The tightest race in years: Predictions for the 98th Academy Awards

The 98th Academy Awards are on Sunday, and the competition has never been tougher. No matter who wins some of the night’s biggest prizes, 2025 was a year that proved movies are meant to be seen in theaters. Will “Sinners” continue its historic streak and win the most Oscars in one night? Or will “One Battle After Another” swoop in and steal the spotlight?Will Timothée Chalamet finally get over the hump and win Best Actor, or will someone steal it from him once again?While there are still many questions to be answered on Sunday, here is what we predict will be winning awards on the movies’ biggest night. The predictions were made by Megan Camponovo, who covers entertainment for Hearst Television’s National Desk.Best Picture”Bugonia””F1″”Frankenstein””Hamnet””Marty Supreme””One Battle After Another””The Secret Agent””Sentimental Value””Sinners””Train Dreams”Our prediction: “One Battle After Another”Nearly 20 years in the making, Paul Thomas Anderson creates something so timely and conversational with “One Battle After Another.” At a pivotal time in American history, this movie gives a voice to those who need it with stellar performances from an all-star cast. Whether it’s Leonardo DiCaprio playing a father searching for his daughter, or Benicio del Toro’s character just helping along the way, or even Sean Penn’s villainous role, they all tie the story together. “One Battle After Another” is a story unlike any other and will withstand the test of time. ¡Viva la Revolución! Best Actress in a Leading RoleJessie Buckley, “Hamnet”Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue”Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”Emma Stone, “Bugonia”Our prediction: Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”This is Jessie Buckley’s award to lose. After winning at every single precursor award, Buckley is the most likely to win at this year’s Oscars. She gives a heartbreaking performance that features both so much love and loss. The movie would not be what it is without the help of Buckley. She is able to captivate and hold the audience in such a way that makes it impossible to look away from her.Best Actor in a Leading RoleTimothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”Our prediction: Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”What may have once been considered a long-shot pick is now the frontrunner for Best Actor. Michael B. Jordan gives a powerhouse performance twice in one movie as he plays twins Smoke and Stack. While he portrays two identical twins with entirely different stories and personalities, Jordan handles both with meticulousness, making the audience feel the true emotions each twin is going through. As Viola Davis said at the Actor Awards, Michael B. Jordan is truly shining. Best DirectorChloé Zhao, “Hamnet”Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value”Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”Our prediction: Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”Paul Thomas Anderson is a visionary. After working on this movie for years, he somehow created a film that feels so timely to American society and does not miss a beat. Each shot is meticulously done, and the audience can tell the amount of time he put into everything. Some scenes keep the audience on the edge of their seats and then get them laughing seconds later. Finally, after a career of incredible films, PTA will be taking home his first Academy Award for a movie that he put all of his talents and passion into.Best Actress in a Supporting RoleElle Fanning, “Sentimental Value”Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value”Amy Madigan, “Weapons”Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”Our prediction: Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”Teyana Taylor embodies all of what “One Battle After Another” stands for as Perfidia Beverly Hills. She is the soul of the movie that makes such an impact after only a short amount of screentime. She leaves the movie, but has the audience thinking about what Perfidia would do in any given situation. Best Actor in a Supporting RoleBenicio del Toro, “One Battle After Another”Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”Delroy Lindo, “Sinners”Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”Our prediction: Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”Sean Penn is a terrifying and looming presence throughout the entirety of “One Battle After Another.” The movie would not exist without the vengeance that Colonel Lockjaw has for various other characters in the movie. In a race that is way too close for comfort, his wins at the BAFTAs and the Actor Awards are securing Penn the advantage he needs to take home his third Oscar and tie him for most Oscars ever won by a man.Best Adapted ScreenplayWill Tracy, “Bugonia”Guillermo del Toro, “Frankenstein”Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet”Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, “Train Dreams”Our prediction: Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”After working on this film adaptation for decades, Paul Thomas Anderson is able to take a work that is nearly 40 years old and make it seem like the most timely film of this