Oscar Predictions 2022: From Will Smith to Kristen Stewart

Oscars night, AKA the biggest night in all of awards season, is now upon us. And even though we’re still bitter over the fact that Lady Gaga (and Jennifer Hudson and Ruth Negga) were snubbed, that doesn’t mean we aren’t excited for the 94th Annual Academy Awards, taking place at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 27, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.

In anticipation of the star-studded event, we’ve gone over the nominees with a fine-tooth comb and created our 100-percent accurate, no-way-we’re-gonna-get-any-of-these-wrong list of 2022 Oscar predictions. Here’s who we fully expect to deliver an acceptance speech on Academy Awards night…

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BEST ACTRESS…KRISTEN STEWART

The Nominees:

Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Penélope Cruz, Parallel Mothers
Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
Kristen Stewart, Spencer

PureWow Predicts:

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Kristen Stewart’s incredible transformation into Princess Diana in this poignant film will lead to her first Oscar win. We know, we know—it feels a bit surreal, given her acting history (especially her role as the tense and awkward Bella Swan in Twilight). And there’s also the fact that she got snubbed big time by the Screen Actors Guild and the BAFTAs this year (seriously though, what were they thinking?). Still, there’s no denying that she stepped up her game as the late princess, AKA her most iconic role yet.

BEST ACTOR…WILL SMITH

The Nominees:

Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick...Boom!
Will Smith, King Richard
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

PureWow Predicts:

In King Richard, Smith delivered one of his most powerful performances as Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams. From his Shreveport, Louisiana accent to his unique mannerisms, Smith’s portrayal was spot-on and felt very authentic. Plus, he masterfully included humor to balance out the film’s more serious themes. So, with two previous nominations for Best Actor under his belt (one for Ali, another for The Pursuit of Happyness) and a Golden Globe win, it feels like the star will finally get his first Oscar for an unforgettable performance.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS…ARIANA DEBOSE

The Nominees:

Judi Dench, Belfast
Jesse Buckley, The Lost Daughter
Ariana Debose, West Side Story
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

PureWow Predicts:

We know West Side Story was a flop at the box office, but DeBose still stands out as a clear fan favorite, and we can totally see why. The Afro-Latina brought new life to the iconic role, Anita—one that previously earned Rita Moreno a history-making Oscar win in 1962, might we add. Plus, the rising star recently snagged a Golden Globe for her role in the same category, so we’d say she’s poised to get an Oscar next.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR…KODI SMIT-MCPHEE

The Nominees:

Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kotsur, CODA
Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
JK Simmons, Being the Ricardos
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

PureWow Predicts:

We see an interesting mix of newcomers and seasoned actors here. Ciarán Hinds gave a solid performance in Belfast, and Troy Kotsur was phenomenal in CODA. But something tells us that Kodi Smit-McPhee will come out on top. The Australian actor plays Peter, a complex teen who wants to study medicine, and throughout the film it’s revealed that there’s more to him than meets the eye. His portrayal of this layered character is nothing short of brilliant, and he steals practically every scene. So yes, we’re pretty sure that Smit-McPhee will make history as the second-youngest Oscar winner ever.

BEST PICTURE…’BELFAST’

The Nominees:

Belfast
CODA
Don’t Look Up
Dune
Drive My Car
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story

PureWow Predicts:

There’s been plenty of buzz around The Power of the Dog and Belfast, but we’re predicting the scales will likely tip in favor of the latter. For one, it landed a whopping 11 nominations at the 27th Critics' Choice Awards and seven nominations at the Golden Globes—a good indication that it’s well on its way to a Best Picture win. Plus, it has all the makings of an Oscar-worthy flick, from heartwarming themes and stunning performances to top-notch cinematography. Since Power of the Dog leads with 12 nominations, it will probably sweep a number of other categories, so it’s likely that Belfast will get its due praise with this well-deserved win.

This may not be the only win for the coming-of-age film, though. With an impressive seven nominations across all categories, we're also predicting a win for Best Director. (Is that two acceptance speeches we predict?!)

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