: 6) (-2)

9. A House of Dynamite (PR: 7) (-2)

10. Sentimental Value (PR: 10) (E)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Predicted Nominees:

1. Frankenstein (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. The Smashing Machine (PR: 4) (E)

5. 28 Years Later (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Bugonia (PR: 6) (E)

7. One Battle After Another (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Wolf Man (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Weapons (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 7) (-3)

Best Original Score

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Frankenstein (PR: 6) (E)

7. Bugonia (PR: Not Ranked)

8. Wicked: For Good (PR: 7) (-1)

9. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 8) (-1)

10. A House of Dynamite (PR: 10) (E)

Dropped Out:

Sentimental Value

Best Original Song

Predicted Nominees:

1. “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (PR: 2) (E)

3. “I Lied to You” from Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. “Clothed by the Sun” from The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 5) (+1)

5. “The Girl in the Bubble” from Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (PR: 4) (-2)

7. “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest (PR: 7) (E)

8. “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams (PR: 9) (+1)

9. “Give Your Love” from The Ballad of Wallis Island (PR: 10) (+1)

10. “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

“Pale, Pale Moon” from Sinners

Best Production Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)

3. Hamnet (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 6) (+2)

5. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Sinners (PR: 3) (-3)

7. One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (E)

8. The Phoenician Scheme (PR: Not Ranked)

9. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Blue Moon (PR: 10) (E)

Dropped Out:

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Best Sound

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (+1)

2. Sinners (PR: 1) (-1)

3. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 4) (+1)

4. F1 (PR: 3) (-1)

5. One Battle After Another (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 6) (E)

7. Warfare (PR: 7) (E)

8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 8) (E)

9. Frankenstein (PR: 9) (E)

10. A House of Dynamite (PR: 10) (E)

Best Visual Effects

Predicted Nominees:

1. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. Superman (PR: 3) (E)

4. F1 (PR: 4) (E)

5. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Tron: Ares (PR: 6) (E)

7. Frankenstein (PR: 7) (E)

8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 8) (E)

9. How to Train Your Dragon (PR: 9) (E)

10. Mickey 17 (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

The Lost Bus

And that equates to these films nabbing these numbers of nominations:

12 Nominations

One Battle After Another, Wicked: For Good

11 Nominations

Sinners

10 Nominations

Marty Supreme

9 Nominations

Hamnet

7 Nominations

Jay Kelly, Sentimental Value

4 Nominations

Avatar: Fire and Ash, Frankenstein, It Was Just an Accident

3 Nominations

Bugonia

2 Nominations

F1, KPop Demon Hunters, No Other Choice, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

1 Nomination

28 Years Later, 2000 Meters to Andrivka, Apocalypse in the Tropics, Arco, Blue Moon, Cover-Up, Elio, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, The Perfect Neighbor, The Secret Agent, The Smashing Machine, Superman, The Testament of Ann Lee, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Zootopia 2

Oscar Predictions: The Thing with Feathers

Based on an acclaimed novella by Max Porter, The Things with Feathers casts Benedict Cumberbatch as a widower going through a unique grieving process. Dylan Southern directs with a supporting cast including Richard and Henry Boxall as his children, Eric Lampaert and David Thewlis.

Feathers was first screened way back in January at Sundance and also played in Berlin. Slated for a November 28th stateside bow, festival reaction was unimpressive. Despite an awards baity premise and source material, the Rotten Tomatoes rating is 53% with 51 on Metacritic. Those numbers won’t fly as we get deeper into the season. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Is This Thing On?

Both of Bradley Cooper’s directorial efforts – 2018’s A Star Is Born and 2023’s Maestro – were Best Picture nominees. Can Is This Thing On? make it three for three? The comedic drama focused on a separated couple (Will Arnett and Laura Dern) has closed out the New York Film Festival prior to its slated December 19th debut. Mr. Cooper is in the supporting cast alongside Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Arnett’s Smartless cohost Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds.

The early 92% Rotten Tomatoes score indicates another critically appreciated pic from its maker. Yet some of the reaction calls this a more minor effort from Cooper and company. I anticipate Metacritic’s rating will be noticeably lower. Early word-of-mouth has me suspecting this thing isn’t an Academy player despite comparisons to Marriage Story (which happened to get Dern a Supporting Actress Oscar). If it gets in anywhere, Original Screenplay would be it though competition is considerable.

