Oscar Predictions: Best Makeup and Hairstyling

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 23rd. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: A Man Called Ove, Star Trek Beyond, Suicide Squad

This year’s locks: Darkest Hour

Very likely: I, Tonya

Possible: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Wonder

Unlikely: Victoria and Abdul, Bright, Ghost in the Shell

The rundown: Don’t look to the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild, who have separate contemporary and period races for makeup and hair, for much help in predicting this category since six out of the seven Oscar finalists scored bids. The only one that didn’t is Victoria and Abdul, which has a leg up in that it may contend in other categories. Darkest Hour being snubbed would be shocking to an incredible degree, and I feel like I, Tonya is almost as certain. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 should be able to follow the first film in earning a nomination, with Wonder providing its strongest competition. I’d be surprised if Netflix’s Bright showed up, though crazier things have happened, and Ghost in the Shell just doesn’t seem likely.

Forecasted winner: How could it not go to Darkest Hour?