2016 Oscar Predictions

I called the Oscars "unpredictable" last year, but it's clear that I spoke too soon. This year is completely wide open, as far as Best Picture is concerned. It's a race between The Revenant, The Big Short and Spotlight. These films each won the major guild prizes - DGA (The Revenant), PGA (The Big Short) and SAG (Spotlight). Is Alejandro González Iñárritu really winning back to back Best Director/Best Picture prizes? If nothing else, let's be thankful that this is finally Leonardo DiCaprio's year!

The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

Will Win: The Big Short
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
If I picked my favorite of the year: It Follows

Lenny Abrahamson, Room
Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Adam McKay, The Big Short
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Will Win: Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
Should Win: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
If I picked my favorite of the year: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Matt Damon, The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
If I picked my favorite of the year: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Will Win: Brie Larson, Room
Should Win: Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
If I picked my favorite of the year: Maika Monroe, It Follows

Christian Bale, The Big Short
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Will Win: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Should Win: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
If I picked my favorite of the year: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Will Win: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Should Win: Rooney Mara, Carol
If I picked my favorite of the year: Rooney Mara, Carol

Bridge of Spies
Ex Machina
Inside Out
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton

Will Win: Spotlight
Should Win: Inside Out
If I picked my favorite of the year: It Follows

The Big Short
Brooklyn
Carol
The Martian
Room

Will Win: The Big Short
Should Win: Carol
If I picked my favorite of the year: Carol

Carol
The Hateful Eight
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario

Will Win: The Revenant
Should Win: Carol
If I picked my favorite of the year: Carol

The Big Short
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Will Win: The Big Short
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
If I picked my favorite of the year: Mad Max: Fury Road

Embrace of the Serpent, Colombia
Mustang, France
Son of Saul, Hungary
Theeb, Jordan
A War, Denmark

Will Win: Son of Saul
Should Win: Theeb
If I picked my favorite of the year: Taxi

Bridge of Spies
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should Win: Bridge of Spies
If I picked my favorite of the year: Carol

Carol
Cinderella
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should Win: Carol
If I picked my favorite of the year: Carol

Mad Max: Fury Road
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared
The Revenant

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
If I picked my favorite of the year: The Revenant

Bridge of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
If I picked my favorite of the year: Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
If I picked my favorite of the year Mad Max: Fury Road

Ex Machina
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Will Win: The Revenant
Should Win: The Revenant
If I picked my favorite of the year: The Revenant

Bridge of Spies
Carol
The Hateful Eight
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Will Win: The Hateful Eight
Should Win: Carol
If I picked my favorite of the year: It Follows

“Earned It,” Fifty Shades of Grey
“Manta Ray,” Racing Extinction
“Simple Song #3,” Youth
“Til It Happens to You,” The Hunting Ground
"Writing’s on the Wall,” Spectre

Will Win: “Til It Happens to You,” The Hunting Ground
Should Win: “Earned It,” Fifty Shades of Grey
If I picked my favorite of the year: "Grip," Creed