2020 Academy Awards: Final Predictions for Winners in all 24 categories

Here are my final predictions for the Academy Awards in every category. These are ranked in terms of likelihood of winning, not my personal rankings. For the top 8, I've also included my favorite of what was nominated and what I actually think deserves to win regardless of if they were nominated or not.

Best Picture

1. 1917

2. Parasite

3. Once upon a Time in Hollywood

4. The Irishman

5. Little Women

6. Joker

7. Jojo Rabbit

8. Marriage Story

9. Ford v. Ferrari

My Pick of the Nominees: Parasite

My Actual Pick: Parasite

1917 is the clear frontrunner winning at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Producers Guild. That said, Parasite is starting to build up some momentum with its SAG win and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood shouldn't be counted out quite yet.

Edit: Changing my pick to Parasite at the last minute.

Best Director

1. Sam Mendes, 1917

2. Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

3. Quentin Tarantino, Once upon a Time in Hollywood

4. Martin Scorsese, The Irishman

5. Todd Phillips, Joker

My Pick of the Nominees: Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

my Actual Pick: Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

Sam Mendes is sweeping everywhere and his usage of long takes for his film has clearly impressed many award bodies. Maybe Bong Joon-ho could get in but I'd say Mendes is a pretty safe bet.

Best Actor

1. Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

2. Adam Driver, Marriage Story

3. Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

4. Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

5. Antonio Banderas, Pain & Glory

My Pick of the Nominees: Adam Driver, Marriage Story

My Actual Pick: Adam Driver, Marriage Story or Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems

Yeah, the acting awards are really predictable this year. It's going to Joaquin Phoenix and whether you liked Joker or not, I'm sure he'll give an entertaining speech.

Best Actress

1. Renee Zellweger, Judy

2. Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story

3. Saoirse Ronan, Little Women

4. Charlize Theron, Bombshell

5. Cynthia Erivo, Harriet

My Pick of the nominees: Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story

My Actual Pick: Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story or Awkwafina, The Farewell

Also predictable. Maybe Scarlett or Saoirse could pull some kind of upset but it's looking very good for Renee.

Best Supporting Actor

1. Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

2. Joe Pesci, The Irishman

3. Al Pacino, The Irishman

4. Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

5. Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes

My Pick of the Nominees: Brad Pitt, 

My Actual Pick: Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse

Obviously if there was justice in the world, Willem Dafoe would be the winner, but Brad Pitt was pretty great so this is fine.

Best Supporting Actress

1. Laura Dern, Marriage Story

2. Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit

3. Margot Robbie, Bombshell

4. Florence Pugh, Little Women

5. Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell

My Pick of the Nominees: Laura Dern, Marriage Story

My Actual Pick: Zhao Shuzhen, The Farewell

Those cowards at the Academy didn't nominate Zhao Shuzhen, but Laura Dern is amazing so I'll be happy for her.

Best Original Screenplay

1. Parasite

2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

3. Marriage Story

4. Knives Out

5. 1917

My Pick of the Nominees: Marriage Story

My Actual Pick: Marriage Story

Parasite is my favorite film of the year but Marriage Story is my favorite screenplay. But the race seems to be between Parasite and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and it could go either way.

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. Little Women

2. Jojo Rabbit

3. The Irishman

4. Joker

5. The Two Popes

My Pick of the Nominees: The Irishman

My Actual Pick: The Irishman

It's between Little Women and Jojo Rabbit. Taika Waititi won big at the Writer's Guild Awards for Jojo Rabbit but the criticism over Greta Gerwig's director snub might give her an edge for the screenwriting Oscar.

Best Animated Film: Klaus (Alt: Toy Story 4)

Best International Film: Parasite (Alt: Pain & Glory) 

Best Original Song: "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from Rocketman (Alt: "Into the Unknown" from Frozen II)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Bombshell (Alt: 1917)

Best Visual Effects: The Irishman (Alt: 1917)

Best Documentary: For Sama (Alt: American Factory)

Best Costume Design: Little Women (Alt: Jojo Rabbit)

Best Original Score: Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir (Alt: 1917)

Best Sound Editing: 1917 (Alt: Ford v Ferrari)

Best sound Mixing: 1917 (Alt: Ford v Ferrari)

Best Editing: Ford v Ferrari (Alt: Parasite)

Best Production Design: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Alt: Parasite)

Best Cinematography: 1917 (Alt: The Lighthouse)

Best Animated Short: Hair Love (Alt: Kitbull)

Best Documentary Short: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (Alt: St. Louis Superman)

Best Live Action Short: Brotherhood (Alt: The Neighbors' Window)