Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Los Angeles, California — NOVEMBER 10: A view of the theater is seen during a special screening of “The Odyssey” making-of documentary and Q&A presented by Universal Pictures at The Steven Spielberg Theater on the Universal Lot
2026 Universal Pictures
2027 Academy Awards Predictions Commentary All Categories (Updated: Nov. 12, 2026): A big weekend is ahead, headlined by the 17th Governors Awards on Sunday.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present honorary Oscars to eight-time nominee Glenn Close, legendary director Ridley Scott and Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator. At the same time, Killer Films producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, longtime champions of independent film, will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. The ceremony will take place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.
As always, the Governors Awards double as one of the season’s most important campaign stops. Contenders spend the night working a room filled with the Academy’s governors, three from each of its 19 branches, representing everyone from actors and directors to artisans and executives.
There’s more going on during the weekend, with many of the year’s mysteries being revealed.
On Thursday, Walt Disney Studios’ 65th animated feature “Hexed” will hold its world premiere in Los Angeles, which hopes to shake up a very competitive Oscar category that includes Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” Laika’s “Wildwood” and more. The day before the Governors Awards, Netflix will host the official Academy screening for members for David Fincher’s highly anticipated “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,” written by Quentin Tarantino, in which Brad Pitt reprises his Oscar-winning role from “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” (2019). The film opens in Imax on Nov. 25 ahead of its Dec. 23 streaming debut. This week, Focus Features held its first screenings of Robert Eggers’ medieval gothic horror film “Werwulf” with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Lily Rose-Depp, with reactions under embargo.
All of these events could move the needle for several contenders. But Variety’s predictions track only what’s happened over the past week. So what’s happened?
Amazon MGM Studios’ “I Play Rocky” has sparked multiple conversations among the studio, the Writers Guild of America, the Academy and the film’s creative team over whether Peter Gamble’s script will compete as an original or adapted screenplay. No determination has been made. Will it matter for its Oscar prospects?
Kate Berlant and John Early were announced as co-hosts for the 42nd Film Independent Spirit Awards, the annual celebration of the best in independent film and television, which will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2027, at the Hollywood Palladium, which is before the Oscars ceremony and after voting closes.
Universal officially kicked off the Oscar campaign for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” this week with “Behind the Scenes of ‘The Odyssey,’” a 75-minute documentary chronicling the making of the $1.8 billion blockbuster. Afterward, star Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, moderated an hourlong conversation with 12 department heads: producer Emma Thomas, production designer Ruth De Jong, editor Jennifer Lame, composer and songwriter Ludwig Göransson, visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson, special effects supervisor Scott Fisher, costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, casting director John Papsidera, supervising sound editor Craig Henighan, production sound mixer Willie Burton, head of makeup Luisa Abel and head of hair Gloria Casny.
This week’s digital column looks at something few people have noticed yet: The Oscars could be barreling toward a repeat of some not-so-great history with another round of #OscarsSoWhite.
This week’s updates are below.
The 17th Governors Awards, honoring Close, Scott, Norman, Vachon and Koffler, take place Sunday, Nov. 15. Preliminary voting for the Oscar shortlists in 12 categories runs Dec. 7-11, with the shortlists announced Tuesday, Dec. 15. Following the close of the eligibility period on Dec. 31, nomination voting runs Jan. 11-15, 2027. The Academy will announce the official Oscar nominations Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027. The 99th Oscars take place Sunday, March 14, 2027, with Conan O’Brien hosting for the third consecutive year. The ceremony airs live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
Projected nomination leaders (films): “The Odyssey” (15); “Dune: Part Three” (12); “La Bola Negra” (11); “Project Hail Mary” (8); “Wild Horse Nine” (7); “The Debut” and “The Invite” (5); “Elsinore” (4); “Werwulf” and “You Can See Everything” (3); “Behemoth!,” “Rose,” “Tender Loving Care” and “Toy Story 5” (2)
Projected nomination leaders (studios): Universal Pictures (16); A24 (14); Netflix and Warner Bros. (13); Focus Features and Searchlight Pictures (9); Amazon MGM Studios (8); Neon (6); Bleecker Street, Mubi and Sony Pictures Classics (3); Laika and Pixar (2)
*** = PREDICTED WINNER
(All predicted nominees listed below are in alphabetical order)
Best Picture
Image Credit: Searchlight Pictures “Artificial” (Neon)
Jeffrey Clifford, Jennifer Fox, Luca Guadagnino, David Heyman, Simon Rich
“The Debut” (A24)
Jesse Eisenberg, Ali Herting, Dave McCary, Emma Stone
“Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)
Cale Boyter, Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve
“Elsinore” (Focus Features)
Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, Andrew Scott, Gaby Tana (p.g.a.)
“The Invite” (A24)
Ben Browning, Megan Ellison, David Permut (p.g.a.)
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo, Jorge Pezzi
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures) ***
Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Ryan Gosling, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Rachel O’Connor, Amy Pascal, Aditya Sood (p.g.a.)
“Wild Horse Nine” (Searchlight Pictures)
Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Martin McDonagh, Anie Overland
“You Can See Everything” (A24)
Maggie Ambrose, Tatiana Bears, Jack Davis, Nathan Fielder, Lance OppenheimOscar category page with rankings>>>
Directing
Image Credit: Niko Tavernise/Courtesy ADFC Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Martin McDonagh
“Wild Horse Nine” (Searchlight Pictures)
Christopher Nolan
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
Denis Villeneuve ***
“Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)Oscar category page with rankings>>>
Actor
Image Credit: Justin Lubin Matt Damon
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
John Malkovich
“Wild Horse Nine” (Searchlight Pictures)
Pedro Pascal
“Behemoth!” (Searchlight Pictures)
Andrew Scott ***
“Elsinore” (Focus Features)
John Turturro
“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” (Sony Pictures Classics)Oscar category page with rankings>>>
Actress
Image Credit: A24 Sandra Hüller
“Rose” (Mubi)
Julianne Moore ***
“The Debut” (A24)
Inde Navarrette
“Obsession” (Focus Features)
Olivia Wilde
“The Invite” (A24)
Zendaya
“The Drama” (A24)Oscar category page with rankings>>>
Supporting Actor
Image Credit: Neon Andrew Garfield ***
“Artificial” (Neon)
Paul Giamatti
“The Debut” (A24)
Guitarricadelafuente
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
John Leguizamo
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
Sam Rockwell
“Wild Horse Nine” (Searchlight Pictures)Oscar category page with rankings>>>
Supporting Actress
Image Credit: Bleecker Street Penélope Cruz
“The Invite” (A24)
Anne Hathaway ***
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
Samantha Morton
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
Kate O’Flynn
“Tender Loving Care” (Bleecker Street)
Amanda Seyfried
“You Can See Everything” (A24)Oscar category page with rankings>>>
Original Screenplay
Image Credit: A24 “Artificial” (Neon)
Simon Rich
“The Debut” (A24)
Jesse Eisenberg
“Elsinore” (Focus Features)
Stephen Beresford
“Tender Loving Care” (Bleecker Street)
Mike Leigh
“Wild Horse Nine” (Searchlight Pictures) ***
Martin McDonaghOscar category page with rankings>>>
Adapted Screenplay
Image Credit: A24 “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)
Brian K. Vaughan, Denis Villeneuve
“The Invite” (A24) ***
Rashida Jones and Will McCormack
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo, Alberto Conejero
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
Christopher Nolan
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Drew GoddardOscar category page with rankings>>>
Casting
Image Credit: Anthony Dickenson “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)
Francine Maisler
“Elsinore” (Focus Features)
Jessica Ronane
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
Eva Leira and Yolanda Serrano
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures) ***
John Papsidera
“Wild Horse Nine” (Searchlight Pictures)
Sarah FinnOscar category page with rankings>>>
Animated Feature
Image Credit: Laika “Iron Boy” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Louis Clichy, Nicolas de Rosanbo, Fabrice Delville
“Ray Gunn” (Netflix)
Brad Bird and Lisa Beroud (p.g.a.)
“Tangles” (Independent Film Company)
Leah Nelson, Jay Grandin, Jennifer W. Ray, Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen
“Toy Story 5” (Pixar)
Andrew Stanton, Lindsey Collins, Jessica Choi
“Wildwood” (Laika) ***
Travis Knight, Sam WilsonOscar category page with rankings>>>
Production Design
Image Credit: Focus Features “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.) ***
Patrice Vermette (production designer), Shane Vieau (set decorator)
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
Roger Bellés (production designer), Judit Ferrer (set decorator)
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
Ruth De Jong (production designer), Larry Dias (set decorator)
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Charles Wood (production designer), John Bush (set decorator)
“Werwulf” (Focus Features)
Craig Lathrop (production designer), Anna Pinnock (set decorator)Oscar category page with rankings>>>
Cinematography
Image Credit: ‘La Bola Negra’ Courtesy of Movistar Plus “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)
Linus Sandgren
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
Gris Jordana
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures) ***
Hoyte van Hoytema
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Greig Fraser
“Werwulf” (Focus Features)
Jarin BlaschkeOscar category page with rankings>>>
Costume Design
Image Credit: ©Focus Features/Courtesy Everet “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.) ***
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
“Sense and Sensibility” (Focus Features)
“Wuthering Heights” (Warner Bros.)Film Editing
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)
Joe Walker
“The Invite” (A24)
Anthony Boys and Yorgos Mavropsaridis
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures) ***
Jennifer Lame
“Wild Horse Nine” (Searchlight Pictures)
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
“You Can See Everything” (A24)
Adam Locke-NortonOscar category page with rankings>>>
Makeup and Hairstyling
Image Credit: Jaap Buitendijk “Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” (Paramount Pictures)
“Michael” (Lionsgate)
“Werwulf” (Focus Features)
“Wicker” (Black Bear Pictures)Sound
Image Credit: Amazon MGM Studios “Behemoth!” (Searchlight Pictures)
“Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures) ***
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios)
“Werwulf” (Focus Features)Visual Effects
Image Credit: Disney “Avengers: Doomsday” (Marvel Studios)
“Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios)
“Whalefall” (20th Century Studios)
“Wildwood” (Laika)Original Score
Image Credit: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection “Disclosure Day” (Universal Pictures)
John Williams
“Dune: Part Three” (Warner Bros.)
Hans Zimmer
“La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
Raül Refree
“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures)
Ludwig Göransson
“Project Hail Mary” (Amazon MGM Studios) ***
Daniel PembertonOscar category page with rankings>>>
Original Song
Image Credit: Getty “This City May Have Chewed Me Up (But It Hasn’t Spit Me Out)” from “The Debut” (A24) ***
“La Nieve” from “La Bola Negra” (Netflix)
“One Right Here” from “Maserati: The Brothers” (Magenta)
“Let Me Sell You a Dream” from “Musk” (Bleecker Street)
“I Knew It, I Knew You” from “Toy Story 5” (Pixar)Documentary Feature
Image Credit: Courtesy MK2 “American Doctor” (Watermelon Pictures)
“Naza” (The Guardian, MK2 and Neon)
“Once Upon a Time in Harlem” (Neon) ***
“One in a Million” (Frontline)
“Rehearsals for a Revolution” (Sony Pictures Classics)Oscar category page with rankings>>>
International Feature
Image Credit: “Minotaur” (Courtesy of MK2 Films) “Fjord” from Romania (Neon)
Dir. Cristian Mingui
“La Bola Negra” from Spain (Netflix) ***
Dir. Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo
“Minotaur” from France (Mubi)
dir. Andrey Zvyagintsev
“Possible Love” from South Korea (Netflix)
dir. Lee Chang-dong
“Rose” from Austria (Mubi)
dir. Markus SchleinzerOscar category page with rankings>>>
