The 95th Academy Awards air from 8:00 to 11:00 PM ET on Sunday, March 12, 2023, live from the Dolby Theater on Ovation Holiday. Jimmy Kimmel will preside over the ceremonies and will be the Emcee. It previously hosted in 2017 and 2018.
This year’s Oscars have the potential to make history with potential firsts and records that could be broken. Must Avatar: The Way of Water were to win Best Picture, for example, it would break the record for the highest-grossing film ever to win in that category, usurping Titanic. Cate Blanchett could join an elite group of actresses who have won three or more acting Oscars if she wins for Tar while Michelle Yeoh could become the first Southeast Asian to win Best Actress and the first Malaysian to win an Oscar for Everything Everywhere Simultaneously.
Brendan Fraser could put Canada on the Oscars map as first Canadian to win Best Actor The whale. Adrien Brody holds the record as the youngest Best Actor winner, taking home the award in 2003 for The piano at the age of 29. At 27, Paul Mescal could break that record if he wins After the SUN while Judd Hirsch inside The Fabelmans could break Christopher Plummer’s record for the oldest actor in a Best Supporting Actor category, at 87 (Plummer was 82 when he won beginners).
Some of the top nominated films this year include; Everything Everywhere Simultaneously with 11 nominations as well The Banshees of Inisherin and All quiet on the Western Front with nine each.
Who will these big winners be? We’ve put together some predictions in the most talked about categories.
Better picture
All quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere Simultaneously
The Fabelmans
Tar
Top Gun: Maverick
Triangle of Sorrow
Women talking
Prophecy: Everything Everywhere Simultaneously looks to be the favorite to win in many categories and will take the big prize for the night. The absurd comedy-drama centers around a Chinese-American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who is audited by the IRS. In a strange twist of events, however, she is connected to a parallel universe and other versions of herself within it. It seems that there is a powerful being attacking the multiverse and it is up to her to destroy it.
The film spans multiple genres and has been praised for everything from its visual effects to its costume design, action sequences and its approach to topical issues of neurodivergence, depression and generational differences. It would be surprising if Everything Everywhere Simultaneously he doesn’t win.
Best Actor
Austin Butler (Elvis)
Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Brendan Fraser (The whale)
Paul Mescal (After the SUN)
Bill Nye (Zoe)
Prophecy: It may be wishful thinking, but there’s a good chance Brendan Fraser will win for his role The whale. The Canadian actor was riding high after receiving positive reception for his portrayal of a reclusive English teacher trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter.
While the psychological drama itself has not been without criticism, Fraser’s role has been largely praised. This would mark the first Academy Award (and is the first nomination) for the longtime favorite actor. If he wins, Fraser would become the first Canadian to win in this category.
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett (Tar)
Ana de Armas (Blonde)
Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie)
Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans)
Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere Simultaneously)
Prophecy: It would be shocking if Michelle Yeoh didn’t win for Everything Everywhere Simultaneously. Not only did she beautifully play the lead role of Evelyn Kwan Wang in the absurdist comedy-drama, but she also played several versions of herself from the multiverse.
It reminds of Orphan black and calls for Tatiana Maslany to win an Emmy for her multiple clone roles in that series, Yeoh handled the multiple performances with ease. A win for her would be historic, making Yeoh the first woman from Southeast Asia to win this award and the first Malaysian ever to win an Oscar.
Best Supporting Actor
Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway)
Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans)
Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere Simultaneously)
Prophecy: The masses believe that Ke Huy Quan will win in this category, and they are right. Quan is both sentimental and deserving darling and has won almost every precursor award for his work.
Best Actress
Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
Hong Chow (The whale)
Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere Simultaneously)
Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere Simultaneously)
Prophecy: Jamie Lee Curtis is the expected winner here, but Hong Chow had a banner year with memorable film roles The menuher guest role in an episode of Peacock Poker Face, and her role in The whalefor which he received this nomination.
So her win could represent one of the biggest upsets of the night. In the film about a morbidly obese and reclusive English teacher, she plays Liz, the man’s nurse and only friend. Chau also recently appeared in the series The guards and Returning home. With her star on the rise, win or not, the actress is clearly destined for big things next.
Best Director
Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere Simultaneously)
Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)
Todd Field (Tar)
Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sorrow)
Prophecy: Once again, we’ll give it a shot Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert For Everything Everywhere Simultaneously, which will likely be the big winner of the night. The writing and directing pair, also credited as the Daniels, have put themselves on the map with this film and a win would cement their places in Hollywood.
The pair first appeared on the scene directing music videos, including DJ Snake & Lil Jon twerking for the song “Turn Down for What.” Their only other major film to date is for the 2016 film Swiss army manwhich would make a win even more impressive for the duo.
Best Original Song
“Applause” (Say it like a woman) – Music and lyrics by Diane Warren
“Hold My Hand” (Top Gun: Maverick) – Music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop
“Lift me up” (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) – Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson. Lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler
“Naatu Naatu” (RRR) – MM Keeravaani Music; Chandrabose verse
“This is a life” (Everything Everywhere Simultaneously) – Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski. Lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne
Prophecy: Diane Warren has been in the music and entertainment business for decades and can take home the statue for her song “Applause” from the movie Say it like a woman, for which she wrote both the music and the lyrics. Warren has been nominated multiple times since 1987, but won’t receive the Academy Award honor until 2022. This could finally be the longtime songwriter’s year. The American-Italian anthology film features seven short stories, all directed by and for women. The song’s lyrics are upbeat, uplifting and a love letter to every woman who has ever felt like they weren’t enough.
Best Animated Feature Film
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
The Sea Monster
It turns red
Prophecy: Guillermo del Toro is a mainstay at the Academy Awards, having received seven nominations to date and two wins in 2018 for Best Picture and Best Director for The shape of water. He is predicted to make it a hat trick and earn his third win for this animated film. Del Toro’s adaptation of Pinocchio delivered in stop motion animation style as a musical dark fantasy.
Loosely based on the Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, written and released by Carlo Collodi in 1883, del Toro retells the life and story of the wooden puppet that comes to life. With del Toro expressing how the film has been a long-term passion project for him and the character he feels he has a deep, personal connection with, his dedication to the story and his craft shine through in the film.
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