Academy Award Nomination – Final Predictions

The time has almost come for AMPAS to announce which individuals and films are nominated for the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. The nominations will be announced on Tuesday 23rd January and it will be exciting to see which films perform well on nomination morning. With all major precursors having announced their nominations and with the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards having taken place, we have some kind of indication as to what to expect when the nominations are announced in a few days time.

One thing for certain, is the film to beat appears to be Christopher Nolan‘s “Oppenheimer”, which came out on top at both the Globes and Critics’ Choice, as well as receiving the most nominations at BAFTA and SAG. Other strong contenders throughout award season include: “Barbie”, “The Holdovers”, “Killers of the Flower Moon”, “Maestro” and “Poor Things”, all of which are almost guaranteed a Best Picture nomination.

The supporting acting categories appear to be foregone conclusions at this stage with Robert Downey Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph sweeping critics’ groups as well as the televised precursors. The real drama will be in the lead acting categories with Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper and Paul Giamatti all battling it out for their first ever win, whilst Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone appear to be going head to head in Lead Actress.

Full list of Academy Award predictions:

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

Best Director

• Alexander Payne (The Holdovers)
• Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon)
• Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)
• Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things)
• Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest)

Best Actor

• Bradley Cooper (Maestro)
• Colman Domingo (Rustin)
• Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)
• Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer)
• Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction)

Best Actress

• Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)
• Sandra Huller (Anatomy of a Fall)
• Carey Mulligan (Maestro)
• Margot Robbie (Barbie)
• Emma Stone (Poor Things)

Best Supporting Actor

• Willem Dafoe (Poor Things)
• Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon)
• Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)
• Ryan Gosling (Barbie)
• Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things)

Best Supporting Actress

• Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer)
• Danielle Brooks (The Colour Purple)
• Julianne Moore (May December)
• Rosamund Pike (Saltburn)
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)

Adapted Screenplay

• American Fiction
• Barbie
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things

Original Screenplay

• Anatomy of a Fall
• The Holdovers
• Maestro
• May December
• Past Lives

International Film

• Fallen Leaves
• Perfect Days
• Society of the Snow
• The Taste of Things
• The Zone of Interest

Animated Feature

• The Boy and the Heron
• Elemental
• Nimona
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Documentary Feature

• 20 Days in Mariupol
• American Symphony
• Beyond Utopia
• Four Daughters
• Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Cinematography

• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Maestro
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things
• The Zone of Interest

Editing

• Barbie
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Maestro
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things

Costume Design

• Barbie
• The Colour Purple
• Killers of the Flower Noon
• Napoleon
• Poor Things

Make-Up & Hairstyling

• Golda
• Oppenheimer
• Maestro
• Poor Things
• Society of the Snow

Production Design

• Barbie
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things
• The Zone of Interest

Original Score

• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Oppenheimer
• Poor Things
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
• The Zone of Interest

Original Song

• “It Never Went Away” (American Symphony)
• “I’m Just Ken” (Barbie)
• “What Was I Made For?” (Barbie)
• “Keep It Movin'” (The Colour Purple)
• “Road to Freedom” (Rustin)

Sound

• Ferrari
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Maestro
• Oppenheimer
• The Zone of Interest

Visual Effects

• The Creator
• Godzilla Minus One
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Poor Things
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Animated Short

• Eeva
• Letter to a Pig
• Once Upon a Studio
• Pete
• WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko

Documentary Short

• The ABCs of Book Banning
• The Barber of Little Rock
• Deciding Vote
• The Last Repair Shop
• Last Song from Kabul

Live Action Short

• The After
• The Anne Frank Gift Shop
• The Shepherd
• Strange Way of Life
• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar