Oscar Nominations Predictions 2016

Tomorrow is the big day! The nominations for the 88th Academy Awards will be announced at 8:30 AM, and I couldn't be more excited about it. Just because I'm a super nerd, I've taken the time to break down all the nominees in all the categories I can accurately predict (sorry, the three short film categories seem to be almost random every year- though I am excited to watch them this year). This is kind of a listy post, but I'll provide commentary on the actual nominations tomorrow or in the next couple of days. Check back tomorrow to see how close I was!

Best Picture (assuming there will be 10 nominees, which there likely won't be)

• The Big Short
• Bridge of Spies
• Brooklyn
• Carol
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Room
• Spotlight
• Straight Outta Compton

Could Happen: Sicario

Best Director

• Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant
• Todd Haynes, Carol
• Thomas McCarthy, Spotlight
• George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
• Ridley Scott, The Martian

Could Happen: Adam McKay, The Big Short

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

• Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
• Matt Damon, The Martian
• Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
• Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
• Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Could Happen: Johnny Depp, Black Mass

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

• Cate Blanchett, Carol
• Brie Larson, Room
• Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
• Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
• Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Could Happen: Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

• Christian Bale, The Big Short
• Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
• Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
• Sylvester Stallone, Creed
• Jacob Tremblay, Room

Could Happen: Michael Shannon, 99 Homes

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

• Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
• Rooney Mara, Carol
• Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
• Helen Mirren, Trumbo
• Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Could Happen: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina

Best Original Screenplay

• Bridge of Spies
• Ex Machina
• Inside Out
• Spotlight
• Trainwreck

Could Happen: Sicario

Best Adapted Screenplay

• The Big Short
• Brooklyn
• The Martian
• Room
• Steve Jobs

Could Happen: Carol

Best Cinematography

• Bridge of Spies
• Carol
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Revenant
• Sicario

Could Happen: Son of Saul

Best Visual Effects

• Furious 7
• Jurassic World
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Could Happen: The Walk

Best Editing

• The Big Short
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Spotlight

Could Happen: Sicario

Best Original Score

• Bridge of Spies
• The Hateful Eight
• The Revenant
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Steve Jobs

Could Happen: Carol

Best Original Song

• "Pray 4 My City", Chi-Raq
• "Love Me Like You Do", Fifty Shades of Grey
• "See You Again", Furious 7
• "Writing's on the Wall", Spectre
• "Simple Song #3", Youth

Could Happen: "Cold One", Ricki and the Flash

Best Foreign Language Film

• The Brand New Testament
• The Fencer
• Labyrinth of Lies
• Mustang
• Son of Saul

Could Happen: Theeb

Best Documentary Feature

• Amy
• Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
• He Named Me Malala
• The Look of Silence
• Where to Invade Next

Could Happen: Listen to Me Marlon

Best Animated Feature

• Anomalisa
• Inside Out
• Minions
• The Peanuts Movie
• Shaun the Sheep: The Movie

Could Happen: The Good Dinosaur

Best Costume Design

• Brooklyn
• Carol
• Cinderella
• The Danish Girl
• Mad Max: Fury Road

Could Happen: Crimson Peak

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

• Mad Max: Fury Road
• Mr. Holmes
• The Revenant

Could Happen: Black Mass

Best Production Design

• Cinderella
• Crimson Peak
• The Danish Girl
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian

Could Happen: The Revenant

Best Sound Mixing

• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Straight Outta Compton

Could Happen: Bridge of Spies

Best Sound Editing

• Bridge of Spies
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Could Happen: Sicario

So, when it's all said and done, these are the five films that will have the most nominations:

• Mad Max: Fury Road- 11 Nominations
• The Martian- 9 Nominations
• The Revenant- 9 Nominations
• Bridge of Spies- 6 Nominations
• Carol- 6 Nominations

Be sure to keep checking the blog all Oscar season long, for some great predictions and commentary!