Chasing the Gold: Final 2021 Oscar Predictions

In one of the most chaotic Oscar races of all time, the nominations on Monday morning will bring relief to a year still filled with many unanswered questions. While my predictions below are final, I still don’t know where this race is going to go and there could be more chaos coming. It would only be fitting given the 2020-2021 calendar year, but I expect the Academy to calm everyone down and show the world what they think are the best of the best with their nominations. Here is what I think they will look like come Oscar nomination morning.

Best Picture

• The Father
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Mank
• Minari
• Nomadland
• One Night in Miami
• Promising Young Woman
• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Director

• Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
• David Fincher – Mank
• Regina King – One Night in Miami
• Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

Best Actor

• Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
• Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Anthony Hopkins – The Father
• Gary Oldman – Mank
• Tahar Rahim -The Mauritanian

Best Actress

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

Best Supporting Actor

• Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods
• Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
• Alan S. Kim – Minari
• Leslie Odom Jr.- One Night in Miami

Best Supporting Actress

• Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
• Olivia Colman – The Father
• Jodie Foster – The Mauritanian
• Amanda Seyfried – Mank
• Yuh-Jung Youn – Minari

Best Original Screenplay

• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Mank
• Minari
• Promising Young Woman
• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
• The Father
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Nomadland
• One Night in Miami

Best Animated Film

• The Croods: A New Age
• Onward
• Over the Moon
• Soul
• Wolfwalkers

Best Documentary

• Collective
• Dick Johnson is Dead
• Time
• The Truffle Hunters
• Welcome to Chechnya

Best International Feature

• Another Round
• I’m No Longer Here
• La Llorona
• Quo Vadis, Aida?
• A Sun

Best Cinematography

• I’m Thinking of Ending Things
• Mank
• News of the World
• Nomadland
• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Film Editing

• Mank
• Minari
• Nomadland
• One Night in Miami
• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Production Design

• Mank
• Mulan
• News of the World
• The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Tenet

Best Costume Design

• Emma
• Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Mank
• One Night in Miami

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

• Birds of Prey
• Hillbilly Elegy
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Mank
• One Night in Miami

Best Sound

• Mank
• News of the World
• Nomadland
• Sound of Metal
• Tenet

Best Visual Effects

• Mank
• Mulan
• Soul
• Tenet
• The Midnight Sky

Best Original Score

• Mank
• Minari
• News of the World
• Soul
• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Original Song

• “Fight for You” – Judas and the Black Messiah
• “Io Si (Seen)” – The Life Ahead
• “Rain Song” – Minari
• “Speak Now” – One Night in Miami
• “Wuhan Flu” – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Check back next week for a brand new episode of Chasing the Gold to hear Ryan and his guests break down the nominations.