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.
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2021 OSCARS PREDICTIONS:
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
UPDATED: Oct. 15, 2020 (PRE-SEASON)
Diane Warren has added another song to her packed year that includes numbers from “The One and Only Ivan,” “Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story” and now the Italian language feature “The Life Ahead.” Can she finally win her long and overdue Oscar this year?
† = no release date scheduled / could be delayed / may not be eligible
†† = could be campaigned in lead or supporting categories / original or adapted screenplay categories
AND THE PREDICTED NOMINEES ARE:
"Rocket to the Moon"from “Over the Moon” (Netflix)Written by Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield & Helen Park
"Free"from “The One and Only Ivan” (Disney Plus)Written by Diane Warren
"Speak Now"from “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios)Written by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
"Never Break"from “Giving Voice” (Netflix)Written by John Legend, Nasri Atweh, Benjamin Hudson McIldowie, Greg Wells
"Turntables"from “All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Studios)Written by Janelle Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III and George “George 2.0.” A. Peters II
NEXT IN LINE CONTENDERS:
"Carried Me With You"from “Onward” (Pixar)Written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth
"Only the Young"from “Miss Americana” (Netflix)Written by Taylor Swift and Joel Little
"Hear My Voice"from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix)Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyrics by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
"See What You've Done"from “Belly of the Beast” (Independent Lens)Written by Mary J. Blige, Darhyl Camper, Jr., Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney
"Just Sing"from “Trolls: World Tour” (DreamWorks Animation)Written by Justin Timberlake, Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin and Sarah Aarons
TOP-TIER AWARDS CONTENDERS:
"Everybody Cries"from “The Outpost” (Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment)Written by Rod Lurie, Larry Groupé and Rita Wilson
"Without a Net"from “Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story” (Shout! Factory)Written by Diane Warren
"Love Myself"from “The High Note” (Focus Features)Written by Sarah Aarons and Greg Kurstin
"TBA"from “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)Written by TBA
"Identical"from “On the Rocks” (A24/Apple TV Plus)Written by Phoenix
"Staring at the Mountain"from “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” (Focus Features)Written by Sharon Van Etten
"Loyal Brave True"from “Mulan” (Disney Plus)Written by Jamie Hartman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rosi Golan and Billy Crabtree, and produced by Jamie Hartman
"Queen Bee"from “Emma.” (Focus Features)Written by Johnny Flynn
"Come and Play with Me"from “Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features)Written by Romy Flores and Andy Rosen
"“lo Si” (Seen)"from “The Life Ahead” (Netflix)Written by Diane Warren
Photo courtesy of Bleecker Street
ALSO IN CONTENTION:
"TBA"from “Wild Mountain Thyme” (Bleecker Street)Written by TBA
"TBD"from “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (Paramount Pictures)TBD
"TBD"from “Respect” (United Artists Releasing)TBD
"TBD"from “Bad Hair” (Hulu)TBD
"TBA"from “Marry Me” (Universal Pictures)Written by Jennifer Lopez
UNRANKED AWARDS CONTENDERS:
† = 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 songwriters in this category are Sammy Cahn, Johnny Mercer, Alan Menken and Jimmy Van Heusen with four wins each. Cahn has the most nominations with 25.