Oscar Predictions© GettyImages

Oscar Predictions: Who Will Win Big At The Academy Awards?

Salva Mubarak
Senior Features Writer

The biggest award night of the year is here and we’re all geared up for the celebration of movies, gorgeous red carpet looks, and the inevitable Will Smith Slapgate jokes. For us, this year’s Academy Awards are even more special as three Indian movies stand to win big during the awards night.

Aside from ‘Naatu Naatu’ from SS Rajamouli’s RRR being nominated for Best Original Song, The Elephant Whisperers by Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Film and All That Breathes by Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann, and Teddy Leifer has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film.

While we’re super excited to see Indians having a moment at one of the most celebrated award shows around, this year also has an unprecedented number of first-time nominees, like Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Stephanie Hsu.

The frontrunner this year seems to be Everything Everywhere All At Once with a total of 11 nominations, including nods across all major categories for the cast and crew of the movie.

While we wait to see who wins what at the Oscars this year, here are a few of our predictions for the big night…

Best Movie: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Our not-verified clairvoyant senses tell us that Everything Everywhere All At Once will be the big winner of the night. The movie has already swept most of the awards at the preceding ceremonies, including the Golden Globes and SAG awards.

Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schienhart (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards - Creative Perspective©GettyImages

This is a close one. To be honest, we can’t decide between the makers of Everything Everywhere All At Once and Todd Field for Tár, another major contender for the big awards of the night. There are also other biggies in the category, including Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans) and Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin), but the two Daniels won at the Director’s Guild which has predicted the Best Director win at the Oscars 66 times in the past 74 years.

Best Actress: Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

Michelle Yeoh at 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards - Red Carpet©GettyImages

Unless the Academy pulls a RuPaul and crowns two winners, à la Trinity and Monet’s joint All Stars season 4 win, there will only be one winner between the two major names of the night: Michelle Yeoh and Cate Blanchett (for Tár). From the pattern we’ve observed with the past few award shows, it’s clear that Best Actress is going to be a race between the two formidable performers. Our prediction is that Yeoh will win the Oscar. This is the first time an Asian-identifying actress has been nominated in the category and the Malaysian actress’ performance was superlative in the movie.

Best Actor: Austin Butler (Elvis)

Austin Butler©GettyImages

We all know that the Oscars love a biographical role. It makes us believe that Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis Prestley could stand to win the Best Actor award at the Academy Awards. Butler has already been validated by the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs earlier this year, which puts him in a good position to win this award too. But Brendan Fraser (for The Whale) also won in the same category at the Critics Choice and SAGs, so will Fraser take over Butler in the ultimate race towards the big award? It’s doubtful because The Whale hasn’t been nominated in the Best Picture category, tipping the scales in Butler’s favour.

Best Supporting Actress: Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

Jamie Lee Curtis©GettyImages

Like the Best Actress category, this one is also really difficult to predict. Jamie Lee Curtis seems to be the closest to a win based on the fact that Everything Everywhere All At Once is going to sweep at the Oscars based on most predictions. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Angela Bassett could sweep in and nick the win from Curtis in the end, but the Academy hasn’t been very kind towards Marvel movies in the past so it could be Curtis’ night after all.

Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

Ke Huy Quan©GettyImages

Actor Ke Huy Quan’s story has been the most wholesome one this season, with the actor’s incredible comeback resulting in Best Supporting Actor wins at almost all the major award shows this year. His brilliant performance deserves an Oscar without any question. While there’s no question that the other actors in the category are incredible, but Quan gets our vote without a single doubt.