Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit THE COLLECTIVE.
DRAFT>>>PRE SEASON>>>REGULAR SEASON>>>POST SEASON
UPDATED: Mar. 4, 2021
AWARDS PREDICTION COMMENTARY: With “Nomadland” solidifying its frontrunner status for Searchlight Pictures, it begs the question, will any of the streamers be able to go the distance with AMPAS this year? Although not nominated by the Globes, Amazon’s “Sound of Metal” from debut filmmaker Darius Marder has performed well with critics groups. It has momentum for lead actor Riz Ahmed, who has won the most critics’ awards this season along with his co-star Paul Raci. Netflix has done everything humanly possible to keep their slate at the top of minds but it’s still not clear if the passion goes beyond Sorkin’s picture. I’m also of the mind, we may see six or seven best picture nominees this year (which I feel we discuss at one point every season). This year, “passion” doesn’t run deep, and we could be in store for a lower number than usual in this final year of the “sliding scale.”
Chadwick Boseman won a posthumous Golden Globe in best actor (drama) for his performance as the trumpeter Levee in Netflix’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” He’s only the second posthumous winner in the category, following Peter Finch for 1976’s “Network,” who went on to win the Oscar as well. It looks as though Boseman will be following suit.
Chloé Zhao became the second female directing winner in HFPA history for “Nomadland.” Winning virtually every critics’ award this season so far, this seems to be the one major Oscar race that looks all but assured for a nomination, and maybe even the win. It should be noted that when the last female Globes directing winner, Barbra Streisand, won this prize for 1983’s “Yentl,” she failed to get nominated by the Academy. Let’s hope Zhao doesn’t suffer the same fate.
Awards Circuit Winners Chart (2020-2021)
2021 Awards Season Calendar
Academy Awards Predictions (All Categories)
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Picture
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Director
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Actor
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Actress
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actress
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Screenplay
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Adapted Screenplay
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Production Design
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Cinematography
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Costume Design
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Film Editing
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Makeup and Hairstyling
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Sound
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Visual Effects
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Score
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Feature
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best International Feature
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Short
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Short
- 2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Live-Action Short
Awards Circuit Winners Chart
Awards Circuit (Column) Archives
- Variety Awards Editor Clayton Davis’ 2021 Oscar Nominations Ballot – (Mar. 4, 2021)
- Final Predictions for the Golden Globes: A Night Made for Streamers and Chadwick Boseman? – (Feb. 25, 2021)
- Only Three Actors Have Won the Oscar Without Nods From Golden Globes and SAG – (Feb. 18, 2021)
- Searching for the Oscar Nomination Shocker: Who Will Receive the Acting Nod No One Saw Coming? – (Feb. 11, 2021)
- 5 Big Takeaways From the Golden Globes and How It Leads to the Oscars – (Feb. 4, 2021)
- Which Films Are Trending to Receive the Most Oscar Nominations? – (Jan. 28, 2021)
- Delroy Lindo and Kelly Reichardt Among Possible First-Time Oscar Nominees That Should Already Have Nominations – (Jan. 21, 2021)
- Sizing Up Contenders as SAG Voting Begins – (Jan. 14, 2021)
- Party Crashers: Six Films Coming Out in 2021 That Could Be Oscar Contenders – (Jan. 7, 2021)
- Frances McDormand Could Be First Woman Nominated for Best Picture and Acting Oscars – (Dec. 30, 2020)
- Who Received the Biggest Awards Season Boost from New York and Los Angeles? – (Dec. 24, 2020)
- 10 Underdog Movies That Deserve Oscar’s Attention – (Dec. 17, 2020)
- Honorary Oscar Recommendations: Is It Time for Indiana Jones and Chucky? – (Dec. 10, 2020)
- Sacha Baron Cohen, Leslie Odom Jr. and Chloe Zhao Have a Shot at Multiple Oscar Noms This Season (Column) – (Dec 3, 2020)
- How Will the SAG Awards Shape the Oscar Race? (Column) – (Nov. 19, 2020)
- Will the Oscars Reward Repeat Nominees Like Glenn Close and Amy Adams This Season? (Column) – (Nov. 12, 2020)
- How Will the Gotham Awards Shape This Year’s Unusual Oscars Race? – (Nov. 5, 2020)
- In a Year Filled With Hardship, Will Comedies Like ‘Borat 2,’ ‘On the Rocks’ and More Finally Get Some Academy Love? – (Oct. 29, 2020)
- Women Directors Could Make History at the Next Oscars (Column) – Awards Circuit (Oct. 22, 2020)
- Could Chadwick Boseman Be the First Person to Earn Two Posthumous Oscar Acting Nominations in the Same Year? – Awards Circuit (Oct. 15, 2020)
- This Oscar Season Could Be for the Young and the Newcomers – Awards Circuit (Oct. 8, 2020)
- Chadwick Boseman Could Be Among a Record 7 Posthumous Oscar Nominations – Awards Circuit (Oct. 1, 2020)
- Aaron Sorkin Enters the Race as ‘West Side Story’ Exits – Awards Circuit (Sept. 24, 2020)
- Awards Circuit: How Toronto Shook Up the Oscar Race with ‘Nomadland,’ Idris Elba and Kate Winslet (Sept. 17, 2020)
Oscars FYC Studio Links
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- 20th Century Studios
- A24
- Amazon Studios
- Apple TV Plus
- Bleecker Street
- Briarcliff Entertainment
- Focus Features
- IFC Films
- Lionsgate
- Magnolia Pictures
- National Geographic Films
- Neon
- Netflix
- Paramount Pictures
- Roadside Attractions
- Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Searchlight Pictures
- Sony Pictures
- Sony Pictures Classics
- Universal Pictures
- Walt Disney Pictures
- Warner Bros.
Other Awards Predictions
2021 Golden Globes Predictions (Film)
- Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
- Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language
- Best Motion Picture – Animated
- Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)
- Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)
- Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)
- Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Best Director – Motion Picture
2021 Golden Globes Final Predictions (TV)
- Best TV Series (Drama)
- Best TV Series (Comedy or Musical)
- Best TV Movie/Limited Series
- Best TV Actress (Drama)
- Best TV Actor (Drama)
- Best TV Actress (Comedy)
- Best TV Actor (Comedy)
- Best TV Actress (Limited Series/TV Movie)
- Best TV Actor (Limited Series/TV Movie)
- Best TV Supporting Actress
- Best TV Supporting Actor
2021 SAG Awards Predictions (Film)
- Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Motion Picture
- Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture
- Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture
- Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Best Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
About the Academy Awards (Oscars)
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners are selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). 17 branches are represented within the near 10,000 person membership. The branches are actors, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists’ representatives), music, producers, production design, short films and feature animation, sound, visual effects and writers.
- The Oscars are scheduled for Sunday, April 25, 2021.
About the Golden Globes
The Golden Globes Awards, hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, is held annually with 93 members since 1944. The group recognizes excellence in film and television across drama and comedy or musical categories. Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” holds the record for the most awards won by a single film with seven. Milos Forman’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and Alan Parker’s “Midnight Express” are next in line with six each. Robert Altman’s “Nashville” has the record for most nominations received by a film with 11 while Colin Higgins’ “Foul Play,” Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather Part III” and Mike Nichols’ “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” share the record for receiving the most nominations and not winning a single award at seven.
- The Golden Globes are scheduled for Feb. 28, 2021.
About the SAG Awards
The Screen Actors Guild Awards, hosted by SAG-AFTRA, is an annual award show that has become one of the most important and key indicators for the Oscars. Four films have won the most SAG awards with three: 1999’s “American Beauty,” 2002’s “Chicago,” 2011’s “The Help” and 2017’s “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Three movies have been nominated for the most SAG awards with five: 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love,” “Chicago” and 2008’s “Doubt.”
- The SAG Awards are scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 4, 2021
