Variety The Awards Circuit section is home to all the awards news and related content throughout the year, including the following: official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards, hosted by Variety Clayton Davis, Awards Editor. Prediction pages reflect current race standings and do not reflect the personal preferences of any individual competitor. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Forecasts are updated every Thursday.
F1: THE MOVIE, (aka F1), Brad Pitt, 2025. ph: Scott Garfield /© Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection
©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett C
Oscars for best sound commentary (updated December 7, 2025): Action spectacles, musical world-building and franchise power define this year’s Oscar race for best sound race.
“One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” both from Warner Bros., offer dense, immersive soundscapes built on layered chaos, a style the branch has often rewarded. Apple’s “F1” relies on the visceral roar of engines and the physics of speed, elevating what could have been a standard sports blast into a textured experience.
Universal’s “Wicked: For Good” shows how musical films can compete with the loudest blockbusters (even if the snooty CCA for best sound stings a bit).
Competitors with heavy franchises also feature prominently. The latest installment of Paramount’s ongoing Ethan Hunt missions, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” and 20th Century Studios’ latest look at the world of Pandora, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” arrive with characteristic sonic ambition. Tactile waterfall environments define the former, while the latter, shaped by seasoned artisans, is determined by the auditory ecosystems of water and fire.
Even character-driven dramas like A24’s “Marty Supreme” and 20th’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” remind voters that calm can be competitive when emotionally calibrated.
Watch out for Apple’s “The Lost Bus” and Netflix’s “Frankenstein,” both of which add intrigue and a level of passion that can keep industry members busy.
Voting on the Oscar shortlist begins December 8.
NOTE: All titles, release dates, studios and artists listed and credited are subject to change and are ultimately determined by the Academy.
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Image Credit: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
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Image credit: Ross Ferguson
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Eligible Artisans (Best Sound)
Image credit: Courtesy of Filmes da Ermida, Cannes Film Festival
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