The ballots are in and presumably tabulated. The winners are probably known to a small number of lawyers and will be announced this Sunday. Here at Awards Landscape, we’ve been predicting since early in 2025 and the culmination of our efforts is here. Below are our final predictions for the 98th Academy Awards.

KEY:

Appears on Three Lists Appears on Two Lists Appears on One Lists Wesley Lovell Peter Patrick Tripp Burton Thomas LaTourrette

Introductions

Wesley Lovell: Yesterday, I posted my final thoughts article and so you can read all of my comments for this year at Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts. I’ll turn the final commentary over to my fellow contributors.
Pete Patrick: No introductory paragraph provided.
Thomas LaTourette: The end of what feels like a very long Oscar season is upon us. What surprises me most right now is how much movement there has been in the last couple of weeks. Several races that seemed pretty set have suddenly become close. One Battle After Another and Timothée Chalamet both seemed shoo ins to win for picture and actor two weeks ago and while One Battle might still win, Chalamet looks like he lost that race. Of all the acting races, only best actress is set with Jessie Buckley ready to become the first Irish actress to win. The other three races have bounced all over the place with perceived frontrunners changing seemingly daily. It makes it harder to make predictions but should make for a much more interesting Oscar night. While there has been movement against One Battle After Another winning for best picture and even director, though that one is less likely to change, it picked up momentum for editing and cinematography which would belie its possible loss for best picture. It will be interesting to see how those play out. Sinners might be on its way to a decent sweep, especially if it takes actor and picture. I have it in runner up position in several categories, and if it starts winning those then it could dominate the night. Few categories seem totally set (Animated feature, actress, both screenplays, casting, song and score) with a number of the tech prizes going to Frankenstein, but it feels like a night where there may be lots of surprises. It may not have been the best year for movies, but it should be an exciting Oscars.

Best Picture

Winner Predictions

• Bugonia
• F1
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another (WL) (PP)
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners (TL)
• Train Dreams

Runner-Up Predictions

• Hamnet (PP)
• One Battle After Another (TL)
• Sinners (WL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: This has long been considered a race between One Battle After Another, which I think will win, and Sinners but with the preferential ballot, anything is possible.  I think if OBAA doesn’t take it on the first round, Hamnet, not Sinners, could be the ultimate winner. With all the grief in the world today, Hamnet fits the present mood better than any other film out there.
Thomas LaTourette: One Battle After Another has dominated the conversation all season, but it feels like momentum switched right at the end of Oscar voting to favor Sinners. Both have collected precursor awards that make them an obvious winner, with One Battle having the stronger pedigree. Still, I will go with Sinners to win.

Best Animated Feature

Winner Predictions

• Arco
• Elio
• KPop Demon Hunters (WL) (PP) (TL)
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
• Zootopia 2

Runner-Up Predictions

• Arco (TL)
• Zootopia 2 (WL) (PP)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: KPop is too much of a phenomenon not to win.
Thomas LaTourette: KPop Demon Hunters seems to have become a global phenomenon and it would be shocking if it does not win for Animated Feature.

Best Directing

Winner Predictions

• Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (WL) (PP) (TL)
• Ryan Coogler – Sinners
• Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
• Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
• Chloë Zhao – Hamnet

Runner-Up Predictions

• Ryan Coogler – Sinners (WL) (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: PTA finally wins one with Coogler his closest competition.
Thomas LaTourette: Many have felt that Paul Thomas Anderson deserves an Oscar for directing, though perhaps not for this movie, especially already having the guild award. He is the likely winner but I will be hoping for an upset from Ryan Coogler and Sinners.

Best Actor

Winner Predictions

• Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
• Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
• Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
• Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (WL) (TL)
• Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent (PP)

Runner-Up Predictions

• Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (WL) (TL) [New]
• Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another (PP) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Brazilian actor Moura’s Everyman in jeopardy hits home more than any other performance in this category and should win over early favorites Chalamet and DiCaprio and current favorite Jordan.
Thomas LaTourette: Michael B. Jordan’s win of the Actor award along with Timothée Chalamet’s destructive interviews have changed this race at the last minute and I believe Jordan will take home the Oscar for playing twins.

Best Actress

Winner Predictions

• Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (WL) (PP) (TL)
• Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
• Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
• Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
• Emma Stone – Bugonia

Runner-Up Predictions

• Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (WL)
• Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue (PP) [New] (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Buckley probably wins in a walk but if there’s an upset it could go to hometown girl Hudson.
Thomas LaTourette: Jessie Buckley should have her speech written as she will be the winner.

