SOUND
Nominees:

“Avatar: Fire and Ash”
“F1: The Movie”
“Frankenstein”
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”
“One Battle after Another”
“Sinners”
“Sirât”
“Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere”
“Superman”
“Wicked: For Good”

Per the Academy’s press release:

Ten films will advance in the Sound category for the 98th Academy Awards. All eligible members of the Sound Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees. Academy members will be invited to view excerpts from each of the shortlisted films beginning Saturday, January 10, 2025, in the San Francisco Bay area, London and New York, followed by Los Angeles on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Nominations voting begins on Monday, January 12, 2026, and concludes on Friday, January 16, 2026. Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICTIONS

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH • 20th Century Studios

James Cameron | Director
James Cameron, Jon Landau | Producers

F1: THE MOVIE • Warner Bros. Pictures | Apple Original Films

Joseph Kosinski | Director
Jerry Bruckheimer, Joseph Kosinski, Lewis Hamilton, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Chad Oman | Producers

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER • Warner Bros. Pictures

Paul Thomas Anderson | Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, Adam Somner, Sara Murphy | Producers

SINNERS • Warner Bros. Pictures

Ryan Coogler | Director
Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler | Producers

SIRĀT • NEON

Oliver Laxe | Director
Oliver Laxe, Santiago Fillol | Producers

WHY I CHOSE THOSE FIVE?

The Best Sound category typically favors films in the war, science fiction, or action genres, but this year it’s hard to count out the two Best Picture front-runners, Sinners and One Battle After Another. Not only have both films landed key precursor nominations, they also feature distinct sound elements that make them feel like near-locks. Music-driven films often perform well in this category, so with music at its core, Sinners feels like both a safe bet for a nomination and possibly the favorite to win. One Battle After Another brings in more traditional “war” elements — gunshots, combat, and large-scale action sequences — giving it a similarly strong case for inclusion.

Beyond those two favorites, the louder contenders come into play. Both F1: The Movie and Avatar: Fire and Ash feel well-positioned to earn nominations. F1 thrives on the roar of race car engines and the intensity of its racing sequences, elements that are tailor-made for this category. And with both previous Avatar films earning Sound nominations, it’s hard to imagine this third installment missing out, particularly if it features large-scale battle sequences. My final pick is Sirāt, largely because it stands out. An International Feature making the shortlist is already notable, and its presence here could appeal to the Academy precisely because it breaks from expectations.

That said, Wicked: For Good shouldn’t be discounted, as musicals frequently make the cut. The first Wicked film was nominated in this category, so the question becomes whether the Academy is inclined to honor the franchise twice. It’s also difficult to gauge how big a splash Frankenstein will make overall. I expect it to contend for Best Picture alongside several technical categories, so a Sound nomination would hardly be surprising. Superman and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning don’t seem to have overwhelming support at the moment, but they are large-scale action films, which historically perform well in this category. In the right scenario, either could sneak in as well.

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”

“Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere”