When it comes to predicting the Oscar winner for Best Film Editing, you can’t go wrong by looking for the movie with the most cuts. Past winners “The Bourne Ultimatum” (2008), “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2016) and “Ford v Ferrari” (2020) included high-octane action sequences with frenetic cutting. And a slew of other champs — including “Saving Private Ryan” in 1999, “Black Hawk Down” (2002), “The Hurt Locker” (2010), “Hacksaw Ridge” (2017) and “Dunkirk” (2018) — have been war pictures. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2021 Oscar predictions for Best Film Editing.)
Oscar voters also embrace film editors who skillfully juggle multiple storylines, as was the case with “Traffic” (2001) and “Crash” (2006). And they like films that expertly inter-cut music with images, such as “Cabaret” (1973), “Chicago” (2003), “Whiplash” (2015) and “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2019). Special effects extravaganzas like “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004) and “Gravity” (2014) won by deftly blurring the lines between the real and the fantastic.
Historically, a nomination for film editing was an essential one for the ultimate winner of the big prize. Indeed, 34 films won both awards. Yet the last time the two went hand-in-hand was “Argo” in 2012. The reintroduction of the preferential ballot for Best Picture has changed the dynamic. “Gravity” swept the below-the-line awards but lost the top race to “12 Years a Slave.”
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UPDATED: March 4, 2021
Leading Contenders
Alan Baumgarten, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix)
Kirk Baxter, “Mank” (Netflix)
William Goldenberg, “News of the World” (Universal Pictures)
Jennifer Lame, “Tenet” (Warner Bros.)
Yorgos Lamprinos, “The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen, “Sound of Metal” (Amazon Studios)
Frederic Thoraval, “Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features)
Chloe Zhao, “Nomadland” (Searchlight Pictures)
PREDICT the 2021 Oscar nominations through March 15
Strong Contenders
Tariq Anwar, “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios)
Andy Canny, “The Invisible Man” (Universal Pictures)
Jay Cassidy, Evan Schiff, “Birds of Prey” (Warner Bros.)
Matt Friedman, Andrew Dickler, “Palm Springs” (Neon)
Adam Gough, “Da 5 Bloods” (Netflix)
Andrew Mondshein, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (Netflix)
Richard Pearson, “Wonder Woman 1984” (Warner Bros.)
Kristan Sprague, “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)
Harry Yoon, “Minari” (A24)
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Possible Contenders
Jay Cassidy, “The King of Staten Island” (Universal Pictures)
David Coulson, “Mulan” (Walt Disney Pictures)
Sarah Flack, “On the Rocks” (Apple TV+)
Robert Frazen, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” (Netflix)
Stephen Mirrione, “The Midnight Sky” (Netflix)
Tim Streeto, “The White Tiger” (Netflix)
Peggy Tachdjian, Danielle Wang, “The Prom” (Netflix)
Chris Wyatt, “Ammonite” (Neon)
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Picture: Updated – February 22, 2021
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2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Actor: Updated – February 24, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Actress: Updated – February 24, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor: Updated – February 25, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actress: Updated – February 25, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Adapted Screenplay: Updated – February 26, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Screenplay: Updated – February 26, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Cinematography: Updated – March 4, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Costume Design: Updated – March 4, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Film Editing: Updated – March 4, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Makeup & Hairstyling: Updated – February 22 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Score: Updated – February 10, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song: Updated – February 10, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Production Design: Updated – February 12, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Sound: Updated – March 3, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Visual Effects: Updated – March 3, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature: Updated – March 3, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Feature: Updated – February 9, 2021
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best International Feature: Updated – February 9, 2021
