Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Academy Awards Oscar nominations 2021 Nomadland Mank Minari

The Oscar Nominations Are Here for 2021, and They’re… Ordinary?

It is obviously a weird year for movies, but the lack of releases and the upside-down industry isn’t going to stop Hollywood from celebrating itself, and given the slump in theatrical releases it’s a chance for a lot of smaller films to shine this year. The nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards are now here, and they’re pretty much in line with what we’ve seen throughout the awards season. Eight films, out of a possible 10, made it into the Best Picture category, all of which are dramatic films with none of the recent big blockbusters sneaking in, but that’s mostly because no blockbusters were released all year.

Recommended Videos

There weren’t too many surprises in the nominations, as most of them were films that had been popping up as Oscar hopefuls. The biggest surprise might be Thomas Vinterberg grabbing a best director nomination for his Danish film Another Round. The director hadn’t had much buzz leading into the awards and he probably shoved out Regina King, who was heavily favored for a nom for One Night in Miami. Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods missed out on any nominations except for Best Score, which comes after the movie was shut out of the Golden Globes as well. It’s exciting to see Sound of Metal grab a slew of nominations after getting only one Golden Globe, but given the film’s momentum during the awards season, it’s hardly surprising it landed a Best Picture nod.

We should also all be ready for Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams to sing ā€œHusavik (My Hometown)” as the song fromĀ Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga actually got a nomination.

Check out the full list of Oscar nominations below.

2021 Oscar Nominations

Performance by an actor in a leading role

  • Riz AhmedĀ in ā€œSound of Metalā€
  • Chadwick BosemanĀ in ā€œMa Raineyā€™s Black Bottomā€
  • Anthony HopkinsĀ in ā€œThe Fatherā€
  • Gary OldmanĀ in ā€œMankā€
  • Steven YeunĀ in ā€œMinariā€

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

  • Sacha Baron CohenĀ in ā€œThe Trial of the Chicago 7ā€
  • Daniel KaluuyaĀ in ā€œJudas and the Black Messiahā€
  • Leslie Odom, Jr.Ā in ā€œOne Night in Miami…ā€
  • Paul RaciĀ in ā€œSound of Metalā€
  • Lakeith StanfieldĀ in ā€œJudas and the Black Messiahā€

Performance by an actress in a leading role

  • Viola DavisĀ in ā€œMa Rainey’s Black Bottomā€
  • Andra DayĀ in ā€œThe United States vs. Billie Holidayā€
  • Vanessa KirbyĀ in ā€œPieces of a Womanā€
  • Frances McDormandĀ in ā€œNomadlandā€
  • Carey MulliganĀ in ā€œPromising Young Womanā€

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

  • Maria BakalovaĀ in ā€œBorat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstanā€
  • Glenn CloseĀ in ā€œHillbilly Elegyā€
  • Olivia ColmanĀ in ā€œThe Fatherā€
  • Amanda SeyfriedĀ in ā€œMankā€
  • Yuh-Jung YounĀ in ā€œMinariā€

Best animated feature film of the year

  • ā€œOnwardā€Ā Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
  • ā€œOver the Moonā€Ā Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
  • ā€œA Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddonā€Ā Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
  • ā€œSoulā€Ā Pete Docter and Dana Murray
  • ā€œWolfwalkersā€Ā Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and StĆ©phan Roelants

Achievement in cinematography

  • ā€œJudas and the Black Messiahā€Ā Sean Bobbitt
  • ā€œMankā€Ā Erik Messerschmidt
  • ā€œNews of the Worldā€Ā Dariusz Wolski
  • ā€œNomadlandā€Ā Joshua James Richards
  • ā€œThe Trial of the Chicago 7ā€Ā Phedon Papamichael

Achievement in costume design

  • ā€œEmmaā€Ā Alexandra Byrne
  • ā€œMa Raineyā€™s Black Bottomā€Ā Ann Roth
  • ā€œMankā€Ā Trish Summerville
  • ā€œMulanā€Ā Bina Daigeler
  • ā€œPinocchioā€Ā Massimo Cantini Parrini

Achievement in directing

  • ā€œAnother Roundā€Ā Thomas Vinterberg
  • ā€œMankā€Ā David Fincher
  • ā€œMinariā€Ā Lee Isaac Chung
  • ā€œNomadlandā€Ā ChloĆ© Zhao
  • ā€œPromising Young Womanā€Ā Emerald Fennell

Best documentary feature

  • ā€œCollectiveā€Ā Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
  • ā€œCrip Campā€Ā Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
  • ā€œThe Mole Agentā€Ā Maite Alberdi and Marcela SantibƔƱez
  • ā€œMy Octopus Teacherā€Ā Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
  • ā€œTimeā€Ā Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn

Best documentary short subject

  • ā€œColetteā€Ā Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
  • ā€œA Concerto Is a Conversationā€Ā Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
  • ā€œDo Not Splitā€Ā Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
  • ā€œHunger Wardā€Ā Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
  • ā€œA Love Song for Latashaā€Ā Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan

