Remaining Oscar Predictions for the 98th Academy Awards

The 98th Academy Awards will happen on Sunday, March fifteenth and with it is going to come the top of the 2026 award season.

Conan O’Brien is about to return as host, with scheduled presenters together with final 12 months’s winners Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña, in addition to Oscar winner Javier Bardem, and previous nominees Demi Moore and Kumail Nanjiani.

Nominated movies embrace two of the largest blockbusters of final 12 months, ‘Sinners’ and ‘F1’, in addition to critically acclaimed films like ‘One Battle After One other,’ ‘Hamnet,’  ‘Sentimental Worth’, and ‘Marty Supreme’.

Launch Date: Dec 25, 2025

Run Time: 2 hr 30 min

Funds: $65,000,000

Whereas ‘One Battle After One other’ has been the presumed winner the whole awards season, having taken house Finest Image at each main award present together with Critics Selection, Golden Globes, and BAFTA, ‘Sinners’ received Excellent Efficiency by a Forged in a Movement Image on the Actor Awards, constructing some momentum for the Ryan Coogler helmed movie.

It is also been assumed that Paul Thomas Anderson would lastly obtain Finest Director from the Oscars, particularly after profitable Excellent Directorial Achievement from the DGA, however do not depend out a shock win from Coogler simply but.

Talking of ‘Sinners’, though Timothée Chalamet received Finest Actor for ‘Marty Supreme’ from Critic’s Selection and the Golden Globes, he didn’t win at BAFTA, and misplaced to Michael B Jordan on the Actors Awards, which indicators bother for Chalamet’s Oscar run.

Jessie Buckley accepts the Finest Efficiency by a Lead Actress in a Movement Image ñ Drama Award for ‘Hamnet’ onstage through the 83rd Annual Golden Globes®, airing dwell from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Picture: Kevork Djansezian/CBS ©2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Then again, ‘Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley has had nearly no competitors in her race to the Finest Actress Oscar and after profitable each different main award, I do not suppose something can cease her from taking house gold on Oscar evening.

Finest Supporting Actress looks as if a two-way race between Golden Globe winner Teyana Taylor for ‘One Battle’ and Actor Awards winner Amy Madigan for ‘Weapons’, nevertheless, ‘Sinners’ Wunmi Mosaku continues to be within the combine.

Lastly, the Finest Supporting Actor class is pretty broad open, with BAFTA and Actor Awards winner Sean Penn at the moment the frontrunner preventing off Golden Globe winner Stellan Skarsgård for ‘Sentimental Worth’. However the Oscars love a shock, so if ‘Sinners’ has an enormous evening, Delroy Lindo might find yourself having a shock win.

Beneath are our predictions for who will win Oscars on Sunday on the 98th Academy Awards. We’re solely breaking down our predictions for the six main classes, Finest Image, Finest Director, Finest Actor, Finest Actress, Finest Supporting Actor, and Finest Supporting Actress.

Let’s Start!

Associated Article: ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After One other’ Lead The 2026 Oscar Nominees

BEST PICTURE

Leonardo Di Caprio as Bob Ferguson in ‘One Battle After One other.’ A Warner Bros. Footage Launch. Picture Credit score: Picture Courtesy Warner Bros. Footage.

Properly, now we lastly have an actual race!

Because the begin of this awards season it has appeared preordained that director Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After One other’ would lastly earn the filmmaker an extended overdue win for Finest Image. The movie has received nearly each precursor wanted to be the frontrunner, together with wins at Critics Selection, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the all necessary Producers Guild of America Awards.

Nevertheless, do not depend ‘Sinners’ out simply but! After grabbing an Excellent Efficiency by a Forged in a Movement Image win on the Actor Awards, in addition to Michael B. Jordan’s win for Excellent Efficiency by a Male Actor in a Main Function, the vampire epic now has actual momentum.

It additionally did higher on the field workplace than ‘One Battle’, which typically however not all the time is an element. However needless to say Excellent Efficiency by a Forged in a Movement Image  on the Actor Awards is principally a recognition of ensemble performing and never essentially a movie award. And whereas ‘One Battle’ was additionally in that class, I do not purchase into the narrative that ‘Sinners’ “beat” ‘One Battle’ for Finest Image at SAG.

