Academy AwardsReel ChroniclesReel Talk Inc

Final Predictions for the 98th Academy Awards

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

David Gonzalez
David Gonzalez is the founder and chief film critic of The Cinematic Reel (formally Reel Talk Inc.) and host of the Reel Chronicles and Chop Talk podcasts. As a Cuban American independent film critic, David writes fair and diverse criticism covering movies of all genres and spotlighting minority voices through Reel Talk. David has covered and reviewed films at Tribeca, TIFF, NYFF, Sundance, SXSW, and several other film festivals. He is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-Approved Critic and a member of the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA), New York Film Critics Online, Hollywood Film Critics Association, the North American Film Critic Association and the International Film Society Critics Association. As an avid film collector and awards watcher, David's finger is always on the industry's pulse. David informs and educates with knowledgeable and exciting content and has become a trusted resource for readers and listeners alike. Email him at david@reeltalkinc.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @reeltalkinc.

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