The Oscars are an annual tradition of movie-lovers’ anticipation. Enthusiasts gather around their TVs across the world just to see whether their favorite movie is going to take home a little gold—well, gold-plated bronze—statue. People of all sorts end up throwing their hat into the ring by making their predictions and, for some more serious Oscar connoisseurs, may even put their money where their mouth is. Here at the Devil’s Advocate, we do not condone gambling, but we are going to try to predict exactly who will be thanking the Academy tonight. 

We have broken up our predictions into three categories: what each of us thinks should win, and what we have collectively decided will win. Neither of us have had the pleasure of watching the documentary or short nominees, so there is not much we can say for those. We are also underprepared to discuss Best International Feature, so we will omit that from our personal winners as well. Our predictions for these categories are listed below. We also included, in some categories, films or people we felt were snubbed of a much-deserved nomination.

BEST PICTURE

Who will win: “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) – Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappie

Who should win – A: “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios) – Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers

Who should win – J: “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios) – Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers

Who should have been here: “Tick, Tick… Boom!” (Netflix) – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julie Oh, Ron Howard, Brian Gazer

BEST DIRECTOR

Who will win: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)

Who should win – A: Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios)

Who should win – J: Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios)

BEST ACTOR

Who will win: Will Smith, “King Richard” (Warner Bros)

Who should win – A: Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick … Boom!” (Netflix)

Who should win – J: Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick … Boom!” (Netflix)

BEST ACTRESS

Who will win: Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Searchlight Pictures)

Who should win – A: Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter” (Netflix)

Who should win – J: Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter” (Netflix)

Who should have been here: Tessa Thompson, “Passing” (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Who will win: Troy Kotsur, “CODA” (Apple Original Films)

Who should win – A: Troy Kotsur, “CODA” (Apple Original Films)

Who should win – J: Troy Kotsur, “CODA” (Apple Original Films)

Should have been here: Mike Faist, “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Who will win: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios)

Who should win – A: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios)

Who should win – J: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios)

Who should have been here: Ruth Negga, “Passing” (Netflix)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Who will win: “Encanto” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer

Who should win – A: “Luca” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Andrea Warren, Enrico Casarosa

Who should win – J: “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” (Netflix) – Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

Who will win: “Drive My Car” (Bitters End) – Japan

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Who will win: “Dune” (Legendary Pictures) – Hans Zimmer

Who should win – A: “Encanto” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Germaine Franco

Who should win – J: “Don’t Look Up” (Netflix) – Nicholas Britell

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Who will win: “CODA” (Apple Original Films) – Sian Heder

Who should win – A: “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) – Jane Campion

Who should win – J: “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) – Jane Campion

Who should have been here: “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios) – Tony Kushner

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Who will win: “Belfast” (Focus Features) – Kenneth Branagh

Who should win – A:  “Belfast” (Focus Features) – Kenneth Branagh

Who should win – J:  “Belfast” (Focus Features) – Kenneth Branagh

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Who will win: “Dune” (Legendary Pictures) – Greig Fraser

Who should win – A: “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (Apple Original Films) – Bruno Delbonnel

Who should win – J: “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) – Ari Wegner

Who should have been here: “In the Heights” (Warner Bros. Pictures) – Alice Brooks

BEST SOUND

Who will win: “Dune” (Legendary Pictures) – Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett

Who should win – A: “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios) – Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy

Who should win – J: “Dune” (Legendary Pictures) – Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

Who will win: “Robin Robin” (Netflix) – Dan Ojari and Mikey Please

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

Who will win: “The Long Goodbye” (WePresent) – Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Who will win: “Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised)” (Hulu and Searchlight Pictures) – Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Who will win: “Audible” (Netflix) – Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean

BEST FILM EDITING

Who will win: “Dune” (Warner Bros) – Joe Walker

Who should win – A: “Tick, Tick… Boom!” – Andrew Weisblum, Myron I. Kerstein

Who should win – J: “Tick, Tick… Boom!” – Andrew Weisblum, Myron I. Kerstein

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Who will win: “Cruella” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Jenny Beavan

Who should win – A:   “Cruella” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Jenny Beavan

Who should win – J:  “Cruella” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Jenny Beavan

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Who will win: “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Searchlight Pictures) – Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh

Who should win – A: “Cruella” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Nadia Stacey

Who should win – J: “Cruella” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Nadia Stacey

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Who will win: No Time to Die” from No Time to Die – Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

Who should win – A: “Be Alive” from King Richard – Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Who should win – J: No Time to Die” from No Time to Die – Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Who will win: “Dune” (Warner Bros) – Patrice Vermette (production design), Zsuzsanna Sipos (set decoration)

Who should win – A: “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios) – Adam Stockhausen (production design), Rena DeAngelo (set decoration)

Who should win – J: “Nightmare Alley” (Searchlight Pictures) – Tamara Deverell (production design), Shane Vieau (set decoration)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Who will win: “Dune” (Legendary Pictures) – Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer

Who should win – A: “Free Guy” (help) – Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick

Who should win – J:  “Free Guy” (help) – Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick