2026 Oscar Predictions

Young Critic's Predictions for the Academy Awards

Best Picture:

Will Win: One Battle After Another

Should Win: One Battle After Another

Could Win: Sinners

Best Director:

Will Win: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Could Win: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Best Lead Actor:

Will Win: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

Should Win: Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)

Could Win: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

Best Lead Actress:

Will Win: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

Should Win: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

Could Win: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You)

Best Supporting Actor:

Will Win: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

Should Win: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

Could Win: Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)

Best Supporting Actress:

Will Win: Amy Madigan (Weapons)

Should Win: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

Could Win: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

Best Original Screenplay:

Will Win: Sinners

Should Win: It Was Just An Accident

Could Win: Sentimental Value

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Will Win: One Battle After Another

Should Win: Bugonia

Could Win: Hamnet

Best Editing:

Will Win: One Battle After Another

Should Win: One Battle After Another

Could Win: F1

Best Cinematography:

Will Win: One Battle After Another

Should Win: Train Dreams

Could Win: Sinners

Best Sound:

Will Win: Sinners

Should Win: Sirāt

Could Win: F1

Best Animated Film:

Will Win: K-Pop Demon Hunters

Should Win: Little Amelie or the Character of Rain

Could Win: Zootopia 2

Best International Film:

Will Win: Sentimental Value (Norway)

Should Win: It Was Just An Accident (Iran)

Could Win: The Secret Agent (Brazil)

Best Documentary Feature:

Will Win: The Perfect Neighbor

Should Win: The Perfect Neighbor

Could Win: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best Original Score:

Will Win: Sinners

Should Win: Sinners

Could Win: One Battle After Another

Best Original Song:

Will Win: "Golden" (K-Pop Demon Hunters)

Should Win: "I Lied to You" (Sinners)

Could Win: "I Lied to You" (Sinners)

Best Visual Effects:

Will Win: Avatar: Fire & Ash

Should Win: Avatar: Fire & Ash

Could Win: F1

Best Live Action Short:

Will Win: Two People Exchanging Saliva

Should Win: The Singers

Could Win: The Singers

Best Animated Short:

Will Win: Butterfly

Should Win: Butterfly

Could Win: The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Documentary Short:

Will Win: All the Empty Rooms

Should Win: All the Empty Rooms

Could Win: Armed Only With a Camera

Best Production Design:

Will Win: Frankenstein

Should Win: Marty Supreme

Could Win: Sinners

Best Costume Design:

Will Win: Frankenstein

Should Win: Frankenstein

Could Win: Sinners

Best Make-Up and Hairstyling:

Will Win: Frankenstein

Should Win: Frankenstein

Could Win: Sinners