2021 Oscar Predictions – February

After the recent Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics Choice nominations, we are starting to get a better feel for how this awards season is looking. Here are my updated predictions for the 2021 Oscars!

Oscar nominations will be announced March 15.

Check out as we talk through some of the major categories at this year’s Oscars!

Now, onto my predictions.

Picture

Winner:

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Nominees:

Next Up:

• The Father (\/)
• News of the World

Removed:

• Soul

Director

Winner:

David Fincher – Mank

Nominees:

1. Chloe Zhao – Nomadland
2. Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
3. Regina King – One Night in Miami
4. Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman (/\)

Next Up:

• Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods
• Lee Isaac Chung – Minari (\/)
• Florian Zeller – The Father
• Shaka King – Judas and the Black Messiah
• Paul Greengrass – News of the World

Removed:

• Darius Marder – Sound of Metal
• George C. Wolfe – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Lead Actor

Winner:

Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Nominees:

1. Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal (/\)
2. Anthony Hopkins – The Father (\/)
3. Gary Oldman – Mank (/\)
4. Steven Yeun – Minari (/\)

Next Up:

• Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods (\/)
• John David Washington – Malcolm and Marie
• Mads Mikkelsen – Another Round
• Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah

Removed:

Lead Actress

Winner:

Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman (/\)

Nominees:

1. Frances McDormand – Nomadland (/\)
2. Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (/\)
3. Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman (\/)
4. Zendaya – Malcolm and Marie (\/)

Next Up:

• Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy (NEW)
• Andra Day – The U.S. vs Billie Holiday
• Sophia Loren – The Life Ahead
• Meryl Streep – The Prom

Removed:

• Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Supporting Actor

Winner:

Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Nominees:

1. Leslie Odom – One Night in Miami
2. Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
3. Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods (/\)
4. Bill Murray – On the Rocks (\/)

Next Up

• Jared Leto – The Little Things (NEW)
• Paul Raci – Sound of Metal (\/)
• Mark Rylance – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (\/)
• Stanley Tucci – Supernova

Removed:

Supporting Actress

Winner:

Amanda Seyfired – Mank

Nominees:

1. Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy (/\)
2. Olivia Colman – The Father (/\)
3. Youn Yuh-jung – Minari (\/)
4. Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent MovieFilm

Next Up:

• Helena Zengel – News of the World (/\)
• Ellen Burstyn – Pieces of a Woman (\/)
• Dominique Fishback – Judas and the Black Messiah

Removed:

• Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite

Original Screenplay

Winner:

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Nominees:

1. Promising Young Woman (/\)
2. Mank (\/)
3. Minari (\/)
4. Soul (\/)

Next Up:

• Never Rarely Sometimes Always
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Da 5 Bloods
• Palm Springs

Removed:

Adapted Screenplay

Winner:

Nomadland

Nominees:

1. One Night in Miami
2. The Father
3. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
4. i’m thinking of ending things

Next Up:

• First Cow
• News of the World

Removed:

Cinematography

Winner:

Mank

Nominees:

1. Nomadland
2. News of the World
3. Da 5 Bloods
4. Judas and the Black Messiah

Next Up:

• Tenet
• Malcolm and Marie
• i’m thinking of ending things
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Minari

Costume Design

Winner:

Mank

Nominees:

1. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
2. Emma.
3. News of the World
4. The Personal History of David Copperfield

Next Up:

• The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Birds of Prey
• The United States vs. Billie Holiday
• Mulan

Film Editing

Winner:

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Nominees:

1. Mank
2. Nomadland
3. The Father
4. Tenet

Next Up:

• News of the World (NEW)
• Da 5 Bloods (/\)
• i’m thinking of ending things
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Malcolm and Marie

Production Design

Winner:

Mank

Nominees:

1. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
2. Mulan
3. Tenet
4. News of the World (/\)

Next Up:

• The Father
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• The Midnight Sky (\/)
• Emma.
• Personal History of David Copperfield

Sound

Winner:

Sound of Metal

Nominees:

1. Mank
2. Tenet
3. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
4. Soul

Next Up:

• The Midnight Sky
• News of the World
• Da 5 Bloods
• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Original Score

Winner:

Soul

Nominees:

1. Mank
2. Tenet
3. Minari
4. News of the World

Next Up:

• The Midnight Sky
• Hillbilly Elegy
• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Animated Feature

Winner:

Soul

Nominees:

1. Wolfwalkers
2. Over the Moon
3. Onward
4. Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon

Jacob is a film critic and co-founder of the Music City Drive-In. He is a member of the Music City Film Critics’ Association and specializes in the awards season. You can find him on Twitter @Tberry57.