It’s always bittersweet writing this piece each year. As another awards season comes to a close, a sense of calm washes over me. The online discourse fades, the debates cool down, and cinephiles can finally sit back and enjoy another edition of the Academy Awards.
What’s often hailed as the Super Bowl for film lovers enters its 98th ceremony with a historic film leading the pack: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which leads the way with its record-breaking 16 nominations. With One Battle After Another close behind, it’s safe to say the Academy’s recent streak of inspired Best Picture winners feels poised to remain intact.
But how will the rest of the night unfold? Let’s dive into my final predictions for the 98th Academy Awards.
BEST PICTURE
One Battle After Another
BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley — Hamnet
BEST ACTOR
Michael B. Jordan — Sinners
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Madigan — Weapons
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sean Penn — One Battle After Another
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Ryan Coogler — Sinners
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
ORIGINAL SCORE
Ludwig Göransson — Sinners
ORIGINAL SONG
Golden — KPop Demon Hunters
CINEMATOGRAPHY
One Battle After Another
FILM EDITING
One Battle After Another
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Frankenstein
COSTUME DESIGN
Frankenstein
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Frankenstein
BEST SOUND
F1
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar: Fire and Ash
CASTING
Sinners
ANIMATED FEATURE
KPop Demon Hunters
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
Sentimental Value — Norway
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Perfect Neighbor
SHORT FILMS
LIVE ACTION SHORT
Two People Exchanging Saliva
ANIMATED SHORT
Butterfly
DOCUMENTARY SHORT
All the Empty Rooms







