Saturday, March 14, 2026

2026 Oscar Predictions



Now, as always, these are my predictions to win, not who or what I wish would win.


Best Picture: One Battle After Another

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another

Best Actress: Jessie Buckley - Hamnet

Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn - One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler - Sinners

Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another

Best Animated Feature Film: KPop Demon Hunters

Best International Feature Film: The Secret Agent

Best Documentary Feature: The Perfect Neighbor

Best Documentary (Short Subject): All The Empty Rooms

Best Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Live Action Short Film: The Singers

Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson - Sinners

Best Original Song: "Golden" - KPop Demon Hunters

Best Casting: Francine Maisler - Sinners

Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw - Sinners

Best Film Editing: Andy Jurgensen - One Battle After Another

Best Production Design: Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne - Sinners

Best Costume Design: Malgosia Turzanska - Hamnet

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin, and Bjoern Rehbein - The Smashing Machine

Best Sound: F1

Best Visual Effects: F1


I expect it to be as-even-as-you-can split between Sinners and One Battle After Another across all the awards. PTA is absolutely sure to get Best Director. However, if Sinners can somehow win Best Editing, we might see a great upset at the last award.

I really think Marty Supreme is going to get a duck egg tomorrow. It already got its love with its many nominations but the film seems to have lost a ton of steam since, doubly so for Chalamet. He got way too overexposed and started annoying many people with his antics, especially with those comments about opera and ballet. I expect DiCaprio to get his second Best Actor win.

I would be so happy if Ethan Hawke can get the sleeper win for Best Actor instead.

Buckley is the still the odds-on favorite for Best Actress but we could see Renate Reinsve as a shocker.

Really, really want Delroy Lindo and Amy Madigan for the supporting categories. Unfortunately, Penn and del Toro still have the strong advantage to win Best Supporting Actor. As for Best Supporting Actress, what is going on there? It seemed like it was it was gonna be Teyana Taylor but not anymore. Madigan has a chance but I think Fanning will get it, both for her performance and as a reward for being one of the best young American actresses for some time now. See Reese Witherspoon's previous win in this category as proof.

The Brazilians will get their way with The Secret Agent winning over Sentimental Value in Best International Feature.

Man, the docs and shorts continue to be really depressing. The only short I saw was The Singers, via Netflix naturally. Certainly not the greatest I've ever seen but at least it's slightly uplifting.

While I will laugh at Diane Warren not winning again, I do hope she and the other neglected Best Song nominees get to perform. Seriously, Oscar producers, there is always a crappy comedy bit or a pointless musical/dance number that can be cut. Case in point, who remembers the Quincy Jones tribute from last year, with Queen Latifah singing a song that he didn't create (and can you name the song too)?

VROOM, VROOM! F1 obviously will win Best Sound. And I expect it to snipe Best Visual Effects from the Avatar crew.

Though The Smashing Machine is now being written in the history books as a big disappointment, I hope it wins Best Makeup and Hairstyling.


Enjoy the Oscars tomorrow, everybody!