It now looks as if we have now a two-way race however ‘Hamnet’ continues to be within the combine after profitable a Golden Globe for Finest Movement Image – Drama, and bear in mind it was produced by Oscar favourite Steven Spielberg.

Take into account that the Academy makes use of a preferential poll for Finest Image, that means the winner isn’t merely the movie with essentially the most No. 1 votes. As an alternative, voters rank the nominees, and if no movie receives greater than 50% of the first-place votes, the film with the fewest No. 1 votes is eradicated and its ballots are redistributed to the following highest-ranked movie on these ballots. That course of continues till one movie crosses the 50% threshold. In different phrases, it’s not nearly ardour on the prime — it’s about broad assist.

The actual query isn’t solely who voters rank No. 1, however which movie constantly seems within the No. 2 and No. 3 spots and may accumulate assist as different contenders fall away. My guess is that many citizens could not rank ‘Sinners’ first, however might place it second or third, giving it a believable path in later rounds. Nonetheless, the safer wager stays ‘One Battle’, which feels extra prone to construct the bulk coalition wanted to win.

Nominees:

Who Will Win: ‘One Battle After One other’

Who May Win: ‘Sinners’

Who Ought to Win: ‘Sinners’

“Some seek for battle, others are born into it…”

Launch Date: Sep 26, 2025

Run Time: 2 hr 42 min

Funds: $175,000,000

BEST DIRECTOR

(L to R) Leonardo Di Caprio and Director/Author/Producer Paul Thomas Anderson on the set of ‘One Battle After One other.’ A Warner Bros. Footage Launch. Picture Credit score: Merrick Morton.

Similar to the Finest Image race, for the reason that begin of this present awards season it has appeared like this was “Paul Thomas Anderson’s Yr”, and that the ‘Boogie Nights’ director would lastly win his long-awaited Finest Director Oscar. With directorial wins at each different award present together with Critics Selection, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the all necessary Administrators Guild Awards, it does appear to be Anderson will lastly win Finest Director on the Oscars.

However what about Ryan Coogler? Whereas he has but to win a director’s award this season, he’s positively Anderson’s greatest competitors, particularly now that the movie is surging late. Usually, Finest Image and Finest Director go hand in hand, however not all the time, and very similar to when Damien Chazelle received finest director for ‘La La Land’ however ‘Moonlight’ went on to win Finest Image, we might see an identical spilt this 12 months. But when we do, I feel it’s extra possible that Anderson nonetheless wins Finest Director, and the shock win comes for ‘Sinners’ in Finest Image.

Additionally needless to say the Academy likes to make nice administrators wait. Steven Spielberg didn’t win for ‘Shut Encounters of the Third Sort’ or ‘Raiders of the Misplaced Ark’, he received later for ‘Schindler’s Listing’. Martin Scorsese didn’t win for ‘Raging Bull’ or ‘Goodfellas’, he needed to wait until ‘The Departed’. Christopher Nolan did not win for ‘Dunkirk’, he received for ‘Oppenheimer’. Anderson in all probability ought to have received for steering ‘There Will Be Blood’, however as a result of the CoenBrothers did not win for ‘Fargo’, when they need to have, they have been rewarded for ‘No Nation for Previous Males’, making Anderson wait until now.

Let’s be sincere, the Academy normally do not get it proper! They could possibly be considering that Coogler will return with one other movie within the close to future, and need to lastly reward Anderson now for ‘One Battle’ in addition to his general profession, assuming that Coogler’s time will come prior to later. Whereas I might like to see an upset and have Coogler win, I might additionally wish to see the Academy lastly reward Anderson for his physique of labor, which I feel would be the closing consequence on Oscar evening.

Nominees:

Who Will Win: Paul Thomas Anderson

Who May Win: Ryan Coogler

Who Ought to Win: Paul Thomas Anderson

BEST ACTOR

Michael B. Jordan as Smoke and Stack in Warner Bros. Footage’ ‘Sinners,’ a Warner Bros. Footage launch. Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Footage. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Leisure Inc. All Rights Reserved.

That is the race to actually keep watch over! The Oscars love a shock, and if there may be going to be an enormous shock on Oscar evening, will probably be on this class.