Achievement in film editing

  • ā€œThe Fatherā€Ā Yorgos Lamprinos
  • ā€œNomadlandā€Ā ChloĆ© Zhao
  • ā€œPromising Young Womanā€Ā FrĆ©dĆ©ric Thoraval
  • ā€œSound of Metalā€Ā Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
  • ā€œThe Trial of the Chicago 7ā€Ā Alan Baumgarten

Best international feature film of the year

  • ā€œAnother Roundā€Ā Denmark
  • ā€œBetter Daysā€Ā Hong Kong
  • ā€œCollectiveā€Ā Romania
  • ā€œThe Man Who Sold His Skinā€Ā Tunisia
  • ā€œQuo Vadis, Aida?ā€Ā Bosnia and Herzegovina

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling

  • ā€œEmmaā€Ā Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
  • ā€œHillbilly Elegyā€Ā Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
  • ā€œMa Raineyā€™s Black Bottomā€Ā Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
  • ā€œMankā€Ā Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
  • ā€œPinocchioā€Ā Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

  • ā€œDa 5 Bloodsā€Ā Terence Blanchard
  • ā€œMankā€Ā Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
  • ā€œMinariā€Ā Emile Mosseri
  • ā€œNews of the Worldā€Ā James Newton Howard
  • ā€œSoulā€Ā Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

  • ā€œFight For Youā€Ā from ā€œJudas and the Black Messiahā€
    Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
  • ā€œHear My Voiceā€Ā from ā€œThe Trial of the Chicago 7ā€
    Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
  • ā€œHusavikā€Ā from ā€œEurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Sagaā€
    Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Gƶransson
  • ā€œIo SƬ (Seen)ā€Ā from ā€œThe Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)ā€
    Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
  • ā€œSpeak Nowā€Ā from ā€œOne Night in Miami…ā€
    Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

Best motion picture of the year

  • ā€œThe Fatherā€Ā David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
  • ā€œJudas and the Black Messiahā€Ā Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
  • ā€œMankā€Ā CeĆ”n Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
  • ā€œMinariā€Ā Christina Oh, Producer
  • ā€œNomadlandā€Ā Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and ChloĆ© Zhao, Producers
  • ā€œPromising Young Womanā€Ā Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
  • ā€œSound of Metalā€Ā Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
  • ā€œThe Trial of the Chicago 7ā€Ā Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers

Achievement in production design

  • ā€œThe Fatherā€Ā Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone
  • ā€œMa Raineyā€™s Black Bottomā€Ā Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen Oā€™Hara and Diana Stoughton
  • ā€œMankā€Ā Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
  • ā€œNews of the Worldā€Ā Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan
  • ā€œTenetā€Ā Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas

Best animated short film

  • ā€œBurrowā€Ā Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
  • ā€œGenius Lociā€Ā Adrien MĆ©rigeau and Amaury Ovise
  • ā€œIf Anything Happens I Love Youā€Ā Will McCormack and Michael Govier
  • ā€œOperaā€Ā Erick Oh
  • ā€œYes-Peopleā€Ā GĆ­sli Darri HalldĆ³rsson and Arnar Gunnarsson

Best live action short film

  • ā€œFeeling Throughā€Ā Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
  • ā€œThe Letter Roomā€Ā Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
  • ā€œThe Presentā€Ā Farah Nabulsi
  • ā€œTwo Distant Strangersā€Ā Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
  • ā€œWhite Eyeā€Ā Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman

Achievement in sound

  • ā€œGreyhoundā€Ā Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
  • ā€œMankā€Ā Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
  • ā€œNews of the Worldā€Ā Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
  • ā€œSoulā€Ā Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
  • ā€œSound of Metalā€Ā Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos CortĆ©s and Phillip Bladh

Achievement in visual effects

  • ā€œLove and Monstersā€Ā Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
  • ā€œThe Midnight Skyā€Ā Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
  • ā€œMulanā€Ā Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
  • ā€œThe One and Only Ivanā€Ā Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
  • ā€œTenetā€Ā Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher

Adapted screenplay

  • ā€œBorat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstanā€Ā Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
  • ā€œThe Fatherā€Ā Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
  • ā€œNomadlandā€Ā Written for the screen by ChloĆ© Zhao
  • ā€œOne Night in Miami…ā€Ā Screenplay by Kemp Powers
  • ā€œThe White Tigersā€Ā Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani

Original screenplay

  • ā€œJudas and the Black Messiahā€Ā Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
  • ā€œMinariā€Ā Written by Lee Isaac Chung
  • ā€œPromising Young Womanā€Ā Written by Emerald Fennell
  • ā€œSound of Metalā€Ā Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
  • ā€œThe Trial of the Chicago 7ā€Ā Written by Aaron Sorkin

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Matthew Razak
Matthew Razak
Contributing Writer
Matthew Razak is a News Writer and film aficionado at Escapist. He has been writing for Escapist for nearly five years and has nearly 20 years of experience reviewing and talking about movies, TV shows, and video games for both print and online outlets. He has a degree in Film from Vassar College and a degree in gaming from growing up in the '80s and '90s. He runs the website Flixist.com and has written for The Washington Post, Destructoid, MTV, and more. He will gladly talk your ear off about horror, Marvel, Stallone, James Bond movies, Doctor Who, Zelda, and Star Trek.