Oscars Predictions: Best Sound – The Aural Achievements of ‘Oppenheimer’ Are Undeniable, but Will the Academy Agree?

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

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OSCARS | EMMYS | GRAMMYS | TONYS

2024 Oscars Predictions:
Best Achievement in Sound

Weekly Commentary (Updated Nov. 16, 2023): Removing “Dune 2” from the landscape allows “Oppenheimer” to plead its case among the tech branch members, particularly the sound design by Richard King, Michael W. Mitchell, Kevin O’Connell and Gary A. Rizzo.

Barring unforeseen shortcomings (which you can never count out in an Oscar season), “Oppenheimer” is currently projected to land in the realm of 12 Oscar noms — picture, director, actor (Cillian Murphy), supporting actor (Robert Downey Jr.), supporting actress (Emily Blunt), adapted screenplay, production design, cinematography, costume design, film editing, sound and original score. With 12, Nolan’s atomic bomb origin tale would be on par with others such as “Ben Hur” (1959), “Dances with Wolves” (1990) and “Schindler’s List” (1993).

Moreover, Nolan’s movies have done very well in the sound categories. “Inception” (2010) and “Dunkirk” (2017) both took home the two sound categories when it was divided into mixing and editing in their respective years, while “The Dark Knight” (2008) took home the mixing prize (along with Heath Ledger in supporting actor). “Interstellar” (2014) also managed a nom for sound (despite the criticisms).

This race seems like one of the safe bets for “Oppenheimer” going into the phase one period.

However, musically driven movies do well with this branch, and there are plenty this year, such as Warner Bros’ “The Color Purple” and Netflix’s “Maestro.”

Action flicks also do well here, so we’re not counting out the animated “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and the sci-fi epic “The Creator.”

In addition, vehicles traveling super fast are also favorites, which helps Neon’s “Ferrari” and 20th Century Studios’ “The Bikeriders” seek attention.

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.

The submission deadline for general categories is Nov. 15, 2023. The preliminary shortlist for eight categories is from Dec. 14-18, with the results announcement dropping on Dec. 21. The Oscar nomination period will run from Jan. 11-16, 2024, with the official nominees named on Jan. 23.

The 96th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 10.

***The list below is not final and will be updated throughout the awards season.

And the Predicted Nominees Are:

1. “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) — Richard King, Michael W. Mitchell, Kevin O’Connell, Gary A. Rizzo

2. “Maestro” (Netflix) — Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic, Steve Morrow

3. “Ferrari” (Neon) — Tony Lamberti (re-recording mixer, supervising sound editor), Andy Nelson (re-recording mixer), Lee Orloff (production sound mixer), Bernard

4. “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures) — John Pritchett, Mark Ulano (production sound mixers), Philip Stockton (supervising sound editor)

5. “The Zone of Interest” (A24) — Johnnie Burn

Next in Line

1. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony Pictures) — Michael Semanick, Juan Peralta, Geoffrey G. Rubay

2. “Napoleon” (Apple Original Films/Sony Pictures)

3. “Barbie” (Warner Bros.) — Nina Rice, Ai-Ling Lee, Dan Kenyon, Kevin O’Connell

4. “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros.) — Richard Bullock, Steve Morrow (production sound mixers), Renee Tondelli (supervising sound editor), Julian Slater (re-recording mixer), supervising sound editor), Paul Massey (re-recording mixer)

5. “Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures) — Johnnie Burn (supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer, sound supervisor), Tamás Dévényi (production sound mixer)

Other Top-Tier Possibilities

1. “The Creator” (20th Century Studios) — Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van Der Ryn (supervising sound editors, sound designers), Ian Voigt (production sound mixer), Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic (re-recording mixers)

2. “The Killer” (Netflix) — Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, Stephen Urata, Drew Kunin

3. “John Wick Chapter 4” (Lionsgate) — To be added

4. “Wonka” (Warner Bros.) — John Casali, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Paul Massey, Niv Adiri

5. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (Paramount Pictures) — Simon Pidrette (production sound mixer), Ethan Van Der Ryn, Erik Aadahl (supervising sound editors), Ron Bartlett, Anna Behlmer (re-recording mixers)

6. “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” (Paramount Pictures) — Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon

7. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (Walt Disney Pictures) — Donald Sylvester, Gary Rydstrom (supervising sound editors), Paul Massey, Juan Peralta, David Giammarco (re-recording mixers), Stuart Wilson (production sound mixer)

8. “Gran Turismo” (Sony Pictures) — To be added

9. “Wish” (Walt Disney Pictures) — To be added

10. “32 Sounds” (Abramorama) — To be added

Also In Contention

1. “Fingernails” (Apple Original Films) — To be added

2. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (Marvel Studios) — David Acord, Cheryl Nardi (supervising sound editor), Christopher Boyes, Gary A. Rizzo (re-recording mixers), Lee Orloff (production sound mixer)