Best Supporting Actor

Winner Predictions

• Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (PP) [New]
• Delroy Lindo – Sinners
• Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
• Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value (WL) (TL)

Runner-Up Predictions

• Sean Penn – One Battle After Another (WL) (TL)
• Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value (PP) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: The pundits think is Sean Penn because he won at BAFTA and SAG, but he won at BAFTA because he had never won there before.  He has 2 Oscars already and is nowhere near as good as Elordi and Skarsgard.
Thomas LaTourette: Although Sean Penn has the BAFTA and Actor awards newly under his belt, I think the Academy might still give this to Stellan Skarsgard rather than the two time winner.

Best Supporting Actress

Winner Predictions

• Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleas – Sentimental Value
• Amy Madigan – Weapons (WL) (PP) (TL) [New]
• Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
• Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Runner-Up Predictions

• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleas – Sentimental Value (PP) [New]
• Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (TL) [New]
• Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (WL) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: I see a pair in the supporting categories – either a pair of winners in horror films or a pair of the oldest nominees in both categories – Madigan is the female part of the pair in both situations.
Thomas LaTourette: Amy Madigan has had late momentum gathering from her win of the Actor award, even if Weapons is not the type of film that usually takes home an Oscar. Teyana Taylor or Wunmi Mosaku who both are in best picture nominees could upset.

Best Original Screenplay

Winner Predictions

• Blue Moon
• It Was Just an Accident
• Marty Supreme
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners (WL) (PP) (TL)

Runner-Up Predictions

• Sentimental Value (WL) (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Probably an easy win for Sinners with Sentimental Value possibly puling an upset.
Thomas LaTourette: This is one of the easiest categories to predict as Sinners has dominated this category all season.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner Predictions

• Bugonia
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• One Battle After Another (WL) (PP) (TL)
• Train Dreams

Runner-Up Predictions

• Hamnet (WL) (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: One Battle After Another should be a shoo-in with Hamnet its closest competition.
Thomas LaTourette: There is no chance that One Battle After Another does not win.

Best Casting

Winner Predictions

• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• The Secret Agent (PP) [New]
• Sinners (WL) (TL)

Runner-Up Predictions

• One Battle After Another (WL) (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: If this were for Best Ensemble it would go to either OBBA or Sinners, but it’s an award for the casting agent, not the cast.  The Secret Agent with its perfect mix of professional and non-professional actors should win with Hamnet’s casting of the Jupe brothers as the tragic Hamnet and the stage Hamlet being the year’s biggest coup its closest runner-up.
Thomas LaTourette: Sinners and One Battle After Another will get the most votes in this new category, but I expect Sinners to come out on top.

Best Original Song

Winner Predictions

• Dear Me – Diane Warren: Relentless
• Golden – KPop Demon Hunters (WL) (PP) (TL)
• I Lied to You – Sinners
• Sweet Dreams of Joy – Viva Verdi!
• Train Dreams – Train Dreams

Runner-Up Predictions

• I Lied to You – Sinners (WL) (TL)
• Train Dreams – Train Dreams (PP) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: “Golden” should easily win this one, although I would love to see “Train Dreams” come out of nowhere to take it.
Thomas LaTourette: Golden should live up to its name and take home a golden statuette. I Lied to You from Sinners could sneak in for a win if that film sweeps, but the song was more about the moment in the film than the song itself. I expect Golden to win.

Best Original Score

Winner Predictions

• Bugonia
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners (WL) (PP) (TL)

Runner-Up Predictions

• One Battle After Another (WL) (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: The is another one where Sinners has a bit of advantage over One Battle After Another.
Thomas LaTourette: Sinners easily wins this one.

Best Film Editing

Winner Predictions

• F1
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another (WL) (PP) (TL) [Return]
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners

Runner-Up Predictions

• F1 (WL) [New]
• Sinners (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: This should be One Battle After Another over Sinners.
Thomas LaTourette: This also looks like it has moved to One Battle After Another’s column with late awards, but Sinners could pull an upset.

Best Cinematography

Winner Predictions

• Frankenstein
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another (WL) (PP) (TL) [New]
• Sinners
• Train Dreams

Runner-Up Predictions

• Sinners (WL) (TL) [New]
• Train Dreams (PP) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: One Battle After Another is the probable winner but Train Dreams would be a nice surprise.
Thomas LaTourette: Late momentum seems to have switched to One Battle After Another winning here mirroring its guild and BAFTA wins so it is likely to win over Sinners or Train Dreams, but do not rule Sinners out.

Best Production Design

Winner Predictions

• Frankenstein (WL) (PP) (TL)
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners

Runner-Up Predictions

• Hamnet (WL) (PP)
• Sinners (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Frankenstein is my guess for this one over Hamnet and everything else. 
Thomas LaTourette: Frankenstein already has Critics Choice, BAFTA, and guild awards and it is on its way to an Oscar win as well.

