Who will win at the Oscars 2024?

The movie awards season is slowly coming to an end, or the grand finale, as you will. From the Emmys, Grammys, Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA, Film Independent Spirit Awards and SAG Awards, to the most ceremonial of them all, the Oscar awards ceremony.

There are numerous lists, and predictions on who will take home an Oscar and in which category. Since the last quarter of 2023, I’ve been following the complete domination of “Oppenheimer” in nominations, for almost all awards, to the slow but steady “rise” of “Anatomy of a Fall”.

Best Film: Oppenheimer

In the race for the best picture, the nominees are: “American Fiction”, “Anatomy of a Fall”, “Barbie”, “The Holdovers”, “Killers of the Flower Moon”, “Maestro”, “Oppenheimer”, “Past Lives”, “Poor Things”, and “The Zone of Interest”. Among these contenders are movies over three hours long, but one stands out not only for its box office earnings but also for the number of awards won in all the ceremonies of this awards season, and that’s “Oppenheimer”. It seems nothing can stop it, not even Scorsese’s latest movie “Killers of the Flower Moon”. According to the fictional betting odds of the film and Hollywood media, this is the only surprise that could happen. Related: Where to watch Oscar-nominated movies

Oppenheimer

Best Director: Oppenheimer

Nominated for best director are: Justine Triet for “Anatomy of a Fall”, Martin Scorsese for “Killers of the Flower Moon”, Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer”, Yorgos Lanthimos for “Poor Things”, and Jonathan Glazer for “The Zone of Interest”. The most crucial figure behind the monumental success of “Oppenheimer” is undoubtedly director Christopher Nolan. He currently enjoys maximum attention and adoration; from actors, fellow filmmakers, directors, and audiences. Nolan is a titan among directors, his name alone in front of a movie sells it, regardless of who stars in it. With Nolan’s movies, the focus completely shifts from the movie’s stars to him, the star director. His victory seems guaranteed.

Oppenheimer

Best Leading Actor: Paul Giamatti

Nominated for best actor are Bradley Cooper for his role in “Maestro”, Colman Domingo for “Rustin”, Paul Giamatti for “The Holdovers”, Cillian Murphy for “Oppenheimer”, and Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction”. Although “Oppenheimer” comes up here as well through Cillian Murphy’s performance, it wouldn’t surprise me if Paul Giamatti wins for his role in “The Holdovers”. Paul Giamatti is still a very significant dramatic name, an actor who is often larger than the films he acts in and who carries the films. Cillian Murphy could narrowly lose to Paul Giamatti, despite snatching the SAG Award right from under his nose. “Oppenheimer” cannot win in every single major category, despite all of its 13 nominations. At least that’s how it seems.

The Holdovers

Best Leading Actress: Emma Stone

Nominated for best actress are: Annette Bening for “Nyad”, Lily Gladstone for “Killers of the Flower Moon”, Sandra Hüller for “Anatomy of a Fall”, Carey Mulligan for “Maestro”, and Emma Stone for “Poor Things”. This year, the nominations are somewhat atypical. Lily Gladstone is the first Indigenous actress nominated in this category. Emma Stone has been a jury favorite for years and is again dominating the prediction lists seeing how the jury seldom deviates from their preferences so I must lean towards this prediction. Unless Lilly Gladstone becomes the surprise of the evening.

Poor Things

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr.

Competing for the best male supporting role are Sterling K. Brown for his role in the movie “American Fiction”, Robert De Niro for “Killers of the Flower Moon”, Robert Downey Jr. for “Oppenheimer”, Ryan Gosling for “Barbie”, and Mark Ruffalo for “Poor Things”. With his last SAG Award win, Robert Downey Jr. has once again confirmed his status among the jury members, making his victory in this category expected.

Oppenheimer

Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph

The best female supporting role will be chosen from Emily Blunt in “Oppenheimer”, Danielle Brooks in “The Color Purple”, America Ferrera in “Barbie”, Jodie Foster in “Nyad”, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “The Holdovers”. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is the soul, the heart of “The Holdovers.” From the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards to the last SAG Award won, she is more than a secure choice for the Oscar winner for the best female supporting role.

The Holdovers

Other, but no less interesting categories

“Anatomy of a Fall” will most likely outshine its rivals “The Holdovers”, “Maestro”, “May December”, and “Past Lives” in the best original screenplay category, while it seems “Barbie” will take home the Oscar for the best adapted screenplay, ahead of the other nominations: “Oppenheimer”, “Poor Things”, and “The Zone of Interest”.

The best international film according to all bookmakers and critics’ predictions will be “The Zone of Interest”, beating its rivals: “Io Capitano”, “Perfect Days”, “Society of the Snow” and “The Teachers’ Lounge”. “20 Days in Mariupol” leads in the race for best documentary, “Oppenheimer” in best editing, and, as expected, “Maestro” for best makeup and hairstyling, and “Poor Things” for best costume design.

The Zone of Interest

I predict “Oppenheimer” will also win for best sound, cinematography, and original score. The best song really should be won by “Barbie”. The song “What Was I Made For?”, penned by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, has no equal. Now, all that remains is to see how it all plays out.