3. “The Marvels” (Marvel Studios) — To be added

4. “Elemental” (Pixar) — Coya Elliott (supervising sound editor), Ren Klyce (supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer), Stephen Urata (re-recording mixer), Paul McGrath (production sound mixer)

5. “Saltburn” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Nina Hartstone, Eilam Hoffman (supervising sound editing and design), Adam Scrivener, Jasper Thorn (re-recording mixers), Nina Rice (production sound mixer)

6. “The Iron Claw” (A24) — To be added

7. “Flora and Son” (Apple Original Films) — Ken Galvin, Roer Flanagan, Dominic Lawrence

8. “Air” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Ai-Ling Lee (sound design, supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer), Susan Dawes (supervising sound editor), Andy Nelson (re-recording mixer), Willie D. Burton (production sound mixer)

9. “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant” (MGM) — Dominic Gibbs (supervising sound editor), Mark Taylor, Adam Scrivener (re-recording mixers), Adrian Bell (sound recordist)

10. “Golda” (Bleecker Street) — Niv Adiri (supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer), Sven Taits (additional re-recording mixer)

All Eligible Titles (Alphabetized by Studio)**

• “A Haunting in Venice” (20th Century Studios) — Colin Nicolson (production sound mixer), James H. Mather, Simon Chase (supervising sound editors), Andy Nelson, Mark Taylor (re-recording mixers)

• “The Creator” (20th Century Studios) — Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van Der Ryn (supervising sound editors, sound designers), Ian Voigt (production sound mixer), Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic (re-recording mixers)

• “Beau is Afraid” (A24)

• “Dream Scenario” (A24)

• “The Iron Claw” (A24)

• “Past Lives” (A24)

• “Priscilla” (A24)

• “Showing Up” (A24)

• “When You Finish Saving the World” (A24)

• “You Hurt My Feelings” (A24)

• “The Zone of Interest” (A24)

• “32 Sounds” (Abramorama)

• “Air” (Amazon MGM Studios)

• “The Burial” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Paul Hsu (re-recording mixer, supervising sound editor), Dustin Fleetwood (production sound mixer)

• “Cassandro” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Raúl Locatelli (production sound mixer), Javier Umpierrez (sound design), Michellee Couttolenc, Jaime Baksht (re-recording mixers)

• “Foe” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Robert Mackenzie (sound designer, supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer), Roger Van Wensveen (production sound mixer), Glenn Newnham (dialogue and ADR supervisor)

• “Saltburn” (Amazon MGM Studios)

• “Fingernails” (Apple Original Films)

• “Flora and Son” (Apple Original Films)

• “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)

• “Napoleon” (Apple Original Films/Sony Pictures)

• “The Pigeon Tunnel” (Apple Original Films)

• “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” (Apple Original Films)

• “Golda” (Bleecker Street)

• “The Origin” (Bleecker Street)

• “Suzume” (Crunchyroll)

• “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” (DreamWorks Animation)

• “Trolls Band Together” (DreamWorks Animation)

• “Asteroid City” (Focus Features)

• “Every Body” (Focus Features)

• “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)

• “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” (Focus Features)

• “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)

• “The Boy and the Heron” (GKids)

• “BlackBerry” (IFC Films)

• “Monica” (IFC Films)

• “R.M.N.” (IFC Films)

• “The Taste of Things” (IFC Films/Sapan Studio)

• “Migration” (Illumination)

• “Flamin’ Hot” (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)

• “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (Illumination)

• “Evil Does Not Exist” (Janus Films)

• “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” (Lionsgate)

• “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” (Lionsgate)

• “John Wick Chapter 4” (Lionsgate)

• “Joy Ride” (Lionsgate)

• “Baby Ruby” (Magnet Releasing)

• “Little Richard: I Am Everything” (Magnolia Pictures)

• “Master Gardener” (Magnolia Pictures)

• “The Stones and Brian Jones” (Magnolia Pictures)

• “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quanumania” (Marvel Studios)

• “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (Marvel Studios) — David Acord, Cheryl Nardi (supervising sound editor), Christopher Boyes, Gary A. Rizzo (re-recording mixers), Lee Orloff (production sound mixer)

• “The Marvels” (Marvel Studios)

• “American Fiction” (MGM)

• “Bottoms” (MGM/Orion) — Christopher Foster (supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer), Andrea Bella (sound designer), Robert C. Bigelow (production sound mixer)

• “The Boys in the Boat” (MGM) — Julian Slater, Dan Morgan (supervising sound editors), Arthur Graley (sound designer), Dan Hiland, Tom Beckett (re-recording mixers), Danny Hambrook (production sound mixer)

• “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant” (MGM) — Dominic Gibbs (supervising sound editor), Mark Taylor, Adam Scrivener (re-recording mixers), Adrian Bell (sound recordist)

• “Creed III” (MGM)

• “Landscape with Invisible Hand” (MGM)

• “The Eternal Memory” (MTV Documentary Films)

• “The Delinquents” (Mubi)

• “Fallen Leaves” (Mubi)

• “High & Low: John Galliano” (Mubi)

• “The Settlers” (Mubi)

• “Anatomy of a Fall” (Neon)

• “Eileen” (Neon)

• “Ferrari” (Neon)

• “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (Neon)

• “La Chimera” (Neon)

• “Longlegs” (Neon)

• “Mothers’ Instinct” (Neon)

• “Origin” (Neon)

• “Perfect Days” (Neon)

• “Robot Dreams” (Neon)

• “The Royal Hotel” (Neon)

• “American Symphony” (Netflix)

• “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” (Netflix)

• “The Deepest Breath” (Netflix)

• “El Conde” (Netflix)

• “Fair Play” (Netflix)

• “The Killer” (Netflix)

• “Leave the World Behind” (Netflix)

• “Leo” (Netflix)

• “May December” (Netflix)

• “Maestro” (Netflix)

• “The Magician’s Elephant” (Netflix)

• “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie” (Netflix)

• “The Monkey King” (Netflix)

• “Nimona” (Netflix)

• “Nyad” (Netflix)

• “Pain Hustlers” (Netflix)

• “Rebel Moon” (Netflix)

• “Reptile” (Netflix)

• “Rustin” (Netflix)

• “Society of the Snow” (Netflix)

• “Stamped from the Beginning” (Netflix)

• “Dungeons & Dragons” (Paramount Pictures) — Ronan Hill (production sound mixer), Warren Hendricks (supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer), Paul Massey (re-recording mixer)

• “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” (Paramount Pictures) — Chris Munro (production sound mixer), James H. Mather (supervising sound editor), Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor (re-recording mixers)

• “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (Paramount Pictures) — Mark Mangini (sound designer, re-recording mixer), Michael Semanick (re-recording mixer)

• “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (Paramount Pictures) — Simon Pidrette (production sound mixer), Ethan Van Der Ryn, Erik Aadahl (supervising sound editors), Ron Bartlett, Anna Behlmer (re-recording mixers)

• “Elemental” (Pixar) — Coya Elliott (supervising sound editor), Ren Klyce (supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer), Stephen Urata (re-recording mixer), Paul McGrath (production sound mixer)

• “Black Ice” (Roadside Attractions)

• “Camp Hideout” (Roadside Attractions)

• “Dreamin’ Wild” (Roadside Attractions)

• “The Last Rider” (Roadside Attractions)

• “Moving On” (Roadside Attractions)

• “The Pod Generation” (Roadside Attractions/Vertical Entertainment)

• “Somewhere in Queens” (Roadside Attractions)

• “All of Us Strangers” (Searchlight Pictures) — Stevie Hayward (production sound mixer), Joakim Sundström (supervising sound editor)

• “Chevalier” (Searchlight Pictures)

• “Next Goal Wins” (Searchlight Pictures)

• “Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures)

• “Theater Camp” (Searchlight Pictures)

• “Dumb Money” (Sony Pictures)

• “The Equalizer 3” (Sony Pictures)

• “Gran Turismo” (Sony Pictures)

• “No Hard Feelings” (Sony Pictures)

• “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony Pictures)

• “Freud’s Last Session” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “A Little Prayer” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “The Miracle Club” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “Persian Version” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “Shadya” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “Shortcomings” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “The Teachers’ Lounge” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “They Shot the Piano Player” (Sony Pictures Classics)

• “Cocaine Bear” (Universal Pictures)

• “The Exorcist: Believer” (Universal Pictures)

• “Fast X” (Universal Pictures)

• “M3gan” (Universal Pictures)

• “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures)

• “She Came to Me” (Vertical Entertainment)

• “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (Warner Bros.)

• “Barbie” (Warner Bros.)

• “Blue Beetle” (Warner Bros.)

• “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros.)

• “The Flash” (Warner Bros.)

• “Wonka” (Warner Bros.)

• “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (Walt Disney Pictures)

• “The Little Mermaid” (Walt Disney Pictures) — Simon Hayes, Renée Tondelli, Eugene Gearty, Mike Prestwood Smith, Gilbert Lake

• “Wish” (Walt Disney Pictures)

2022 category winner: “Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount Pictures) — Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor

Oscars Predictions Categories

BEST PICTURE | DIRECTOR | BEST ACTOR | BEST ACTRESS | SUPPORTING ACTOR | SUPPORTING ACTRESS | ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY | ADAPTED SCREENPLAY | ANIMATED FEATURE | PRODUCTION DESIGN | CINEMATOGRAPHY | COSTUME DESIGN | FILM EDITING | MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING | SOUND | VISUAL EFFECTS | ORIGINAL SCORE | ORIGINAL SONG | DOCUMENTARY FEATURE | INTERNATIONAL FEATURE | ANIMATED SHORT | DOCUMENTARY SHORT | LIVE ACTION SHORT

About the Academy Awards

The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners have been selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Seventeen branches are represented within the nearly 10,000-person membership. The branches are actors, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists’ representatives), music, producers, production design, short films and feature animation, sound, visual effects and writers.

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