Home » Will Win Could Win & Should Win Oscar Predictions

Will Win Could Win & Should Win Oscar Predictions

We are approaching the finale of awards season quickly with the Oscars in less than two weeks. As the film industry adjusts to the Covid-19 pandemic, we certainly have seen a higher release slate of films and with that, a higher caliber array of films in the Oscar-mix. As the industry is in a rebuilding phase, it isn’t expected that the Best Picture category will be as stacked as recent years prior to the pandemic. Still, there is some fantastic work that has been done and rightfully so, will be celebrated. Here are our will win, could win & should win Oscar predictions.

My main criticism in this awards season would be how consistent and straightforward the awards circuit has been with the winners. It seems like the majority of the award categories have already been decided by the preceding awards shows. That isn’t to imply the frontrunners for these categories are less deserving than others, it simply hinders my enjoyment on Oscar night as you foresee the majority of the winners. However, it is Oscar night and inevitably, there will be some surprises on the way to the Best Picture.

Here are our will win, could win & should win Oscar predictions.

Best Picture

  • Belfast
  • CODA
  • Don’t Look Up
  • Drive My Car
  • Dune
  • King Richard
  • Licorice Pizza
  • Nightmare Alley
  • The Power of the Dog
  • West Side Story

Will Win: The Power of the Dog

Could Win: Belfast

Should Win: West Side Story


Best Director

  • Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog
  • Ryusuke Hamaguchi – Drive My Car
  • Kenneth Branagh – Belfast
  • Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza
  • Steven Spielberg – West Side Story

Will Win: Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog

Could Win: Kenneth Brannagh – Belfast

Should Win: Steven Spielberg – West Side Story


Best Actress

  • Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos
  • Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter
  • Kristen Stewart – Spencer
  • Penelope Cruz – Parallel Mothers
  • Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Will Win: Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Could Win: Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos

Should Win: Kristen Stewart – Spencer


Best Actor

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

Will Win: Will Smith – King Richard

Could Win: Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power of the Dog

Should Win: Andrew Garfield – Tick, Tick … Boom!


Best Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
  • Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog
  • Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard
  • Jessie Buckley – The Lost Daughter
  • Judi Dench – Belfast

Will Win: Ariana DeBose – West Side Story

Could Win: Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog

Should Win: Ariana DeBose – West Side Story


Best Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Ciaran Hinds – Belfast
  • Troy Kotsur – CODA
  • Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog
  • Jesse Plemons – The Power of the Dog
  • J.K. Simmons – Being the Ricardos

Will Win: Troy Kotsur – CODA

Could Win: Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog

Should Win: Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog


Best International Feature

  • Drive My Car
  • Flee
  • The Worst Person in the World
  • The Hand of God
  • Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom

Will Win: Drive My Car 

Could Win: The Worst Person in the World

Should Win: Drive My Car 


Best Original Screenplay

  • Licorice Pizza
  • Belfast
  • Don’t Look Up
  • King Richard
  • The Worst Person in the World

Will Win: Licorice Pizza

Could Win: Belfast

Should Win: Don’t Look Up


Best Adapted Screenplay

  • The Power of the Dog
  • The Lost Daughter
  • CODA
  • Drive My Car
  • Dune

Will Win: The Power of the Dog

Could Win: CODA

Should Win: Dune


Best Production Design

  • Dune
  • Nightmare Alley
  • The Power of the Dog
  • West Side Story
  • The Tragedy of Macbeth

Will Win: Dune

Could Win: West Side Story

Should Win: Nightmare Alley


Best Cinematography

  • Dune
  • Nightmare Alley
  • The Tragedy of Macbeth
  • The Power of the Dog
  • West Side Story

Will Win: Dune

Could Win: The Power of the Dog

Should Win: West Side Story


Best Visual Effects

  • Dune
  • Free Guy
  • No Time to Die
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home
  • Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Will Win: Dune

Could Win: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Should Win: Dune


Best Original Song

  • ”No Time to Die” – No Time to Die
  • “Dos Oruguitas” – Encanto
  • “Be Alive” – King Richard
  • “Down to Joy” – Belfast
  • “Somehow You Do” – Four Good Days

Will Win: “No Time to Die” – No Time to Die

Could Win: “Dos Oruguitas” – Encanto

Should Win: “Be Alive” – King Richard


Best Animated Feature

  • Encanto
  • The Mitchells vs The Machines
  • Flee
  • Raya and the Last Dragon
  • Luca

Will Win: Encanto

Could Win: The Mitchells vs The Machines

Should Win: The Mitchells vs The Machines


Best Makeup and Hairstyling

  • Coming 2 America
  • Cruella
  • Dune
  • House of Gucci
  • The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Will Win: The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Could Win: Cruella

Should Win: Cruella


Best Film Editing

  • King Richard
  • Don’t Look Up
  • Dune
  • The Power of the Dog
  • Tick, Tick … Boom!

Will Win: Dune

Could Win: The Power of the Dog

Should Win: Tick, Tick … Boom!


Best Original Score

  • Dune
  • The Power of the Dog
  • Encanto
  • Don’t Look Up
  • Parallel Mothers

Will Win: Dune

Could Win: The Power of the Dog

Should Win: Dune


Best Sound

  • Dune
  • West Side Story
  • No Time to Die
  • The Power of the Dog
  • Belfast

Will Win: Dune

Could Win: No Time to Die

Should Win: Dune


Best Costume Design

  • Dune
  • Cruella
  • Nightmare Alley
  • West Side Story
  • Cyrano

Will Win: Cruella

Could Win: Dune

Should Win: Cruella

Film is subjective. Give us your thoughts!

%d bloggers like this: