The 16th Annual Award Psychic Award Winners

Best Picture - Drama

Winner - It Was Just an Accident

Runners Up - Hamnet, Sentimental Value, Sorry Baby, Train Dreams

Commentary - In many ways, there is a lot of dark comedy in this film. But at its heart, it is a thrilling, deservedly confrontational film that boils underneath the surface with anger, humor, and heart. It is a tremendous triumph.  

Best Picture - Comedy/Musical

Winner - One Battle After Another

Runners Up - Marty Supreme, No Other Choice, One of Them Days, Twinless

Commentary - I don't really care whether people like this movie or not. I am sure that that discourse around it has merit on all sides, but I also think that many people who are criticizing it missed the whole damn point. I am not going to go into exorbitant detail, breaking down the many messages and overarching themes. I am going to simply say that Paul Thomas Anderson is a modern master of his craft, and this is his magnum opus. A brutal, thrilling, often hilarious, film that combines everything that PTA has ever done before, into a film that could have easily gone off the rails, but is held together by one of the best doing it today. One Battle reminds us that the past is ever present, while letting us breathe just a small amount of relief that maybe, just maybe, the kids are going to be alright. You feel and share every up and down emotion in this film, and yet you leave it, despite the fear, with a small bright spot of optimism. A brilliant film for our times that I think will easily stand the test of time. 

Best Picture - Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Horror

Winner - Sinners

Runners Up - F1: The Movie, Frankenstein, Weapons

Commentary - Sinners was a well-constructed horror musical that took the world by storm. Ryan Coogler continues to assemble a masterclass group of technical masters of their craft, combined with a stunning group of actors, and a lot of creativity and important messaging to create high-level blockbusters that cut deep. 

Best Picture - Animated

Winner  - Zootopia 2

Runners Up - Boys Go to Jupiter and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Commentary - Am I the only one that just didn't get the hype of K-Pop Demon Hunters? I learned as I was watching it, that I am officially old. My personal favorite was Zootopia 2, which I think really captured the magic of the first, while paving its own path with timely references. But to each his own. 

Best Picture - Documentary

Winner - The Perfect Neighbor

Runners Up - The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cover-Up, The Librarians, Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Commentary - This haunting footage-driven film is unfortunately not as shocking as it should be. Instead, it is a sobering reminder of the death toll of bad politics, bad polices, and the disgusting depths of intolerance. 

Best Director

Winner - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Runners Up - Guillermo Del Toro "Frankenstein", Jafar Panahi "It Was Just an Accident", Park Chan-wook "No Other Choice", Ryan Coogler "Sinners", Kaouther Ben Hania "The Voice of Hind Rajab" 

Commentary - See Best Picture - Comedy/Musical

Best Actor - Drama

Winner - Wagner Moura "The Secret Agent"

Runners Up - Michael B. Jordan "Sinners", Joel Edgerton "Train Dreams", Vahid Mobasseri "It Was Just an Accident", Ben Whishaw "Peter Hujar’s Day"

Commentary - Emotionally complex, stirring, and at times charming, Wagner Moura's stunning turn in The Secret Agent grounds this often confusing film, and helps bring its emotional layers to life. 

Best Actress - Drama

Winner - Jessie Buckley "Hamnet"

Runners Up  - Kathleen Chalfant "Familiar Touch", Saja Kilani "The Voice of Hind Rajab", Renate Reinsve "Sentimental Value", Eva Victor "Sorry, Baby"

Commentary - Jessie Buckley's raw, emotional performance in Hamnet is grounded in motherhood. Her joys, her aching and suffering, her grief and her triumphs, are rooted in a universal experience that is way too often underappreciated. From her first entrance to the jaw-dropping final scene, Buckley is the heart and soul of Hamnet, and her outstanding performance makes you feel every beat. 

Best Actor - Comedy/Musical

Winner - Leonardo DiCaprio "One Battle After Another"

Runners Up - Lee Byung-hun "No Other Choice", Timothee Chalamet "Mary Supreme", Ethan Hawke "Blue Moon", Dylan O'Brien "Twinless"

Commentary - Leo just consistently gets looked over, despite consistently churning out incredible performances (okay he gets a lot of nods, but of all the actors worthy of more than one Oscar, he is high on the list). One Battle allows him to show dramatic chops, his emotional complexity as a confused, yet lovable dad, and his ability to churn out action sequences. But the highlight of this brilliant performance is his effortless humor, dark at times, but always compelling, it is a side of Leo I wish we could see more of. A fantastic performance. 

Best Actress - Comedy/Musical

Winner - Rose Byrne "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"

Runners Up - Chase Infiniti "One Battle After Another", Keke Palmer "One of Them Days", SZA "One of Them Days"

Commentary - Byrne's darkly comedic performance in If I Had Leg's I'd Kick You was a masterclass, with a celebrated range of emotions that showcased her incredible abilities as an actress, and is credited with truly exposing the humor, anger, audacity, and struggle it takes to be a mom. 

Best Supporting Actor

Winners - (TIE) Benicio Del Toro "One Battle After Another" and Sean Penn "One Battle After Another"

Runners Up - Jacob Elrodi "Frankenstein", Delroy Lindo "Sinners", Paul Mescal "Hamnet", Stellan Skarsgard "Sentimental Value"

Commentary - Sean Penn, as a person, I get why folks don't like him, and maybe weren't happy to see him win another Oscar. As a performance? He nailed it as a perfectly unhinged screen villain, who set the screen on fire in every scene he appeared. In contrast, the calm, humorous, and gentle Sensei, played by the brilliant Benicio Del Toro, was a perfect foil for almost every other character in the film, in a subtle but incredible way. Hate that this category didn't have a tie. 

Best Supporting Actress

Winner - (TIE) Amy Madigan "Weapons" and Teyana Taylor "One Battle After Another"

Other Contenders - Odessa A'zion "Marty Supreme", Ariana Grande "Wicked: For Good", Regina Hall "One Battle After Another", Wunmi Mosaku "Sinners"

Commentary - These two women spent the whole season celebrating each other, and it was genuinue and lovely, especially since both deserved to be recognized.  Madigan is a beloved veteran, whose Aunt Gladys will go down as one of those legendary screen villains. A well-deserved Oscar win. Teyana Taylor's character is getting a lot of criticism, and while I understand, to a point, where they are coming from, I also think they missed the point and the bigger picture of the story that was being told. I personally thought she was magnetic, fantastic, and awards-worthy. 

Best Ensemble

Winner - Sinners

Runners Up - Eephus, Caught Stealing, One Battle After Another, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Weapons

Commentary - Sinners SAG win was incredibly deserved, as the strength of its cast is one of the most important reasons that it was able to elevate itself as more than just a genre piece.

Best Voice Acting/Motion Capture Performance

Winner - Oona Chaplin "Avatar: Fire and Ash"

Runners Up - Arden Cho "KPop Demon Hunters", Ebon Moss-Bachrach “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, Will Patton “Train Dreams”, Zoe Saldaña "Avatar: Fire and Ash" and "Elio"

Commentary - Avatar: Fire & Ash proved right the theory that diminishing returns really are affecting this series. But the biggest bright spot was the kinetic, energetic, and horrifyingly incredible performance by Oona Chaplin, who lit up the screen every chance she got. 

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Other Contenders - Maggie O'Farrell, Chloe Zhao "Hamnet", Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar "Train Dreams", Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahyee Lee "No Other Choice"

Commentary - See Best Picture - Comedy/Musical

Best Original Screenplay

Winner - (TIE) Jafar Panahi "It Was Just an Accident" and Ryan Coogler "Sinners"

Runners Up - Josh Safdie "Marty Supreme", Syreeta Singleton "One of Them Days", Eva Victor "Sorry, Baby", James Sweeney "Twinless"

Commentary - See Best Picture - Drama and Best Picture - Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Horror

Best Casting*

Winner - Francine Maisler "Sinners"

Runners Up - Nina Gold "Hamnet", Yngvill Kolset Haga and Avy Kaufman "Sentimental Value", Allison Jones "Weapons"

Commentary - Maisler's ability to cast old and new, and build a diverse and fantastic ensemble is top-notch work. 

Best Cinematography

Winner - Michael Bauman "One Battle After Another"

Runners Up - Autumn Durald Arkapaw "Sinners", Claudio Miranda "F1: The Movie", David Chambille "Nouvelle Vague", Adolpho Veloso "Train Dreams"

Commentary - So happy for Arkapaw's Oscar win, as she makes history. But there is a reason that the British and American cinematographers recognized Bauman's work: it is exquisite, and easily the best and most impactful of the bunch. 

Best Costume Design

Winner - Colleen Atwood "One Battle After Another"

Runners Up - Kate Hawley "Frankenstein", Ruth E. Carter "Sinners", Paul Tazewell "Wicked: For Good"

Commentary - This one will divide people, but I think that Atwood's clever contemporary costume design in One Battle After Another was so impactful, and proof that period and genre works are not the only ones that can make a statement. 

Best Film Editing

Winner - Andy Jurgensen "One Battle After Another"

Runners Up - Stephen Mirrione "F1: The Movie", Kirk Baxter "A House of Dynamite", Viridiana Lieberman "The Perfect Neighbor", Michael P. Shawver "Sinners"

Commentary - How to do you make a three and a half hour film feel like a seamless film that never loses momentum, and never feels long? Incredible and award-winning work from editor Andy Jurgensen, that's how. 

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Winner - Jordan Samuel, Oriana Rossi, Kristin Wayne, Patricia Keighran, Lizzi Lawson Zeiss, Cliona Furey, Tim Nolan, Laura Solari, Tori Binns, Katarina Chovanec, Mike Hill, Megan Many "Frankenstein"

Runners Up - Leo Satkovich, Mark Ross, Jason Collins, Kaylee Kehne-Swisher, Brie Bastianson, Jason Collin, Mike McCarty, Kaylee Kehne-Swisher, Melizah Wheat, Monty Schuth, Nashi Tumlinson "Weapons"; Felix Fox, Darah Wyant, Amanda Imeson, Harlow MacFarlane, Maiko Gomyo, Mayuri Ogura, Mia Neal, Judy Durbacz, Dion Farrell, Greg Cooper-Spencer "The Smashing Machine"

Commentary - Frankenstein is the obvious choice, Jacob Elordi alone is jaw-dropping makeup work, and he is just one part of a tremendous use of the craft. 

Best Original Score

Winner - Jonny Greenwood "One Battle After Another"

Runners Up - Jerskin Fendrix "Bugonia", Alexandre Desplat "Frankenstein", Max Richter "Hamnet", Ludwig Göransson "Sinners"

Commentary - One Battle's score was completely under-rewarded this season. Greenwood's work matching the changing set pieces of the film, and being such an important part of the theatrical experience might have been overlooked by the industry, but I'm making sure it gets noticed. 

Best Original Song

Winner - Sinners - "I Lied to You" written by Ludwig Göransson and Raphael Saadiq

Runners Up - Come See Me in the Good Light - "Salt Then Sour Then Sweet" written by Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile; ; Wicked: For Good - "The Girl in the Bubble" written by Stephen Schwartz, Train Dreams - "Train Dreams" written by Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner

Commentary - Look, I know that Golden was impossible to ignore, but this song from Sinners was easily the best and most impactful of the bunch. 

Best Production Design

Winner - Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau "Frankenstein"

Runners Up - Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino "One Battle After Another", Fiona Crombie and  Alice Felton "Hamnet"

Commentary - Frankenstein, and its traditional model of crafts, is a marvel to look at, especially its production design and tremendous set pieces that are jaw-dropping. 

Best Sound

Winner - Laia Casanovas, Amanda Villavieja, Yasmina Praderas "Sirāt"

Runners Up - Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John "F1: The Movie", Anette Bogun, Shawn Kennelly, Paul N.J. Ottosson, Daniel Saxlid "A House of Dynamite", Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner "Warfare", 

Commentary - Some great work here, but the impressive and immersive work in Sirat, one of the most pleasant surprises of the Oscar nominations, is so memorable and deserving. 

Best Stunt Design*

Winner - Wade Eastwood "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning"

Runners Up - Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda "Ballerina", Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby "F1: The Movie", Wayne Dalglish, Isaac Hamon, Adam Hart, Matt Leonard "Superman" 

Commentary - Duh. In my inaugural award, I have to recognize the decades-long tremendous work of the stunt team behind the Mission: Impossible franchise. 

