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.
2021 OSCARS PREDICTIONS:
BEST ACTRESS
UPDATED: Sept. 24, 2020 (PRE-SEASON)
Emulating the coming of Charlize Theron in “Monster” in 2003, with a bold, fearless performance, Vanessa Kirby has the goods to dominate in this category for the season. She awaits the drop of Michelle Pfeiffer in “French Exit” and for Netflix to officially date her film for the calendar year. It’s not sewn up for her though as Frances McDormand will be starring in one of the best picture frontrunners and could move towards Oscar #3.
† = no release date scheduled / could be delayed / may not be eligible
†† = could be campaigned in lead or supporting categories / original or adapted screenplay categories
Courtesy of United Artists Releasing/MGM
AND THE PREDICTED NOMINEES ARE:
Michelle Pfeiffer"French Exit" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Vanessa Kirby"PIeces of a Woman" (Netflix)
Frances McDormand"Nomadland" (Searchlight Pictures)
Viola Davis†"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (Netflix)
Jennifer Hudson"Respect" (United Artists Releasing)
NewFest
NEXT IN LINE CONTENDERS:
Kate Winslet"Ammonite" (Neon)
Andra Day"The United States vs. Billie Holiday" (Paramount Pictures)
Carey Mulligan†"Promising Young Woman" (Focus Features)
Sophia Loren"The Life Ahead" (Netflix)
Amy Adams"Hillbilly Elegy" (Netflix)
Photo courtesy of Netflix
TOP-TIER AWARDS CONTENDERS:
Jessie Buckley"I'm Thinking of Ending Things" (Netflix)
Rachel Brosnahan†"I'm Your Woman" (Amazon Studios)
Rashida Jones"On the Rocks" (A24/Apple TV Plus)
Julia Garner"The Assistant" (Bleecker Street)
Julianne Moore"The Glorias" (Roadside Attractions)
Elisabeth Moss"Shirley" (Neon)
Sidney Flanigan"Never Rarely Sometimes Always" (Focus Features)
Elisabeth Moss"The Invisible Man" (Universal Pictures)
Rosamund Pike"Radioactive" (Amazon Studios)
Lily James"Rebecca" (Netflix)
Wander Darkly
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
ALSO IN CONTENTION:
Yiefi Liu"Mulan" (Disney Plus)
Lesley Manville"Ordinary Love" (Bleecker Street)
Sienna Miller†"Wander Darkly" (Lionsgate)
Clare Dunne†"Herself" (Amazon Studios)
Cristin Milotti"Palm Springs" (Hulu/Neon)
Anya Taylor-Joy"Emma." (Focus Features)
Evan Rachel Wood"Kajillionaire" (Focus Features)
Annette Bening"Hope Gap" (Roadside Attractions)
Gal Gadot"Wonder Woman 1984" (Warner Bros.)
Yeri Han"Minari" (A24)
How to Build a Girl
Toronto Film Festival
MORE AWARDS CONTENDERS:
Nicole Beharie"Miss Juneteenth" (Vertical Entertainment)
Kristen Stewart"Happiest Season" (Sony Pictures)
Eliza Scanlen"Babyteeth" (IFC Films)
Beanie Feldstein"How to Build a Girl" (IFC Films)
Haley Bennett"Swallow" (Lionsgate)
Zazie Beetz†"Nine Days" (Screen Media Films)
Diane Lane"Let Him Go" (Focus Features)
Keri Russell"Antlers" (Searchlight Pictures)
Radha Blank"The 40-Year-Old Version" (Netflix)
Lena Olin"The Artist's Wife" (Strand Releasing)
UNRANKED AWARDS CONTENDERS:
Camila Cabello,“Cinderella” (Sony Pictures)Jessica Chastain,“Ava” (Vertical Entertainment)Hong Chau,“Driveways” (FilmRise)Carrie Coon,“The Nest” (IFC Films)Elizabeth Debicki,“The Burnt Orange Heresy” (Bleecker Street)Tina Fey,“Soul” (Pixar)Abbi Jacobson,“Connected” (Sony Pictures)Riley Keough,“The Lodge” (Neon)Jennifer Lopez,“Marry Me” (Universal Pictures)Issa Rae,“The Photograph” (Universal Pictures)Taylour Paige,“Zola” (A24)†Margot Robbie,“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” (Warner Bros.)Amy Ryan,“Lost Girls” (Netflix)Phillipa Soo,“Hamilton” (Disney Plus)†Meryl Streep,“Let Them All Talk” (HBO Max)†Meryl Streep,“The Prom” (Netflix)††Charlize Theron,“The Old Guard” (Netflix)Kristin Scott Thomas,“Military Wives” (Lionsgate)Tessa Thompson,“Passing” (No U.S. Distribution)†Naomi Watts,“Penguin Bloom” (No U.S. Distribution)†Jacki Weaver,“Stage Mother” (Momentum Pictures)
† = no release date scheduled / could be delayed / may not be eligible
†† = could be campaigned in lead or supporting categories / original or adapted screenplay categories
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. The most awarded actress is Katharine Hepburn with four wins over 12 nominations. Meryl Streep holds the record for the most nominations in best actress with 17 individual nominations with two wins for “Sophie’s Choice” and “The Iron Lady.”