Our predictions for who will win big at the 2021 Oscars - and who should win

"The Father"
"Judas and the Black Messiah"
"Mank"
"Minari"
"Nomadland"
"Promising Young Woman"
"Sound of Metal"
"The Trial of the Chicago 7"

Who will win: "Nomadland"

Chloé Zhao's touching look at a woman (Frances McDormand) who becomes a modern-day nomad after the death of her husband has been beloved by most of the other award shows pre-Oscars. That's not going to change on Oscar night.

Who should win: Out of all of these nominees, "Nomadland" is the most deserving.

Who could surprise us: Twist my arm, it's possible A24 pulls off another "Moonlight" upset and "Minari" gets the win. It would make for amazing TV, but I think it's a very slim chance.

Emerald Fennell ("Promising Young Woman")
David Fincher ("Mank")
Lee Isaac Chung ("Minari")
Thomas Vinterberg ("Another Round")
Chloé Zhao ("Nomadland")

Who will win: Chloé Zhao ("Nomadland")

Like best picture, the top directing honor will go to that film's director, Chloé Zhao. Weaving a story that's a mixture of McDormand's talents with real nomads is beautiful and authentic.

Who should win: It's hard not to say Zhao, but Emerald Fennell for "Promising Young Woman" is a powerful work that could grab the attention of Oscar voters.

Who could surprise us: If Lee Isaac Chung wins, then all bets are off when it comes to the best picture category.

Viola Davis ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom")
Andra Day ("The United States vs. Billie Holiday")
Vanessa Kirby ("Pieces of a Woman")
Frances McDormand ("Nomadland")
Carey Mulligan ("Promising Young Woman")

Who will win: Frances McDormand ("Nomadland")

It's Frances McDormand's award to lose. The smart money is on her taking the honor, but...

Who should win: Never count out Viola Davis. Though she doesn't have as much screen time in her movie as McDormand in her's, Davis is sensational in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and is very deserving of the win.

Who could surprise us: Either Vanessa Kirby or Carey Mulligan would be an amazing win. But it would be a major shock if McDormand or Davis don't get it.

Riz Ahmed ("Sound of Metal")
Chadwick Boseman ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom")
Anthony Hopkins ("The Father")
Gary Oldman ("Mank")
Steven Yeun ("Minari")

Who will win: Chadwick Boseman ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom")

There's really no contest here. The late actor delivers a career-best performance.

Who should win: Boseman. There won't be a dry eye in the house when his name is called.

Who could surprise us: No one.

Maria Bakalova ("Borat Subsequent Moviefilm")
Glenn Close ("Hillbilly Elegy")
Olivia Colman ("The Father")
Amanda Seyfried ("Mank")
Yuh-Jung Youn ("Minari")

Who will win: Glenn Close ("Hillbilly Elegy")

This is one of the few categories of the night that will bring some excitement. But I think when it's time to open the envelope, Glenn Close will finally get that long-deserved Oscar win.

Who should win: But it would be historic if Yuh-Jung Youn wins, as it will mark the first time a Korean actress has won the award (she's already the first to ever be nominated).

Who could surprise us: Olivia Colman. Since she already has an Oscar on her mantel for "The Favourite," the Oscar voters may not be looking her way. But sometimes that familiarity can tip the scales.

Sacha Baron Cohen ("The Trial of the Chicago 7")
Daniel Kaluuya ("Judas and the Black Messiah")
Leslie Odom, Jr. ("One Night in Miami")
Paul Raci ("Sound of Metal")
LaKeith Stanfield ("Judas and the Black Messiah")

Who will win: Daniel Kaluuya ("Judas and the Black Messiah")

Daniel Kaluuya's riveting performance as Fred Hampton has been lauded throughout award season and that will continue on Oscar night.

Who should win: Leslie Odom, Jr. as Sam Cooke is a role that's so perfectly played, it would be great to see him take the Oscar.

Who could surprise us: LaKeith Stanfield, who I personally feel is the supporting actor in "Judas and the Black Messiah," gives one of the best performances of the year. Honestly, if he doesn't win this year, it's only a matter of time until he does.

"Onward"
"Over the Moon"
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon"
"Soul"
"Wolfwalkers"

Who will win: "Soul"

Oscar voters love Pixar movies, and since this one is done with a little more polish (and found more critical acclaim) than "Onward," it's best to put your money on this title.

Who should win: "Soul" is the worthy choice.

Who could surprise us: "Wolfwalkers" has been a critical darling the whole year and it may pull off a surprise win in this category.

"Judas and the Black Messiah"
"Minari"
"Promising Young Woman"
"Sound of Metal"
"The Trial of the Chicago 7"

Who will win: "Promising Young Woman"

Emerald Fennell's fantastic script gives us a thriller we have never seen before as we follow a young woman (Caery Mulligan) on a different kind journey for revenge.

Who should win: Don't be surprised if Lee Isaac Chung's heartfelt semi-autobiographical look at his childhood in "Minari" takes the prize.

Who could surprise us: As Aaron Sorkin is the biggest name in the group, it's possible that could catapult him to his second Oscar win with "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (he won previously for "The Social Network").

"Borat Subsequent Moviefilm"
"The Father"
"Nomadland"
"One Night in Miami"
"The White Tiger"

Who will win: "Nomadland"

Think we've kind of already highlighted that Oscar night is going to be big for Chloé Zhao "Nomadland."

Who should win: Kemp Powers' "One Night in Miami" script, which he adapted from his own stage play, is the best screenplay of the year.

Who could surprise us: I think it's a long shot, but don't rule out Sacha Baron Cohen's team pulling off a win for "Borat 2."

"Judas and the Black Messiah"
"Mank"
"News of the World"
"Nomadland"
"The Trial of the Chicago 7"

Who will win: "Nomadland"

Here's that movie again! The documentary feel of the movie, which also features lush vistas of the midwest, is pulled off perfectly by DP Joshua James Richards.

Who should win: It's hard to watch "Mank" and not appreciate the filming techniques used by Erik Masserschmidt, which both give a hat-tip to Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" and thrust viewers back to 1940s Hollywood.

Who could surprise us: Sean Bobbitt getting it for "Judas and the Black Messiah" would certainly be a pleasant surprise. A few shots in that movie are some of the most beautiful I've seen from any movie all year.