Chasing the Gold: 2021 Oscar Predictions – New Year, Same Oscar Race

2020 is gone. We rang in a new year this time last week and with that, we look to the new possibilities 2021 can provide everyone around the world. One thing the calendar change does provide is the realistic pathway to the creeping Oscar submission deadline on February 28th, 2021. With this in mind, I wanted to give my updated predictions in many of the major categories as of the start of this year. Not that much has changed in the race, but it’s fair to give a perspective for those curious to see where we are at right now before many of the major industry and critics groups announce more winners over the following two months. Considering all this, here is what I have as of January 7, 2021.

Best Picture

1. The Trial of the Chicago 7
2. One Night in Miami
3. Mank
4. Nomadland
5. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
6. Da 5 Bloods
7. The Father
8. Judas and the Black Messiah
9. Promising Young Woman
10. Minari

Best Director

1. David Fincher – Mank
2. Chloe Zhao – Nomadland
3. Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods
4. Regina King – One Night in Miami
5. Florian Zeller – The Father

Best Actor

1. Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
2. Anthony Hopkins – The Father
3. Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods
4. Gary Oldman – Mank
5. Kingsley Ben-Adir – One Night in Miami

Best Actress

1. Frances McDormand – Nomadland
2. Viola Davis –  Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
3. Carey Mulligan –  Promising Young Woman
4. Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
5. Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Best Supporting Actor

1. Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
2. Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
3. Bill Murray – On the Rocks
4. Leslie Odom Jr.- One Night in Miami
5. Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods

Best Supporting Actress

1. Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
2. Olivia Colman – The Father
3. Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
4. Ellen Burstyn – Pieces of a Woman
5. Amanda Seyfried – Mank

Best Original Screenplay

1. The Trial of the Chicago 7
2. Mank
3. Promising Young Woman
4. Judas and the Black Messiah
5. Minari

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. One Night in Miami
2. The Father
3. Nomadland
4. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
5. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Best Animated Film

1. Wolfwalkers
2. Soul
3. Onward
4. Over the Moon
5. The Croods: A New Age

Best Documentary

1. Totally Under Control
2. Collective
3. Boys State
4. Dick Johnson is Dead
5. Time

Best International Feature

1. Another Round
2. Night of the Kings
3. Collective
4. Quo Vadis, Aida?
5. A Sun

Best Cinematography

1. Mank
2. Nomadland
3. Da 5 Bloods
4. Tenet
5. Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Film Editing

1. The Trial of the Chicago 7
2. Mank
3. The Father
4. One Night in Miami
5. Tenet

Best Production Design

1. Mank
2. Emma.
3. Mulan
4. News of the World
5. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Costume Design

1. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
2. Mank
3. Emma
4. The United States vs. Billie Holiday
5. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

1. Hillbilly Elegy
2. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
3. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
4. Mank
5. Birds of Prey

Best Sound

1. Sound of Metal
2. Mank
3. Tenet
4. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
5. News of the World

Best Visual Effects

1. Tenet
2. The Invisible Man
3. The Midnight Sky
4. Wonder Woman 1984
5. Mank

Best Original Score

1. Soul
2. Mank
3. Tenet
4. News of the World
5. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Original Song

1. “Speak Now” – One Night in Miami
2. “Seen” – The Life Ahead
3. “Hear My Voice” – The Trial of the Chicago 7
4. “Rocket to the Moon” – Over the Moon
5. “Wuhan Flu” – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Check back next month for more updated predictions and look out for more Chasing the Gold Oscar coverage coming soon!