Oscar Predictions: Visual Effects — Monkeys, Sandworms and Flying Witches Occupy a Box Office-Friendly Race

By Variety | Created at 2024-11-14 19:18:11 | Updated at 2024-11-23 05:30:37 1 week ago

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.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

OSCARS | EMMYS | GRAMMYS | TONYS

2025 Oscars Predictions:
Best Visual Effects

Weekly Commentary (Updated Nov. 14, 2024): More to come.

Read: You can see all Academy Award predictions in all 23 categories on one page on the Variety Awards Circuit: Oscars.

** denotes the film is not yet dated or can open in 2025.

And the Predicted Nominees Are

RankPerformer & Film

1	“Gladiator II” (Paramount Pictures) Mark Bakowski, Pietro Ponti, Nikki Penny, Neil Corbould
2	“Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, Gerd Nefzer
3	“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (20th Century Studios) TBA
4	“Wicked” (Universal Pictures) Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Paul Corbould, David Shirk
5	“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (Warner Bros.) Andrew Jackson, Dan Bethell, Eric Whipp, Andy Williams

Oscars: Best Visual Effects (Variety Awards Circuit Predictions)

Next in Line

RankPerformer & Film

6	“Twisters” (Universal Pictures)
7	“Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Pictures)
8	“Alien: Romulus” (20th Century Studios)
9	“Better Man” (Paramount Pictures)
10	“Blitz” (Apple Original Films)

Oscars: Best Visual Effects (Variety Awards Circuit Predictions)

Godzilla, Kong, 2024. © Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection

Other Contenders

RankPerformer & Film

11	“Deadpool & Wolverine” (Marvel Studios)
12	“Here” (Sony Pictures)
13	“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (Warner Bros.)
14	“Nosferatu” (Focus Features)
15	“Civil War” (A24)
16	“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.)
17	“The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation)
18	“Inside Out 2” (Pixar)
19	“The Substance” (Mubi)
20	“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (Sony Pictures)

Oscars: Best Visual Effects (Variety Awards Circuit Predictions)

Eligible Titles (Best Visual Effects)

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

** This list is incomplete and not yet finalized. Not all films have distribution or release dates. All are subject to change.
More Information (Oscars: Visual Effects)

Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images
2024 category winner: “Godzilla Minus One” (Toho) — Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, and Tatsuji Nojima

2024-2025 Oscars Calendar and Timeline – Full awards season calendar here
- Eligibility period: Jan. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024
- General entry, best picture, RAISE submission deadline: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
- Governors Awards: Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024
- Preliminary voting begins Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, at 9 a.m. PT.
- Preliminary voting ends Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT.
- Oscar Shortlists Announcement: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024
- Eligibility period ends: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024
- Nominations voting begins Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at 9 a.m. PT.
- Nominations voting ends Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT.
- Oscar Nominations Announcement: Friday, Jan. 17, 2025
- Oscar Nominees Luncheon: Monday, Feb. 10, 2025
- Final voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. PT
- Final voting ends: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT
- Scientific and Technical Awards: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
- 97th Oscars: Sunday, March 2, 2025
Oscars Prediction Categories

2024 Oscar Predictions (Variety Awards Circuit)

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). Nineteen branches are represented within the nearly 11,000-person membership. The branches are actors, animators, 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, sound, visual effects and writers.