Timothée Chalamet started the awards season with wins from Critics Selection and Golden Globes, making it appear to be he was a lock for a Finest Actor win on the Oscars. However, when he misplaced the BAFTA to Robert Aramayo for ‘I Swear’, who just isn’t even within the Oscar race, it left the younger actor’s Oscar probabilities weak.

That brings us to Michael B. Jordan, who in my view gave the very best efficiency of the 12 months, and lately beat Chalamet on the all necessary Actor Awards. Traditionally, one Actor Award win just isn’t sufficient to make sure an Oscar win, as demonstrated by Chalamet final 12 months when he received Finest Actor from SAG for ‘A Full Unknown’ however then misplaced the Oscar race to Adrien Brody for ‘The Brutalist’. However Jordan has the surging momentum of ‘Sinners’ behind him and a whole lot of goodwill from Academy voters, whereas Chalamet appears to be cooling off and has fueled criticism for his uncommon Oscar marketing campaign type and up to date feedback on “ballet and opera.”

There may be additionally a concept that Chalamet is admittedly being rewarded for his efficiency final 12 months in ‘A Full Unknown’, when he ought to have received, and never his efficiency this 12 months in ‘Marty Supreme’. The Academy tends to try this and infrequently tries to make up for his or her previous errors. For instance, after not nominating Paul Giamatti for ‘Sideways’, which he ought to have been nominated for, the next 12 months he was nominated for ‘Cinderella Man’. So, if Chalamet does win, will probably be for taking part in Bob Dylan and never for taking part in Marty Mauser!

Additionally working in opposition to Chalamet is the truth that the Academy sometimes doesn’t give younger actors the Finest Actor trophy. They love giving the Finest Actress award to younger actresses, examples together with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, and lately Mikey Madison. However, if Chalamet have been to win, he can be just some months shy of breaking Adrien Brody’s file because the youngest Finest Actor recipient ever for his first win in ‘The Pianist’. Jordan is simply reaching his prime as an actor, and with an extended physique of labor to his credit score, voters might see him as a powerful different, particularly along with his current win and the ‘Sinners’ surging.

Whereas Chalamet is statistically the frontrunner, I really feel like there will probably be an enormous shock on Oscar evening and I am betting on Jordan for the win.

Nominees:

Who Will Win: Michael B. Jordan

Who May Win: Timothée Chalamet

Who Ought to Win: Michael B. Jordan

Launch Date: Apr 18, 2025

Run Time: 2 hr 18 min

Funds: $90,000,000

BEST ACTRESS

Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes in director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’, a Focus Options launch. Credit score: Agata Grzybowska / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

There actually just isn’t a lot to say right here. If there may be any locked class this 12 months, it’s this one.

‘Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley is one win away from a “excellent award season’. After profitable Finest Actress at Critics Selection, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the Actor Awards, she is sort of assured a win on Oscar evening.

Does she have any competitors? A little bit, however not a lot. Rose Byrne received a Golden Globe for ‘If I Had Legs I might Kick You’, however that is as a result of the Globes break up the Finest Actress race into two totally different classes, Drama and Musical or Comedy. So, Byrne didn’t compete in the identical class as Buckley. When she has, she has misplaced to the ‘Hamnet’ star, and I see no motive that won’t proceed to happen.

Kate Hudson has been campaigning laborious, however that is the one nomination ‘Tune Sung Blue’ obtained, and I do not suppose that is sufficient to compete with Buckley and ‘Hamnet’, which obtained 8 general nominations. ‘Sentimental Worth’ doesn’t appear to have the identical momentum it did earlier within the season, leaving actress Renate Reinsve with out a actual path to the gold. And with two Oscars already on her shelf, Emma Stone’s nomination was roughly given simply to spherical out the 5 nominees, not not like a few of Meryl Streep’s previous nominations.

The secure cash is clearly on Jessie Buckley to win Finest Actress, and at this level it might take a miracle for anybody else to beat her and win.

Nominees:

Who Will Win: Jessie Buckley

Who May Win: Jessie Buckley

Who Ought to Win: Kate Hudson

Launch Date: Dec 5, 2025

Run Time: 2 hr 6 min

Funds: $35,000,000

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Delroy Lindo on the New York Premiere of ‘Sinners’. Picture: Warner Bros.

