As the 2024 Oscars draw near, let's delve into our predictions for each category!
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Colman Domingo, Rustin
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
Will Win: Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer. Murphy's performance has already garnered him accolades in previous awards including a Golden Globes and BAFTA, solidifying his position as a frontrunner for the Oscar.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things
Will Win: Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer. Downey Jr.'s return to a serious role has consistently earned him praise and recognition throughout the awards circuit including the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics' Choice Awards.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening, Nyad
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan, Maestro
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Will Win: Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon. Her captivating performance has been celebrated with wins at notable awards shows like the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the National Board of Review. Emma Stone in Poor Things is a close runner up, but we think Gladstone is poised for Oscar success.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
America Ferrera, Barbie
Jodie Foster, Nyad
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Will Win: Da’Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers. Randolph's talent and versatility is on full display in The Holdovers, which has earned her acclaim and accolades including wins at the Critics' Choice Awards and the Gotham Awards.
Best Animated Feature Film
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Will Win: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. While Miyazaki blew us away with his (maybe) final film The Boy and the Heron, Spider-Man has swept numerous awards ceremonies, including the Annie Awards and the Critics' Choice Awards. Its groundbreaking animation and captivating storytelling make it a clear frontrunner for the Oscar.
Best Cinematography
El Conde
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Will Win: Oppenheimer. Nolan's masterpiece has received widespread acclaim for its stunning cinematography, earning accolades at prestigious events like the American Society of Cinematographers Awards and the BAFTA Awards.
Best Costume Design
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Will Win: Poor Things. This category could easily go to Barbie, with both films winning awards from the Costume Designers Guild, but with Poor Things winning the BAFTA and having been lauded for its whimsical costume design, we think it's likely that Poor Things will take home the Oscar.
Best Directing
Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest
Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall
Will Win: Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan's direction has been recognized with awards from esteemed bodies like the Directors Guild of America and the Golden Globe Awards. Nolan is without a doubt a frontrunner for the Oscar.
Best Film Editing
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Will Win: Oppenheimer. With wins at ceremonies like the ACE Eddie Awards and BAFTA Awards, its unlikely any other contenders will take home this award.
Best International Feature Film
Io Capitano, Italy
Perfect Days, Japan
Society of the Snow, Spain
The Teacher’s Lounge, Germany
The Zone of Interest, United Kingdom
Will Win: The Zone of Interest. With 5 Oscar nominations this year, its likely Jonathan Glazer's haunting masterpiece will win in this category.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Golda
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Society of the Snow
Will Win: Maestro. We think Poor Things, should take home this award, but with Maestro taking awards including the Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards, its likely an Oscar winner.
Best Music (Original Score)
American Fiction
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Will Win: Oppenheimer. Ludwig Goransson has been recognized for his haunting score, winning at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards and BAFTA Awards.
Best Music (Original Song)
“What Was I Made For?”, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Barbie
“I’m Just Ken,” Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, Barbie
“The Fire Inside,” Diane Warren, Flamin’ Hot
“It Never Went Away,” Jon Batiste, American Symphony
“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” Osage Tribal Singers, Killers of the Flower Moon
Will Win: "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie. Billie Eilish has been praised for her composition and lyrics, winning at ceremonies like the Critics' Choice Movie Awards.
Best Production Design
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Will Win: Barbie. Once again, Barbie and Poor Things are neck and neck this year. It's likely that either of these films could win in this category, and if it was up to us it would be Poor Things, but our bet is on Barbie.
Best Sound
The Creator
Maestro
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest
Will Win: Oppenheimer. It's possible that The Zone of Interest could take this category, but it's no question Oppenheimer's immersive sound design and editing makes it a strong contender, having been recognized at ceremonies like the Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards.
Best Visual Effects
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon
Will Win: Godzilla Minus One. With wins at the Visual Effects Society Awards, these groundbreaking effects make it a likely Oscar winner.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, Barbie
Tony McNamara, Poor Things
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest
Will Win: Oppenheimer. Possibly one of the trickiest categories with contenders like Barbie and American Fiction, the best adapted screenplay award could be anyone's game. But with Oppenheimer likely sweeping the Academy Awards, and potentially taking home the award for Best Picture, it's our pick.
Best Original Screenplay
Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, Anatomy of a Fall
David Hemingson, The Holdovers
Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer, Maestro
Samy Burch, May December
Celine Song, Past Lives
Will Win: Anatomy of a Fall. With Barbie being moved into the Adapted Screenplay category, it's likely that Anatomy of a Fall, which has received accolades including the Writers Guild of America Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, will take home this award.
Best Picture
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Will Win: Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer has been a dominant force throughout awards season, clinching top honors at ceremonies like the Producers Guild Awards and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards. With our predicted 8 wins, we're confident that it will be taking this year's Best Picture.