The Golden Globes are a different story if Fox Searchlight campaigns for it in Musical/Comedy. That would be the smart strategic move and could mean noms in Picture and the lead acting races for Arnett and Dern. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The Woman in Cabin 10

Based on the 2016 novel by Ruth Ware, thriller The Woman in Cabin 10 is out on Netflix this weekend. Keira Knightley headlines as a journalist who stumbles upon a murder mystery on a luxury cruise ship. Simon Stone, maker of 2021’s The Dig, directs with a supporting cast including Guy Pearce, Art Malik, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings and Hannah Waddingham.

Despite compliments about some performances, critics are generally not digging Cabin. The Rotten Tomatoes score is just 25% with 44 on Metacritic. In other words, there’s zero mystery about whether this will be an awards player. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions – Tron: Ares

Out Friday, sci-fi action tale Tron: Ares is the third feature in the Disney franchise that began all the way back in 1982 and continued with a 2010 follow-up. Joachim Rønning handles directorial duties (taking over from Joseph Kosinksi) with Jared Leto headlining and Jeff Bridges reprising his role from the predecessors. The supporting cast includes Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro and Gillian Anderson.

The so-so reviews that greeted it today are on par with what Legacy received 15 years ago. Ares stands at 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 at Metacritic while Legacy had respective numbers of 51% and 49. Neither the original Tron or the sequel managed to get a Visual Effects nod where a mention for Ares would seem most feasible. The first Tron did get a Sound nom (losing to E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial).

Ares could contend (and only contend) in those two races. However, competition from sequels alone is significant. Avatar: Fire and Ash and Wicked: For Good should play in both of them. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is viable in VE and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning could factor into each. I wouldn’t write Ares off, but history isn’t on its side. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk

Already out in France after its debut at Cannes in May, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk is a feature that could capture the attention of Academy voters. Filmmaker Sepideh Farsi chronicles her correspondence with Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna before she was killed in an airstrike earlier this year.

The timely documentary received an emotional reception at Cannes and early reviews have resulted in a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. There will be plenty of politically charged efforts for the doc branch to choose from in 2025, but Walk may be tough to ignore. I have it currently ranked fifth on my board of possibilities. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

98th Academy Awards Predictions: October 5th Edition

As they always do, the trilogy of late summer/early fall festivals in Venice, Toronto and Telluride tremendously shaped the Oscar landscape a few weeks ago. The in-progress New York fest has a smaller imprint, but we did see the premiere of Ronan Day-Lewis’s Anemone before its semi-wide release this weekend. Starring his three-time Oscar winning father Daniel, the screenings keep him in the convo for Best Actor while its Picture, Director and Original Screenplay possibilities fell by the wayside. If its lead were to make the cut in the Actor quintet, he could bring costars Sean Bean and Samantha Morton with him in the supporting fields. However, I think that’s a long shot.

New York’s closer is Is This Thing On? from Bradley Cooper. His two other behind the camera works (A Star Is Born, Maestro) were both BP contenders. When I do my next update, we’ll know its viability in all races from BP to the acting contests for Will Arnett, Laura Dern and Cooper himself.

In other news, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another performed respectably though didn’t surpass expectations in its box office debut. I still believe ranking it 1st in BP, Director and Adapted Screenplay is the right play with its terrific reviews. Benicio del Toro pops up in the top 10 for Supporting Actor though it could be a stretch for both him and Sean Penn to get in. That said, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti are both viable in Supporting Actress. In fact, I’m elevating Infiniti for the first time in that race with Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass (Sentimental Value) now on the outside.

In a best case scenario, Battle could see five of its performers up for gold (with Leonardo DiCaprio in lead Actor). Nine pictures have managed that feat in Oscar history: 1942’s Mrs. Miniver, All About Eve from 1950, 1953’s From Here to Eternity, 1954’s On the Waterfront, 1957’s Peyton Place, 1963’s Tom Jones, 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, 1974’s The Godfather Part II, and Network from 1976, Worth noting is that it’s been almost half a century since it last happened.

Another newcomer this weekend is Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine and it is struggling mightily at the box office. With more reviews out that are far from raves, I’m more skeptical that Dwayne Johnson or Emily Blunt get nominated. The best bet for inclusion is Makeup and Hairstyling and I’m not even convinced it gets in there.

Bugonia has fallen out of my BP top ten with Avatar: Fire and Ash returning to the lineup. This could be temporary, but we’ll see how the reaction to Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest is when it debuts later this month.

There’s a change in Best Actor with George Clooney as Jay Kelly returning to the projected quintet and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) dropping.

You can read all the movement below!

Best Picture

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (Previous Ranking: 1) (Even)

2. Sinners (PR: 3) (+1)

3. Hamnet (PR: 2) (-1)

4. Sentimental Value (PR: 4) (E)

5. Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (E)

6. Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (E)

7. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Jay Kelly (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 11) (+2)

10. No Other Choice (PR: 10) (E)

Other Possibilities:

11. Bugonia (PR: 7) (-4)

12. Frankenstein (PR: 12) (E)

13. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 13) (E)

14. A House of Dynamite (PR: 14) (E)

15. Is This Thing On? (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Rental Family

Best Director

Predicted Nominees:

1. Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Ryan Coogler, Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Chloé Zhao, Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Park Chan-wook, No Other Choice (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia (PR: 8) (E)

9. Kathryn Bigelow, A House of Dynamite (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Jessie Buckley, Hamnet (PR: 1) (E)

2. Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value (PR: 2) (E)

3. Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (E)

4. Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Emma Stone, Bugonia (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (PR: 6) (E)

7. Julia Roberts, After the Hunt (PR: 7) (E)

8. Jennifer Lawrence, Die, My Love (PR: 8) (E)

9. Tessa Thompson, Hedda (PR: 9) (E)

10. Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Sydney Sweeney, Christy

Best Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme (PR: 1) (E)

2. Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Jeremy Allen White, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 3) (E)

4. Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (PR: 4) (E)

5. George Clooney, Jay Kelly (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Jesse Plemons, Bugonia (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent (PR: 9) (+2)

8. Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon (PR: 10) (+2)

9. Daniel Day-Lewis, Anemone (PR: 7) (-2)

10. Dwayne Johnson, The Smashing Machine (PR: 8) (-2)

Best Supporting Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value (PR: 2) (E)

3. Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another (PR: 3) (E)

4. Gwyneth Paltrow, Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (+2)

Other Possibilities:

6. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass, Sentimental Value (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Amy Madigan, Weapons (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 10) (+2)

9. Emily Blunt, The Smashing Machine (PR: 6) (-3)

10. Glenn Close, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Supporting Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sean Penn, One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Paul Mescal, Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jeremy Strong, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Delroy Lindo, Sinners (PR: 6) (E)

7. Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked)

8. Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein (PR: 7) (-1)

9. Akira Emoto, Rental Family (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Jonathan Bailey, Wicked: For Good (PR: 10) (E)

Dropped Out:

Andrew Garfield, After the Hunt

Best Original Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Marty Supreme (PR: 3) (E)

4. Jay Kelly (PR: 4) (E)

5. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Sorry, Baby (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Is This Thing On? (PR: Not Ranked) – moved from Adapted Screenplay

8. Blue Moon (PR: 8) (E)

9. The Secret Agent (PR: 9) (E)

10. Rental Family (PR: 6) (-4)

Dropped Out:

A House of Dynamite

Best Adapted Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Hamnet (PR: 2) (E)

3. Bugonia (PR: 3) (E)

4. No Other Choice (PR: 4) (E)

5. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 6) (E)

7. Train Dreams (PR: 10) (+3)

8. Wicked: For Good (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Frankenstein (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Hedda (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Is This Thing On? – moved to Original Screenplay

Best International Feature Film

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 2) (E)

3. No Other Choice (PR: 3) (E)

4. The Secret Agent (PR: 4) (E)

5. The Voice of Hind Rajab (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Sirât (PR: 6) (E)

7. Left-Handed Girl (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Sound of Falling (PR: 7) (-1)

9. The President’s Cake (PR: 9) (E)

10. The Love That Remains (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

My Father’s Shadow

Best Animated Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. KPop Demon Hunters (PR: 1) (E)

2. Zootopia 2 (PR: 2) (E)

3. Arco (PR: 3) (E)

4. Elio (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Scarlet (PR: 7) (+1)

7. A Magnificent Life (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Ne Zha 2 (PR: 8) (E)

9. In Your Dreams (PR: 9) (E)

10. Animal Farm (PR: 10) (E)

Best Documentary Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Perfect Neighbor (PR: 1) (E)