That is one other very fascinating class and one to keep watch over for large surprises on Oscar evening!

With no actual frontrunner, Finest Supporting Actor is wide-open and actually anyone’s for the taking.

The season started with Benicio del Toro positioned because the frontrunner for ‘One Battle’, however the actor has but to win for that efficiency, placing his possibilities of profitable the Oscar unsure.

His co-star, Sean Penn, could possibly be thought-about a slight frontrunner after profitable BAFTA and the Actor Award, however with two Oscars already to his identify, I am unsure the Academy is able to hand him his third simply but. I additionally suppose that having each actors from ‘One Battle’ in the identical class will break up the vote, leaving them each empty handed on Oscar evening.

Jacob Elordi obtained a shock win for ‘Frankenstein’ on the Critics Selection Awards, however the younger actor was unable to capitalize on it and has but to win a second award.

Veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård received the Golden Globe, but in addition was not capable of capitalize with a second win, and with ‘Sentimental Worth’s momentum cooling off, I am unsure will probably be sufficient to earn him the trophy.

Enter Delroy Lindo. Take into account that that is his first nomination this whole awards season, that means that he has not had the chance to compete along with his fellow nominees but. It isn’t exceptional for an actor to all of a sudden enter the Oscar race and win. Marcia Homosexual Harden efficiently pulled that off when she received Finest Supporting Actress for ‘Pollock’ over Kate Hudson, the presumed frontrunner for ‘Nearly Well-known’.

With ‘Sinners’ surging, Michael B. Jordan’s potential win, no actual entrance runner on this class, and Lindo’s general likability within the trade, I do suppose that he’ll pull off the win on Oscar evening.

Nominees:

Who Will Win: Delroy Lindo

Who May Win: Sean Penn

Who Ought to Win: Delroy Lindo

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Madigan as Gladys in New Line Cinema’s ‘Weapons,’ a Warner Bros. Footage launch. Picture Credit score: Quantrell Colbert. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Leisure Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Whereas its not as wide-open as Finest Supporting Actor, Finest Supporting Actress is admittedly between two, perhaps three actresses at this level.

Let’s simply get this out of the way in which. Very similar to the 2 ‘One Battle’ actors within the Supporting Male class, I feel ‘Sentimental Worth’s Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas will cancel one another out. Neither has received any main award this season, and with the movie’s lack of momentum, I doubt both actress has an actual shot to win.

Whereas Wunmi Mosaku did win BAFTA, I am unsure that will probably be sufficient to win an Oscar. ‘Sinners’ recognition might give her a lift, and if Lindo and Jordan fail to win, this could possibly be the place ‘Sinners’ will get an performing award. However since I do suppose Jordan and Lindo will probably be triumphant, I am considering this award will probably be given to another person.

Teyana Taylor received a Golden Globe, and her movie is the frontrunner for Finest Image. It could be odd for ‘One Battle’ to win Finest Image with no wins within the actor classes, so if it have been to win an performing Oscar, will probably be right here. However Taylor has some actual competitors from veteran actress Amy Madigan.

The ‘Weapons’ actress started the season profitable Critics Selection, however bounced round a bit earlier than lately profitable the all necessary Actor Award. That does not make her the frontrunner, however places her on par with Taylor. Working in opposition to Madigan is that she is ‘Weapons’ solely nomination, nevertheless it’s not exceptional for an actor to win for a film that obtained no different nominations. It occurred when Kathy Bates received Finest Actress for ‘Distress’.

So whereas it is a tight race, I feel that Madigan’s lengthy profession and versatile physique of labor will in the long run give her an edge over Taylor.

Nominees:

Who Will Win: Amy Madigan

Who May Win: Teyana Taylor

Who Ought to Win: Amy Madigan

“Final evening at 2:17 AM, each little one from Mrs. Gandy’s class went lacking.”

Launch Date: Aug 8, 2025

Run Time: 2 hr 9 min

Funds: $38,000,000

Don’t overlook to observe the 98th Academy Award ceremony Sunday, March fifteenth on ABC and Hulu.

The Academy Awards will air dwell March fifteenth on ABC and Hulu.