year’s crop of nominees. PTA creates something relevant to our society, yet is still able to implement comedic moments throughout all the seriousness. It is no surprise that PTA is a phenomenal writer, and after being nominated several times in both this category and original screenplay, all his hard work will have paid off. Best Original ScreenplayRobert Kaplow, “Blue Moon”Jafar Panahi, “It Was Just an Accident”Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value”Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”Our prediction: Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”Ryan Coogler creates something so unique and remarkable yet relevant with “Sinners.” The writing and dialogue throughout this movie fit each character so well, and together alongside his cast, Coogler achieves perfection. Best CastingNina Gold, “Hamnet”Jennifer Venditti, “Marty Supreme”Cassandra Kulukundis, “One Battle After Another”Gabriel Domingues, “The Secret Agent”Francine Maisler, “Sinners”Our prediction: Francine Maisler, “Sinners”This is a brand-new category at the Academy Awards this year that will honor the time it takes to craft a perfect cast for a movie. This year, “Sinners” is the perfect example of that. Each character was meticulously placed, with everyone working perfectly with one another to create an impactful film. Without the casting, “Sinners” wouldn’t be the same movie everyone loved. Best Original SongDiane Warren for “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless”EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon and Teddy Park for “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters”Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson for “I Lied to You” from “Sinners”Nicholas Pike for Sweet Dreams of Joy from “Viva Verdi!”Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner for “Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams”Our prediction: EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon and Teddy Park for “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters””KPop Demon Hunters” took over the world, with both children and adults listening to the K-pop genre. “Golden” breached all airways and introduced Korean pop music to many new generations and people who had never heard it before. This family-friendly song will no doubt earn K-Pop its first-ever Academy Award.Best Original ScoreJerskin Fendrix, “Bugonia”Alexandre Desplat, “Frankenstein”Max Richter, “Hamnet”Jonny Greenwood, “One Battle After Another”Ludwig Goransson, “Sinners”Our prediction: Ludwig Goransson, “Sinners”Anything Ludwig Goransson creates is pure magic, and his score for “Sinners” is no exception. After working with Ryan Coogler for years (and even being his college roommate), the two come together to create something so memorable and important for a film where music is pivotal to the story.Best CinematographyDan Laustsen, “Frankenstein”Darius Khondji, “Marty Supreme”Michael Bauman, “One Battle After Another”Autumn Durald Arkapaw, “Sinners”Adolpho Veloso, “Train Dreams”Our prediction: Michael Bauman, “One Battle After Another”Shooting on VistaVision, an old-school filming format, is no easy feat. Yet, Michael Bauman is able to accomplish stellar work with that filming composition. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when Willa is driving through an open, winding road going up and down with no end in sight. And that is what perfect cinematography is — making one of your most famous scenes not be about the dialogue or the characters, but instead about where. Best EditingStephen Mirrione, “F1″Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”Andy Jurgensen, “One Battle After Another”Olivier Bugge Coutté, “Sentimental Value”Michael P. Shawver, “Sinners”Our prediction: Andy Jurgensen, “One Battle After Another”The editing in “One Battle After Another” is discreet, yet extremely dramatic when it needs to be. The way this film is set up allows the editing to create dramatic scenes when they need to be present and climactic scenes as the movie reaches its pivotal moments. Best International Feature Film”The Secret Agent””It Was Just an Accident””Sentimental Value””Sirât””The Voice of Hind Rajab”Our prediction: “Sentimental Value”With an all-star cast and multiple nominations at the Academy Awards this year, it is extremely likely that “Sentimental Value” will be taking home the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. The film hits close to home as it follows two sisters trying to reconnect with their distant father. As their father tries to make amends, the two sisters must understand their complicated feelings toward him.Best Animated Feature Film”Arco””Elio””KPop Demon Hunters””Little Amélie or the Character of Rain””Zootopia 2″Our prediction: “KPop Demon Hunters””KPop Demon Hunters” took over the world and became a cultural phenomenon in the past year. “KPop Demon Hunters” was a fun, family-friendly movie that had great music and an entertaining plot. It will be no surprise to anyone when K-pop takes home its first Oscar for their animated feature film that had both children and adults engaged in the conversation. Best Documentary Feature Film”The Alabama Solution””Come See Me in the Good Light””Cutting Through Rocks””Mr Nobody Against