Tracking the top Oscars contenders for 2022 (original) (raw)

The awards race is serious business, but after the SAG Awards, we're down to the wire when it comes to predicting the top contenders for the Oscars 2022 ceremony. As critics groups and Academy Awards precursors deem the best films of the year as the March 27 broadcast inches closer, we'll keep tabs on who's winning (or losing) what in the hunt. Updating as the year progresses, check back with EW's Oscars scoreboard below to find out which players are making strides in the race, and which contenders are hanging on by a prayer throughout awards season.

Awards bodies tracked so far:

Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, and Ariana DeBose are the top Oscars contenders. Chiabella James/Warner Bros.; Glen Wilson/Amazon Studios; Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios

Contenders for Best Picture

1. CODA
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: Sundance Grand Jury Prize, AFI Top 10, SAG ensemble, PGA
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, WGA (Adapted), Oscars

2. The Power of the Dog
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: VIFF Silver Lion, AFI Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, BAFTA
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: TIFF People's Choice Award runner-up, PGA, ACE, Oscars

3. King Richard
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10, ACE
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG ensemble, PGA, WGA (Original), Oscars

4. Belfast
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: TIFF People's Choice Award, PSIFF Vanguard Award, AFI Special Award
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG ensemble, PGA, ACE, BAFTA, Oscars

5. Don't Look Up
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy), Critics Choice, SAG ensemble, PGA, WGA (Original), ACE, BAFTA, Oscars

6. Dune
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, PGA, WGA (Adapted), ACE, BAFTA, Oscars

7. Licorice Pizza
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: NBR, AFI Top 10
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy), Critics Choice, PGA, WGA (Original), ACE, BAFTA, Oscars

8. West Side Story
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10, Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy)
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Critics Choice, PGA, WGA (Adapted), Oscars

9. Nightmare Alley
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Critics Choice, WGA (Adapted), Oscars

10. Drive My Car
Best Picture (or equivalent) wins: NYFCC, LAFCA
Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: Cannes Palme d'Or, Oscars

Emilia Jones and Marlee Matlin in 'CODA'. Apple TV +

Contenders for Best Director

1. Jane Campion — The Power of the Dog
Best Director (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Director of the Year Award, Golden Globes, Critics Choice, DGA, BAFTA
Best Director (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars

2. Kenneth Branagh — Belfast
Best Director (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Director (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, DGA, Oscars

3. Steven Spielberg — West Side Story
Best Director (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Director (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, DGA, Oscars

4. Paul Thomas Anderson — Licorice Pizza
Best Director (or equivalent) wins: NBR
Best Director (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, DGA, BAFTA, Oscars

5. Ryusuke Hamaguchi — Drive My Car
Best Director (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Director (or equivalent) nominations: LAFCA runner-up, BAFTA, Oscars

Jane Campion directs 'The Power of the Dog.'. KIRSTY GRIFFIN/NETFLIX

Contenders for Best Actor

1. Will Smith — King Richard
Best Actor (or equivalent) wins: SBIFF Outstanding Performer of the Year, NBR, Golden Globes (Drama), SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTA
Best Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars

2. Benedict Cumberbatch — The Power of the Dog
Best Actor (or equivalent) wins: TIFF Tribute Actor, NYFCC
Best Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG, BAFTA, Oscars

3. Andrew Garfield — Tick, Tick… Boom!
Best Actor (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Desert Palm Achievement Award, Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy)
Best Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars

**4. Denzel Washington — The Tragedy of Macbeth Best Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/A Best Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars

5. Javier Bardem — Being the Ricardos
Best Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), SAG, Oscars

Warner Bros. Pictures

Contenders for Best Actress

1. Jessica Chastain — The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Best Actress (or equivalent) wins: TIFF Tribute Actor, PSIFF Desert Palm Achievement Award, SAG, Critics Choice
Best Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Oscars

2. Nicole Kidman — Being the Ricardos
Best Actress (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Career Achievement Award, Golden Globes (Drama)
Best Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars

3. Olivia Colman — The Lost Daughter
Best Actress (or equivalent) wins: Gotham Awards
Best Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars

4. Kristen Stewart — Spencer
Best Actress (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Spotlight Award
Best Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, Oscars

5. Penélope Cruz — Parallel Mothers
Best Actress (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF International Star Award, VIFF Volpi Cup
Best Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars

Jessica Chastain in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye.'. Searchlight Pictures

Contenders for Best Supporting Actor

1. Troy Kotsur — CODA
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: Gotham Awards, SAG, Indie Spirits, Critics Choice, BAFTA
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Oscars

2. Kodi Smit-McPhee — The Power of the Dog
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: NYFCC, Golden Globes
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, SAG, BAFTA, Oscars

3. Ciarán Hinds — Belfast
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: NBR
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, BAFTA, Oscars

4. Jesse Plemons — The Power of the Dog
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: BAFTA, Oscars

5. J.K. Simmons — Being the Ricardos
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, Oscars

Troy Kotsur in 'CODA'. Apple TV +

Contenders for Best Supporting Actress

1. Ariana DeBose — West Side Story
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: Golden Globes, SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTA
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars

2. Aunjanue Ellis — King Richard
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: SBIFF Outstanding Performer of the Year, NBR
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, BAFTA, Oscars

3. Kirsten Dunst — The Power of the Dog
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars

4. Jessie Buckley — The Lost Daughter
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Gotham Awards, Indie Spirits, BAFTA, Oscars

5. Judi Dench — Belfast
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: N/A
Best Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars

'West Side Story' star Ariana DeBose is a top contender for Best Supporting Actress at the 2022 Academy Awards. Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios

Check out more from EW's The Awardist, featuring Oscars analysis, exclusive interviews, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's movies and performances.

Related content: