2026 Oscars Best Original Score Predictions

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 chief 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.

Oscars Best Original Score Commentary (Updated Nov. 19, 2025): An unusually diverse field of composers and contenders spans experimental soundscapes, franchise blockbusters and intimate character studies in this year’s original score race.

Leading the early conversation is Ludwig Göransson with “Sinners,” his latest collaboration with director Ryan Coogler. The two-time Oscar winner (for “Black Panther” and “Oppenheimer”) continues his hot streak and could be a future hat-trick victor.

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline of the season involves Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, a two-time nominee who has yet to win despite acclaimed scores for “Phantom Thread” (2017) and “The Power of the Dog” (2021). His latest orchestrations on Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” could finally be his breakthrough moment.

Also generating significant buzz on the circuit is Max Richter’s work on “Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao’s moving period drama. Richter, who is angling for his first serious Oscar bid, brings his signature neoclassical style to the Shakespeare-adjacent story.

The veteran contingent is well-represented. Two-time Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat returns with “Frankenstein” for Guillermo del Toro, while Oscar winner Hildur Guðnadóttir (“Joker”) offers “Hedda” for Nia DaCosta’s evocative drama. Two-time winner Hans Zimmer could also make a last-minute push with “F1.”

Volker Bertelmann, who won for “All Quiet on the Western Front,” has two Netflix entries: “Ballad of a Small Player” from Edward Berger and “A House of Dynamite” from Kathryn Bigelow. Three-time nominee Nicholas Britell contributes to the crowd-pleasing energy of “Jay Kelly” and remains deeply respected within the branch.

Coming off his win for “The Brutalist” last year, Daniel Blumberg’s experimental textures for “The Testament of Ann Lee” will surely be considered, alongside Jerskin Fendrix’s avant-garde sensibilities on “Bugonia,” his latest collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos.

Franchise films are also in the mix, with Simon Franglen returning to Pandora for “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” while Oscar winner Michael Giacchino brings muscular summer-blockbuster energy to “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” for Marvel Studios.

“Wicked: For Good” presents an interesting case, with John Powell and Stephen Schwartz collaborating on the musical continuation. The duo earned recognition last year — the question now is whether voters will go for it again.

Notable absences from eligibility (so far) include “Superman,” scored by John Murphy and David Fleming, and “After the Hunt” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, both of which failed to meet specific branch requirements.

The Academy’s rules demand that scores comprise at least 35% of a film’s total music and be created specifically for the picture. For franchise films, no more than 20% of pre-existing themes may be reused.

The preliminary voting period runs Dec. 8-12, with the shortlist announcement set for Dec. 16. Final nominations voting occurs Jan. 12-16, followed by the nominations announcement on Jan. 22.

NOTE: All titles, release dates, studios and listed and credited artisans are subject to change.