Who Will Be Nominated for the Academy Awards?

Oscar nominations are scheduled to be announced on February 8th by Leslie Jordan. With the cancellation of the Golden Globes, and the Critic’s Choice Awards and other ceremonies postponed because of Covid concerns, this year’s awards season is unusually wide open with no true frontrunner in the pack.

Yes, it does seem that director Kodi Smit-Mhee for Best Actor and Best ing Actor, respectively, who both seem to be locks.

Below are our predictions for the titles and names that will be announced when the nominations are released on February 8th. We are only breaking down our predictions and possible surprises for the six major categories, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best ing Actor, and Best ing Actress.

Let’s Begin!

BEST PICTURE

As previously mentioned, ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Belfast’ are both definitely a lock for Best Picture nominations. In theory, ‘Dune,’ and ‘West Side Story’ are also in a pretty safe place, but anything could happen. After that, it’s pretty wide open.

In past years, the Academy has had the option to nominate between five and ten films. This year, they will definitely nominate ten movies, so that leaves four spots fairly free. ‘King Richard’ should be enough to get the film nominated as well.

Leaving just one spot left, I’m going with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ seems very unlikely to even be nominated.

Predictions:

• ‘The Power of the Dog’
• ‘Belfast’
• ‘Dune’
• ‘West Side Story’
• ‘Licorice Pizza’
• ‘CODA’
• ‘King Richard’
• ‘Don’t Look Up’
• ‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’
• ‘Being the Ricardos’

Other Possibilities:

• ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
• ‘Drive My Car’
• ‘The Lost Daughter’
• ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

BEST DIRECTOR

With Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog’), Kenneth Branagh (‘Belfast’) and Denis Villeneuve (‘Dune’) as virtual locks for nominations, that only leaves two open spots. While Paul Thomas Anderson will certainly win his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for ‘Licorice Pizza,’ I still assume that he will receive a nomination for Best Director as well.

But who will take that fifth spot? Safe money is probably on Ryusuke Hamaguchi for ‘Drive My Car,’ which would follow a trend in recent years where the Academy nominates a foreign film for Best Director.

But, as I mentioned earlier there is a lot of love out there for ‘Don’t Look Up,’ so an Sian Heder receiving her fist nomination for her work on ‘CODA.’

Predictions:

• Jane Campion – ‘The Power of the Dog’
• Denis Villeneuve – ‘Dune’
• Kenneth Branagh – ‘Belfast’
• Paul Thomas Anderson – ‘Licorice Pizza’
• Steven Spielberg – ‘West Side Story’

Other Possibilities:

• Ryusuke Hamaguchi – ‘Drive My Car’
• Adam McKay – ‘Don’t Look Up’
• Joel Coen – ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
• Sian Heder – ‘CODA’

BEST ACTOR

Of all the acting categories, this one may be the most preordained. Unless something goes terribly wrong, Will Smith is poised to not only be nominated but also win his first Academy Award for his work in ‘King Richard.’

Javier Bardem will also be nominated for playing Desi Arnez in ‘Being the Ricardos.’

That leaves one nomination open, which will most likely go to Red Rocket,’ so either actor could hypothetically sneak into the Oscar race.

Predictions:

• Will Smith – ‘King Richard’
• Benedict Cumberbatch – ‘The Power of the Dog’
• Andrew Garfield – ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’
• Javier Bardem – ‘Being the Ricardos’
• Denzel Washington – ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’

Other Possibilities:

• Peter Dinklage – ‘Cyrano’
• Leonardo DiCaprio – ‘Don’t Look Up’
• Nicolas Cage – ‘Pig’
• Simon Rex - ‘Red Rocket’

BEST ACTRESS

This might be the most interesting category this year. Assumed frontrunner Spencer.' She could possibly get snubbed by the Academy, but I think she will still get the nom, however, her chances of winning are way down.

Nicole Kidman, Alana Haim for ‘Licorice Pizza.’

Predictions:

• Nicole Kidman – ‘Being the Ricardos’
• Lady Gaga – ‘House of Gucci’
• Olivia Colman – ‘The Lost Daughter’
• Jessica Chastain – ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
• Kristen Stewart – ‘Spencer’

Other Possibilities:

• Alana Haim – ‘Licorice Pizza’
• Penelope Cruz – ‘Parallel Mothers’
• Rachel Zegler – ‘West Side Story’
• Emilia Jones – ‘CODA’
• Jennifer Hudson – ‘Respect’

BEST ING ACTOR

By all s, Kodi Smit-Mhee is a lock for a nomination and will likely ultimately win, but he has some strong competition from two veteran actors and former Oscar nominees. First, while he’ll probably get snubbed for his stellar work in ‘Ben Affleck.

‘Argo’ and being wrongfully snubbed for Best Director, there may be a sense that it is “his time,” a sentiment that could also help Cooper.

I also think that Jared Leto’s bizarre performance in ‘House of Gucci’ to round out the category.

Predictions:

• Kodi Smit-Mhee – ‘The Power of the Dog’
• Bradley Cooper – ‘Licorice Pizza’
• Ben Affleck – ‘The Tender Bar’
• Troy Kotsur – ‘CODA’
• Jared Leto – ‘House of Gucci’

Other Possibilities:

• Ciaran Hinds – ‘Belfast’
• Jamie Dornan – ‘Belfast’
• Mike Faist – ‘West Side Story’
• J.K. Simmons – ‘Being the Ricardos’

BEST ING ACTRESS

While Kirsten Dunst is still the assumed frontrunner for Best ing Actress, buzz for her performance has died down since the new year. While I still think she’ll score a nomination, she will have some stiff competition from her fellow nominees.

Caitriona Balfe’s beautiful performance in ‘Belfast,’ which I definitely think will be nominated.

That just leaves one open spot, which I think will go to Oscar winner Mass.'

Predictions:

• Kirsten Dunst – ‘The Power of the Dog’
• Ariana DeBose – ‘West Side Story’
• Aunjanue Ellis – ‘King Richard’
• Caitriona Balfe – ‘Belfast’
• Marlee Matlin – ‘CODA’

Other Possibilities:

• Ruth Negga – ‘ing’
• Rita Moreno – ‘West Side Story’
• Ann Dowd – ‘Mass’
• Judi Dench – ‘Belfast’

Don’t forget to check back with Moviefone for a list of all the nominees when the Academy Award nominations are announced on Tuesday, February 8th.