2. 2000 Meters to Andrivka (PR: 2) (E)

3. Mr. Nobody Against Putin (PR: 3) (E)

4. Cover-Up (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Seeds (PR: 6) (E)

7. Cutting Through Rocks (PR: 10) (+3)

8. The Eyes of Ghana (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Apocalypse in the Tropics (PR: 7) (-3)

Best Casting

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (+1)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (-1)

3. Sentimental Value (PR: 3) (E)

4. Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (+2)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 9) (+4)

Other Possibilities:

6. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (-3)

8. Hamnet (PR: 7) (-1)

9. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Rental Family (PR: 8) (-2)

Best Cinematography

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. One Battle After Another (PR: 3) (+1)

3. Hamnet (PR: 2) (-1)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Frankenstein (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Jay Kelly (PR: 8) (+2)

7. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 10) (+3)

8. F1 (PR: Not Ranked)

9. Train Dreams (PR: 9) (E)

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 7) (-3)

Dropped Out:

Bugonia

Best Costume Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. Hamnet (PR: 4) (E)

5. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Marty Supreme (PR: 6) (E)

7. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 8) (+1)

8. One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked)

9. Snow White (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Hedda (PR: 7) (-3)

Dropped Out:

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Best Film Editing

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Marty Supreme (PR: 3) (E)

4. Wicked: For Good (PR: 9) (+5)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. No Other Choice (PR: 5) (-1)

7. A House of Dynamite (PR: 8) (+1)

8. F1 (PR: Not Ranked)

9. Hamnet (PR: 6) (-3)

10. Sentimental Value (PR: 7) (-3)

Dropped Out:

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Predicted Nominees:

1. Frankenstein (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. The Smashing Machine (PR: 4) (E)

5. 28 Years Later (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Bugonia (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 6) (-1)

8. One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked)

9. Wolf Man (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Weapons (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Marty Supreme

Hamnet

Best Original Score

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 7) (+3)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Frankenstein (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (-1)

8. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Sentimental Value (PR: Not Ranked)

10. A House of Dynamite (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Bugonia

After the Hunt

Best Original Song

Predicted Nominees:

1. “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. “Golden” from KPop: Demon Hunters (PR: 2) (E)

3. “I Lied to You” from Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (PR: 5) (+1)

5. “Clothed by the Sun” from The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 7) (+2)

Other Possibilities:

6. “The Girl in the Bubble” from Wicked: For Good (PR: 4) (-2)

7. “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest (PR: 6) (-1)

8. “Pale, Pale Moon” from Sinners (PR: 9) (+1)

9. “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams (PR: Not Ranked)

10. “Give Your Love” from The Ballad of Wallis Island (PR: 8) (-2)

Dropped Out:

“Waiting on a Wish” from Snow White

Best Production Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 6) (+3)

4. Hamnet (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (-1)

7. One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (E)

8. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 8) (E)

9. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Blue Moon (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Bugonia

The Phoenician Scheme

Best Sound

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. F1 (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 3) (-1)

5. One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (+2)

Other Possibilities:

6. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Warfare (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 8) (E)

9. Frankenstein (PR: 10) (+1)

10. A House of Dynamite (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Visual Effects

Predicted Nominees:

1. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. Superman (PR: 3) (E)

4. F1 (PR: 5) (+1)

5. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Tron: Ares (PR: 6) (E)

7. Frankenstein (PR: 7) (E)

8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 8) (E)

9. How to Train Your Dragon (PR: 10) (+1)

10. The Lost Bus (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Warfare

And that all equates to these movies receiving these numbers of nominations:

13 Nominations

Sinners

12 Nominations

One Battle After Another

11 Nominations

Wicked: For Good

9 Nominations

Hamnet

8 Nominations

Sentimental Value

7 Nominations

Jay Kelly, Marty Supreme

4 Nominations

Avatar: Fire and Ash, Frankenstein, It Was Just an Accident

3 Nominations

No Other Choice

2 Nominations

Bugonia, F1, KPop Demon Hunters, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, The Testament of Ann Lee

1 Nomination

28 Years Later, 2000 Meters to Andrivka, Arco, Cover-Up, Diane Warren: Relentless, Elio, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, The Perfect Neighbor, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, The Secret Agent, The Smashing Machine, Superman, The Voice of Hind Rajib, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Zootopia 2