Putin””The Perfect Neighbor”Our prediction: “The Perfect Neighbor””The Perfect Neighbor” gives insight into the “stand your ground” laws in Florida and the true consequences behind them. What started out as a minor dispute in a Florida neighborhood quickly turned to deadly violence and through the use of police body cam footage, viewers see the whole incident unfold. Best Makeup and HairstylingMike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey, “Frankenstein”Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu, “Kokuho”Ken Diaz and Mike Fontaine, “Sinners”Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein, “The Smashing Machine”Thomas Foldberg and Cathrine Sauerberg, “The Ugly Stepsister”Our prediction: Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey, “Frankenstein”In a movie about monsters coming to life, you want director Guillermo del Toro behind the film. In “Frankenstein,” the makeup and styling need to be flawless in order to make the monster believable and scary, and that is what the makeup team created. They crafted a seamless transition of humans and monsters, making everything more believable and terrifying.Best SoundGareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta, “F1″Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern, “Frankenstein”José Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor, “One Battle After Another”Chris Welcker, Benjamin A. Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor and Steve Boeddeker, “Sinners”Amanda Villavieja, Iaia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas, “Sirât”Our prediction: Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta, “F1″Vroom, vroom! It can’t be an impactful racing movie if the sound is not perfectly constructed. Whether it be from the cars racing through a track or the silent moments that are needed to show how dire the situation is, “F1” is able to balance all of the elements in an impeccable way that keeps the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats.Best Visual EffectsJoe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett, “Avatar: Fire and Ash”Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington and Keith Dawson, “F1″David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan and Neil Corbould, “Jurassic World Rebirth”Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen and Brandon K. McLaughlin, “The Lost Bus”Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter and Donnie Dean, “Sinners”Our prediction: Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett, “Avatar: Fire and Ash”After the first two “Avatar” movies won in this category in both 2010 and 2023, it’s likely that “Avatar: Fire and Ash” will follow suit after its predecessors. It is hard not to back a film franchise that has been so heavily awarded at the past Academy Awards and has been recognized several times for this same feat.Best Costume DesignDeborah L. Scott, “Avatar: Fire and Ash”Kate Hawley, “Frankenstein”Malgosia Turzanska, “Hamnet”Miyako Bellizzi, “Marty Supreme”Ruth E. Carter, “Sinners”Our prediction: Kate Hawley, “Frankenstein”Once again, in order to create a monster film, the costuming of said monster needs to be polished to make it seem more realistic. Nearly everyone in the film has an impeccable costume that enhances the dramatic nature of the film. Best Production DesignTamara Deverell and Shane Vieau, “Frankenstein”Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton, “Hamnet”Jack Fisk and Adam Willis, “Marty Supreme”Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino, “One Battle After Another”Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne, “Sinners”Our prediction: Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau, “Frankenstein”To create a dystopian world where monsters come to life, the production must feel realistic enough to live in. “Frankenstein” has many different sets throughout the film that are realistic and unnerving, fitting the vibe of the film. Best Documentary Short”All the Empty Rooms””Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud””Children No More: Were and Are Gone””The Devil is Busy””Perfectly a Strangeness”Our prediction: “All the Empty Rooms”This is a heartbreaking and timely piece about children who lost their lives due to gun violence and school shootings. The documentary is both tragic and disturbing as the directors worked for seven years on this project, following the families to whom these tragedies happened.Best Live Action Short Film”Butcher’s Stain””A Friend of Dorothy””Jane Austen’s Period Drama””The Singers””Two People Exchanging Saliva”Our prediction: “Two People Exchanging Saliva”Backed by the New Yorker, it’s hard to imagine a world where this dystopian dark comedy doesn’t win an Oscar. Created by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata, the French live-action short depicts a society where kissing is outlawed and even punishable by death. While not necessarily an important message behind the film, it’s a comedy that keeps all audiences engaged.Best Animated Short Film”Butterfly””Forevergreen””The Girl Who Cried Pearls””Retirement Plan””The Three Sisters”Our prediction: “Butterfly””Butterfly” is a visually gorgeous work that depicts a man reminiscing on his life while swimming.