With the Oscars just around the corner, the opinion desk writers did what they do best — write their opinions. Covering an array of categories, with predictions on everything from Best Score to Best Costume, these takes combine research, strategy and passion to articulate who should win big and why they deserve it.
Long overdue horror appreciation at this year’s Oscars // Heidi Brown
The horror renaissance is in full swing with “Sinners” earning a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations. I truly believe it’s earned and deserves every single one of those nominations — it was my favorite film of 2025, and I feel it will continue to be one of my favorites for years to come. I believe “Sinners” has to win Best Picture this year and can’t imagine anything else winning — if the film that literally set a new record for most nominations doesn’t deserve Best Picture, then what truly does? Moreover, “Sinners” should also earn Best Directing, Cinematography, Sound, Casting, Original Screenplay and Music.
In all honesty, I haven’t watched some of the big hitters for this year’s Oscars yet, so I can’t say for sure who should win Best Actor, Actress, etc. Predicting solely on past awards and perception, I think Best Actor will go to Timothée Chalamet and Best Actress will be Jessie Buckley. One category I’m 100% confident in is Best Animated Feature Film, which will no doubt go to “KPop Demon Hunters.” It has no real competition in that category, and I’m sure it will win best music for its song “Golden” as well.
Moving on, the horror renaissance hasn’t just brought “Sinners” high praise, as “Frankenstein,” “Weapons,” “The Ugly Stepsister” and “Bugonia” are up for major awards, too. “Frankenstein” should definitely win Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hair and Actor in a Supporting Role for Jacob Elordi. As for the other horror films, I think “Bugonia” will win Adapted Screenplay and Amy Madigan will win Best Actress for her role in “Weapons.” Although those two predictions are more my hopes, I think they still have a good chance. I’m super excited for all the horror appreciation sure to come in this year’s award season and can’t wait to watch the films I haven’t gotten to yet.
Timothée Chalamet is going to win the Oscar for Best Actor // Ashley O’Doherty
At just 30 years old, Timothée Chalamet received his third Best Actor nomination at the Oscars for his performance in Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme.” After a disappointing loss last year, when he was nominated for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” all the stars seem to be aligning for Chalamet this award season. With both a Critics’ Choice Award and a Golden Globe already under his belt, Chalamet has emerged as the clear frontrunner. On top of that, he is making history as the youngest male actor to receive three Best Actor nominations since Marlon Brando in 1954.
Timothée Chalamet’s passion and talent within the industry are undeniable. I was first introduced to Chalamet in 2019, when I fell in love with his portrayal of Laurie in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “Little Women.” Since then, he has appeared in eight films that were nominated for Best Picture. What truly sets Chalamet apart from his peers is his versatility on screen — few actors can seamlessly transition from playing a reluctant messiah in the “Dune” franchise to singing and dancing as Willy Wonka. Now, he takes on the role of a competitive ping-pong player in “Marty Supreme” — a character he began preparing for as early as 2018. With a schedule as demanding as his, it is refreshing to see him fully commit to each new role and consistently deliver standout performances. During his Screen Actors Guild Awards acceptance speech last award season, Chalamet said he is “really in pursuit of greatness.” That pursuit is especially evident in “Marty Supreme,” and I believe it will earn him his first Oscar win.
F1 is a masterclass in sound and visual effects // Stepan Kopeykin
Despite four nominations for Best Picture, Sound, Visual Effects and Film Editing, “F1” fails to deliver the kind of resonant storyline that drives most 20th-century sports movies. Where the summer blockbuster shines, however, is in the technical aspects. A seamlessly blended Hans Zimmer soundtrack, radio chatter and spine-chilling engine noises keep viewers on the edge of their seats during the entire 2.5-hour runtime.
“F1” can be said to be more of a commercial for the actual Formula 1 than an engaging piece of cinema but — for all of its product placements — there’s something to be said for capturing the modern spectacle of elite racing. Highly technical and mission-focused, Formula 1 invites us into a future where human potential is both elevated and modified by cutting-edge technologies. While it remains to be seen whether “F1” will be able to compete with the inevitable “Sinners” Oscars sweep, I can only hope that the Academy is able to recognise craft even when narratives are sidelined and award the film with Best Sound Design and Best Visual Effects
“One Battle After Another” will take home Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay // Lauren Deaton
The Oscars are my Super Bowl. I spend the entire year rooting for my favorite films and actors like they’re my hometown’s sports teams. I watch coverage of the race, listen to podcasts — shout out The Big Picture — and read articles about what the odds are in each category. I end up at the theater for hours, watching films with Oscar buzz and making sure by the time the big night rolls around, I’ve watched at least every Best Picture Nominee. All of this is to say, my Oscar predictions aren’t only about who I want to win — they’re also based on who is likely to do so based on precursor awards and nominations.
Despite “Sinners’” historic 16 nominations, I’m firm in my prediction that “One Battle After Another” will win Best Picture, with the director Paul Thomas Anderson also taking home the awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. However, I do think “Sinners” will still take home a handful of awards, including those in categories like Cinematography and potentially Costuming — although “Frankenstein” poses a very real threat here — with Ryan Coogler also taking the award home for Best Original Screenplay. Jesse Buckley is likely to win Lead Actress for “Hamnet,” but Rose Byrne could also pull a come-from-behind victory as more Academy voters view “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” Timothée Chalamet remains the favorite in Best Actor, but Brazilian actor Wagner Mora is hot on his tail for his role in the increasingly popular “The Secret Agent.” Delroy Lindo’s surprise nomination for “Sinners” may result in a Best Supporting Actor win, while Amy Madigan (“Weapons”) and Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”) battle it out in Best Supporting Actress, with the two actresses nominated for “Sentimental Value” likely splitting the votes for them in this category.
Friends with similar Oscar’s predictions // Irene Moran
For as long as I’ve known my one friend, every year they make a Google Sheet for different award ceremonies, with the most recent being for the Oscars. A few friends joined the Google Sheet, and we already have some similar predictions. For example, all of us picked Timothée Chalamet for the Best Actor category. “Marty Supreme” blew up, and I would not be shocked if he gets this Oscar win. Another popular prediction among us was “Sinners” winning Best Picture, a decision I think a lot of people can agree on. When “Sinners” came out, it was all people were talking about — the visuals are incredible, and everyone plays their role perfectly. We also all agreed for “Sinners” to win Best Original Screenplay.
One movie that I am 100% set on to win Best Costume Design is “Frankenstein.” I absolutely adore Elizabeth’s outfits, played by Mia Goth. The gowns are breathtaking, and seeing the sketches online is truly amazing after seeing them in the film. I believe “Frankenstein” should also win for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Regarding my pick for the Best Animated Feature, I haven’t seen any of these films yet. All the talk I’ve been hearing is about “KPop Demon Hunters,” but I know “Zootopia 2” just came out recently as well. However, with “KPop Demon Hunters’” song, “Golden” — a number I believe will end up winning “Best Original Song” — I think the Netflix original will take home the Best Animated Feature award. Overall, a lot of my friends, mutuals and I have agreed on many of the same winners — I am excited to see what winners come out of these categories and the many others!