Best Visual Effects

Winner - Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett "Avatar: Fire and Ash"

Runners Up - Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson "F1: The Movie", Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean "Sinners", Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams "Superman"

Commentary - Look, whatever you thought of Avatar: Fire & Ash (the diminishing returns have really hit with this one), Cameron and his team continue to break boundaries with visual effects that leave every other film in the dust. This entry into the Avatar world was no exception. 

Top 20 Films of 2025

1. One Battle After Another

2. It Was Just an Accident

3. Sinners

4. The Perfect Neighbor

5. Hamnet

6. Train Dreams

7. Sorry Baby 

8. One of Them Days

9. Frankenstein

10. No Other Choice

11. Zootopia 2

12. Marty Supreme

13. Sentimental Value

14. The Voice of Hind Rajab

15. The Alabama Solution

16. Sirat

17. Twinless

18. Weapons.

19. F1

20. Cover-Up

The Oscar Narrative: The End

The growing toxicity of the world just continues to permeate the Oscar race, this year, after the BAFTA controversy, it became even more divided, more fierce, more toxic, and it became a race about race, politics, history. It divided movie goers and film fanatics, with increasingly horrendous insults being slung at each other with reckless abandon. 

I think that instead, we should try to celebrate. Conan, as he ended his monologue, reminded us that the Oscars are for celebrating film. I always tell folks that my favorite film doesn't have to win for me to enjoy the Oscars. I am a film buff through and through. I love that no matter what for 98 years, we have gathered to celebrate film. Let's celebrate an industry veteran winning after years in the industry with little recognition, for a horror film nonetheless. Let's celebrate two of our finest filmmakers winning their first Oscars on the same night after years in the industry. Let's celebrate a big studio promoting three populist blockbusters winning eleven awards proving that studios can and need to be original, that big films can also be great, and that the theatrical experience is worth continuing to fight for in the coming years. 

My favorite film of the year, One Battle After Another (you will find out soon, so far behind on my personal awards this year), won Best Picture. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it is really cool. I also sat through so many ceremonies where my film didn't win, and it was still cool to be a part of the experience. I am so thrilled for the fantastic Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Amy Madigan, Ryan Coogler, and Paul Thomas Anderson. I'm not the biggest fan of Sean Penn personally, but he was jaw-dropping in the film, and the performance is worthy of recognition. I love that the first woman won Best Cinematography, that we finally have a casting category, that big bold genre films did well across the board, and that some really great films, performances, and artwork was recognized. Do I have some thins I would change? Absolutely. Was the ceremony too long, too clunky, and still has issues? Of Course. I'll be long dead before that changes. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. 

I have been doing this for almost 18 years, as of July. I started as a freshman in college, and no matter what has happened in my life, I have always turned to this blog. Not a lot of people read this, but those who do are loyal and amazing. But I don't really do it for anyone else. I do it for me. I have a problem with saying no in my life, so it is kind of nice to have something that is just for me, whether anyone else notices or cares or not. I love film. I think that Conan said it best as he ended his monologue when he noted: 

"Yes, tonight is an international event. If I can be serious for just a moment, everyone watching right now around the world is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times, okay? It's at moments like these that I believe that the Oscars are particularly resonant. Check it out. 31 countries across six continents are represented this evening. And every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty. We pay tribute tonight, not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience, and that rarest of qualities today, optimism. So let us please celebrate, not because we think all is well, but because we work and hope for better in the days ahead."

Let's hope this spirit of collaboration, this global connectivity, and this continued love of film never die. See you all in Year 18. 

98th Academy Awards

Best Picture - One Battle After Another

Best Director - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Best Actor - Michael B. Jordan "Sinners"

Best Actress - Jessie Buckley "Hamnet"

Best Supporting Actor - Sean Penn "One Battle After Another" 

Best Supporting Actress - Amy Madigan "Weapons"

Best Adapted Screenplay - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Best Original Screenplay - Ryan Coogler "Sinners"

Best Animated Feature - KPop Demon Hunters

Best Documentary Feature - Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best International Feature - Sentimental Value (Norway)

Best Casting - Cassandra Kulukundis "One Battle After Another"

Best Cinematography - Autumn Durald Arkapaw "Sinners"

Best Costume Design - Kate Hawley "Frankenstein" 

Best Film Editing - Andy Jurgensen "One Battle After Another"

Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey "Frankenstein"

Best Original Score - Ludwig Goransson "Sinners"

Best Original Song - EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters"

Best Production Design - Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau "Frankenstein"

Best Sound - Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta "F1"

Best Visual Effects - Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett "Avatar: Fire & Ash"

Best Animated Short - The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Documentary Short - All the Empty Rooms

Best Live Action Short Film - (TIE) The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva

46th Golden Raspberry "Razzie" Award "Winners"

WORST PICTURE

War Of The Worlds 

WORST ACTOR

Ice Cube / War Of The Worlds

WORST ACTRESS

Rebel Wilson / Bride Hard

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Scarlet Rose Stallone / Gunslingers

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR

All Seven Artificial Dwarfs / Snow White

RAZZIE REDEEMER AWARD

Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue”

WORST SCREEN COMBO

All Seven Artificial Dwarfs / Snow White

WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL

War of the Worlds 

WORST DIRECTOR 

Rich Lee / War Of The Worlds

WORST SCREENPLAY

War Of The Worlds  / Kenny Golde, Marc Hyman

RAZZIE REDEEMER AWARD

Kate Hudson / Song Sung Blue

The Oscar Narrative: Final Winner Predictions - Best Picture and Best Director

Best Picture

Will Win - One Battle After Another

Could Win - Sinners

Should Win - One Battle After Another

Commentary - Sinners' SAG win gave it the momentum, and there is a lot of sentiment after the BAFTA incident. It is incredibly popular. But it is also a horror/musical, and up until SAG, it has not done as well with the industry votes compared to One Battle After Another. Sinners benefits from the longer season, and momentum. One Battle benefits from previous industry support, and more support with the international crowd. I think One Battle is an audacious masterpiece, and while I really love Sinners as well, One Battle is on another level. I am sticking with One Battle because I feel like it will do better on the preferential ballot, but it is a fight to the finish. 

Best Director

Will Win - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Could Win - Ryan Coogler "Sinners"

Should Win - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Commentary - I feel like no matter what happens in Best Picture, that Paul Thomas Anderson is in a strong position to win Best Director. He has won every major precursor, and is incredibly overdue. But Ryan Coogler could be this year's Bong Joon-ho, where if Sinners wins BP, it could bring him along for the ride. 

The Oscar Narrative: Final Winner Predictions - Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress

Best Actor

Will Win - Michael B. Jordan "Sinners"

Could Win - Leonardo DiCaprio "One Battle After Another" or Wagner Moura "The Secret Agent"

Should Win - Moura, DiCaprio, or Ethan Hawke "Blue Moon"

Commentary - The SAG win changed the game for Michael B. Jordan, after months of it looking like a Chalamet win. I would love to know who was second place at BAFTA, and I don't think it was Jordan. A lot of folks think it might have been Chalamet, but I have a feeling it might have been DiCaprio. Or maybe not. Jordan's SAG win is really the biggest indicator that we have, and Sinners is incredibly popular. I think he wins. The wildcard is Moura, who some are thinking could really shock. We'll have to wait and see. 

Best Actress

Will Win - Jessie Buckley "Hamnet'

Could Win - Rose Byrne "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"

Should Win - Buckley or Byrne

Commentary - Honestly, voters cannot go wrong with any of these five performances. Great actresses, great performances. It's Buckley's to lose. Byrne is the dark horse with the Globe win, but Buckley is the only acting contender to hit all four major televised awards. It is hers to lose. 

Best Supporting Actor

Will Win - Sean Penn "One Battle After Another"

Could Win - Stellan Skarsgard "Sentimental Value" or Delroy Lindo "Sinners"

Should Win - Sean Penn or Benicio Del Toro "One Battle After Another"

Commentary - Sean Penn wasn't even on the winning radar for most Oscarologists after the slew of critics awards were split amongst Skarsgard, Elordi, and Penn's co-star Benicio Del Toro. 

Best Supporting Actress

Will Win - Amy Madigan "Weapons"

Could Win - Wunmi Mosaku "Sinners" or Teyana Taylor "One Battle After Another"

Should Win - Taylor or Madigan

Commentary - Madigan seems to have so much support, despite being the film's only nomination. I think she won SAG by a landslide. But when you consider the entire Academy, and the fact that she wasn't nominated at BAFTA, then I take a second look at Wunmi Mosaku, who won at BAFTA, or even Teyana Taylor, who won the Globe, and has been campaigning hard. I still think that Madigan can pull it off, the buzz just seems to be in her favor. But if Mosaku or Taylor win instead, it is proof that lone nominations are just tough. 

The Oscar Narrative: Final Winner Predictions - Best Adapted and Original Screenplay

Best Adapted Screenplay

Will Win - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Could Win - Chloe Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell "Hamnet"

Should Win - Paul Thomas Anderson "One Battle After Another"

Commentary - No matter what happens in Picture or Director, the two juggernauts battling out this year will most likely win Oscars, which is actually kind of cool. This brilliant script from PTA also is brilliant, and is incredibly worthy. He has swept everything, and he should easily win here.

Best Original Screenplay

Will Win - Ryan Coogler "Sinners"

Could Win - Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier "Sentimental Value"

Should Win - Ryan Coogler "Sinners"

Commentary - See Adapted Screenplay, and substitute PTA for Coogler. 

The Oscar Narrative: Final Winner Predictions - Best Animated Feature, Documentary Feature, International Feature, and Casting

Best Animated Feature

Will Win - KPop Demon Hunters

Could Win - Zootopia 2

Should Win - Zootopia 2

Commentary - I really liked this year's inspired lineup, and I am just not on board with the KPop Demon Hunter craze. It's fine, but I really think that Zootopia 2 was a well-made, funny, and relevant sequel that was just a better film. 

Best Documentary Feature

Will Win - Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Could Win - The Perfect Neighbor

Should Win - The Perfect Neighbor or The Alabama Solution

Commentary - The Perfect Neighbor has won hardly any of the major industry awards, other than the critics circuit. It is the strongest of the films in terms of quality, is definitely timely, and it is on Netflix, which means it has been seen. But after BAFTA went for Mr. Nobody Against Putin, I just hesitated, then I went NGNG and decided to switch. Last year, they missed for the Christopher Reeves film, which didn't make the Oscars cut. Otherwise, it has been about 2/3 accurate in recent years. I think the title is timely (especially with the headlines during the end of voting), and I think it upsets. 

Best International Feature

Will Win - Sentimental Value

Could Win - The Secret Agent

Should Win - It Was Just an Accident

Commentary - After last year's win for Brazil, a lot of people are bullish on the repeat for The Secret Agent. It could definitely happen in a heated race with two BP nominees. But Sentimental Value is not Emilia Perez. There is not a lot of controversy, it has a lot of support, and I think it is the more accessible of the two. It's a tough race, but I predict Sentimental Value comes out on top. For my money, I'm still rooting for a not-going-to-happen win for It Was Just an Accident. 

Best Casting

Will Win - Sinners

Could Win - One Battle After Another or The Secret Agent 

Should Win - Sinners

Commentary - While we are debating whether Sinners' win for Best Ensemble at SAG equals Best Picture, I can definitely say that it equates to winning the inaugural Casting award. The casting, blending old and new, and perfectly cast roles, is definitely award worthy. 

The Oscar Narrative: Final Winner Predictions - Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design

Best Cinematography

Will Win - Michael Bauman "One Battle After Another"

Could Win - Autumn Durald Arkapaw "Sinners"

Should Win - Michael Bauman "One Battle After Another"

Commentary - The critics went hard for Sinners, but when the guilds came along, One Battle After Another's Michael Bauman won BAFTA and ASC, and honestly, it makes sense when you watch both films. This is one of those categories that could show whether Sinners is in upset mode, but I think it's One Battle's to lose.

Best Costume Design

Will Win - Frankenstein

Could Win - Sinners or One Battle After Another

Should Win - Frankenstein

Commentary - CDG plus BAFTA, plus the crafts favorite means that Frankenstein should win, and it is well-deserved. But, after the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever upset, never discount the great Ruth Carter. That being said, those costumes were more iconic and elaborate, which often does well here. Again, that leans towards Frakenstein.

