Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter’s awards editor, released his end-of-2025 Oscar forecast on December 22, projecting frontrunners across all categories for the 2026 Oscars based on voter insights, campaigns, and guild results.
Best Picture Leaders
Feinberg ranks The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix) at No. 1, followed by My… (details truncated in previews), signaling strong momentum for Netflix’s thriller drama amid guild sweeps. Anora leads winner projections with five predicted wins, while The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez tie at three each, reflecting post-BAFTA and WGA shifts favoring Neon’s indie hit and Focus’s prestige entries.
Acting Category Frontrunners
In acting races, Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) dominates Best Actor over Ralph Fiennes, with Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) topping supporting nods. Mikey Madison (Anora) secured key wins like BAFTA Best Actress, boosting her lead, while Ariana Grande ranks No. 1 in supporting post-event buzz.
Director and Screenplay Picks
Directorial frontrunners include Sean Baker (Anora) after guild nods, with threats like Kleber Mendonça Filho (The Secret Agent) and Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia). Anora nabbed WGA Original Screenplay, while Nickel Boys surprised in Adapted; Feinberg eyes Conclave for editing and British favoritism.
Technical and Genre Categories
Wicked and The Brutalist split below-the-line honors like production design and makeup, with Dune: Part Two contending in visual effects despite VES loss to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Animation favors Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget over The Wild Robot, per BAFTA; scores highlight The Brutalist and The Wild Robot.
Feinberg stresses predictions track Academy behavior, not preferences, updated via voter talks and history—bookmark for revisions as Spirit, USC, and SAG Awards loom