Best Costume Design

Winner Predictions

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
• Frankenstein (PP) (PP) (TL)
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• Sinners

Runner-Up Predictions

• Hamnet (PP) [New]
• Sinners (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Frankenstein over Hamnet again. 
Thomas LaTourette: Frankenstein wins easily.

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Winner Predictions

• Frankenstein (WL) (PP) (TL)
• Kokuho
• Sinners
• The Smashing Machine
• The Ugly Stepsister

Runner-Up Predictions

• Sinners (WL) (PP) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Should be an easy win for Frankenstein.
Thomas LaTourette: With its wins at Critics Choice and BAFTA, Frankenstein should be poised to win the Oscar too unless Sinners pulls a sweep.

Best Sound

Winner Predictions

• F1 (WL) (TL)
• Frankenstein
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners (PP) [New]
• Sirât

Runner-Up Predictions

• One Battle After Another (PP) [New]
• Sinners (WL) (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Sinners wins another one over One Battle After Another.
Thomas LaTourette: I will go with F1 the early frontrunner to win, but will not be surprised if it goes to Sinners instead.

Best Visual Effects

Winner Predictions

• Avatar: Fire and Ash (WL) (PP) (TL)
• F1
• Jurassic World Rebirth
• The Lost Bus
• Sinners

Runner-Up Predictions

• The Lost Bus (WL)
• Sinners (PP) [New] (TL) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Probably Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Thomas LaTourette: It is hard to imagine anything but Avatar: Fire and Ash winning for visual effects.

Best International Feature

Winner Predictions

• It Was Just an Accident
• The Secret Agent (PP) [New]
• Sentimental Value (WL) (TL)
• Sirât
• The Voice of Hind Rajab

Runner-Up Predictions

• The Secret Agent (WL) (TL)
• Sentimental Value (PP) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: The Secret Agent seems to have the momentum now.
Thomas LaTourette: Sentimental Value should coast to an easy win based solely on its nine nominations, but The Secret Agent will give it a run for its money in a race that will be closer than expected.

Best Documentary Feature

Winner Predictions

• The Alabama Solution
• Come See Me in the Good Light
• Cutting through Rocks
• Mr. Nobody and Putin (PP) [New]
• The Perfect Neighbor (WL) (TL)

Runner-Up Predictions

• Mr. Nobody and Putin (WL) (TL)
• The Perfect Neighbor (PP) [New]

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: This one is a toss-up.
Thomas LaTourette: Mr. Nobody Against Putin did have a surprising win at BAFTA which will help its chances at the Oscars, but I think it will go to The Perfect Neighbor.

Best Documentary Short Subject

Winner Predictions

• All the Empty Rooms (TL)
• Armed with Only a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (WL) [New]
• Children No More: Were and Are Gone (PP) [New]
• The Devil Is Busy
• Perfectly a Strangeness

Runner-Up Predictions

• All the Empty Rooms (WL) [New]
• The Devil Is Busy (PP) [New] (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: Lots of good choices here, but my favorite among the nominees is the heartbreaking Children No More: Were and Are Gone, so I’m going with that.
Thomas LaTourette: All the Empty Rooms is the likely winner, but most any of them could win in a stellar year for documentary shorts.

Best Animated Short Film

Winner Predictions

• Butterfly (TL)
• Forevergreen
• The Girl Who Cried Pearls (WL) (PP)
• Retirement Plan
• The Three Sisters

Runner-Up Predictions

• Butterfly (WL)
• The Girl Who Cried Pearls (TL)
• Retirement Plan (PP)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: The exquisite Girl Who Cried Pearls should win this one easily.
Thomas LaTourette: Butterfly probably wins for its story rather than its odd animation style, but the more simplistic Retirement Plan or the long but ugly The Girl Who Cried Pearls might pull off the victory.

Best Live Action Short Film

Winner Predictions

• Butcher’s Stain
• A Friend of Dorothy (PP) (TL)
• Jane Austen’s Period Drama (WL)
• The Singers
• Two People Exchanging Saliva

Runner-Up Predictions

• A Friend of Dorothy (WL)
• Jane Austen’s Period Drama (PP)
• Two People Exchanging Saliva (TL)

(color and symbol key at top of page)

Wesley Lovell: Commentary provided previously (Oscar Guy’s Final Thoughts).
Pete Patrick: This should be a close call between these two outstanding shorts.
Thomas LaTourette: There is a strong chance it will go to the long and complex Two People Exchanging Saliva, but I think the sweet A Friend of Dorothy to triumph.