Best Film Editing

Will Win - One Battle After Another

Could Win - F1 or Sinners

Should Win - One Battle After Another

Commentary - ACE Eddie plus BAFTA is hard to beat, and it is one of the longest films of the year, that doesn't feel that long at all. That is the sign of brilliant editing, along with the constant tonal shifts, and expert action sequences. Watch out for F1, and again, if Sinners wins here, its winning BP.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Will Win - Frankenstein    

Could Win - Sinners

Should Win - Frankenstein

Commentary - Will be jaw-dropped if it doesn't win here.

Best Production Design

Will Win - Frankenstein

Could Win - Sinners or Hamnet

Should Win - Frankenstein or One Battle After Another

Commentary - Again, the pure audacity and brilliance of Frankenstein (plus ADG and BAFTA) should equal a win here. One Battle would be an inspired choice. 

2026 Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award Winners

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Sinners, Written by Ryan Coogler; Warner Bros. Pictures

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

One Battle After Another, Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson, Screen Story by Paul Thomas Anderson, Inspired by the novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon; Warner Bros. Pictures - WINNER

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

2,000 Meters to Andriivka, Written by Mstyslav Chernov; Frontline Features

DRAMA SERIES

The Pitt, Written by Cynthia Adarkwa, Simran Baidwan, Valerie Chu, R. Scott Gemmill, Elyssa Gershman, Joe Sachs, Noah Wyle; HBO | Max

COMEDY SERIES

The Studio, Written by Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, Frida Perez, Seth Rogen; Apple TV 

NEW SERIES

The Pitt, Written by Cynthia Adarkwa, Simran Baidwan, Valerie Chu, R. Scott Gemmill, Elyssa Gershman, Joe Sachs, Noah Wyle; HBO | Max 

LIMITED SERIES

Dying for Sex, Written by Sheila Callaghan, Harris Danow, Madeleine George, Elizabeth Meriwether, Amelia Roper, Kim Rosenstock, Sasha Stewart, Sabrina Wu, Keisha Zollar; FX/Hulu 

TV & STREAMING MOTION PICTURES

Deep Cover, Written by Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow; Prime Video

ANIMATION

“Shira Can’t Cook” (Long Story Short) Written by Mehar Sethi; Netflix

EPISODIC DRAMA

“7:00 A.M.” (The Pitt), Written by R. Scott Gemmill; HBO | Max

EPISODIC COMEDY

“Prelude” (The Righteous Gemstones), Written by John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley, Danny R. McBride; HBO | Max 

COMEDY/VARIETY SERIES – TALK OR SKETCH

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Senior Writers: Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Seena Vali; Writers: Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Tim Carvell, Liz Hynes, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi, John Oliver, Taylor Kay Phillips, Chrissy Shackelford; HBO | Max

COMEDY/VARIETY SPECIALS

Marc Maron: Panicked, Written by Marc Maron; HBO | Max 

QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Celebrity Jeopardy!, Head Writer: Bobby Patton Writers: Kyle Beakley, Michael Davies, Terence Gray, Amy Ozols, Tim Siedell, David Levinson-Wilk; ABC

DAYTIME DRAMA

The Young and the Restless, Associate Head Writers: Jeff Beldner, Marla Kanelos, Dave Ryan; Writers: Susan Banks, Amanda L. Beall, Marin Gazzaniga, Rebecca McCarty, Madeleine Phillips; CBS/Paramount +

CHILDREN’S EPISODIC, LONG FORM AND SPECIALS

"When We Lose Someone" (Tab Time), Written by Sean Presant; YouTube - WINNER

SHORT FORM STREAMING

The Rabbit Hole with Jimmy Kimmel, Writers: Jimmy Kimmel & Jesse Joyce; YouTube 

DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – CURRENT EVENTS

"Trump's Power & the Rule of Law" (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS - 

DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS

"Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP" (American Experience), Written by Rob Rapley; PBS -

NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT

"Devastating Flooding in Texas" (World News Tonight with David Muir), Written by David Muir, Karen Mooney, and Dave Bloch; ABC News 

NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

Remembering Palestinian Journalists Killed by Israeli Forces (Ayman), Written by Lisa Salinas; MSNBC 

DIGITAL NEWS

"An Isolated Boarding School Promised to Help Troubled Girls. Former Students Say They Were Abused," Written by Sebastian Murdock and Taiyler Mitchell; HuffPost