Oscar Predictions: Breaking down all 24 categories

LOS ANGELES (WTHR) — And the Oscar goes to...

We have to wait until Sunday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. to find out who will be recognized at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Having seen all of the nominees and analyzing the statistics, here's my best bet on this year's winners:

Best Picture

• “1917”
• “Ford v Ferrari”
• “The Irishman”
• “Jojo Rabbit”
• “Joker”
• “Little Women”
• “Marriage Story”
• “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”
• “Parasite”

Will Win: "1917"

Could Win: "Parasite"

Let's look at the statistics on this one: "1917" is favored to win after securing top honors at the Golden Globes, British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), Directors Guild of America Awards (DGA) and Producers Guild Awards (PGA) — which is the only other award that is chosen through a preferential ballot where voters are asked to rank nominees in order from their favorite to least favorite. However, "Parasite" earned a huge victory at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) — becoming the first foreign language film to win Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Motion Picture. A major statistic going against the two front-runners? Only 11 films have won Best Picture without a single acting nomination — the last being "Slumdog Millionaire" 11 years ago. This could bode well for outside contenders like "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," which is sure to earn a victory for Brad Pitt, and "Jojo Rabbit." For now, I'm sticking with the most reliable contender through the awards season, but I'd love to be proven wrong if we get our first ever — and highly deserved — foreign language Best Picture winner.

Best Director

• Bong Joon-ho - “Parasite”
• Sam Mendes - “1917”
• Todd Phillips - "Joker"
• Martin Scorsese - “The Irishman”
• Quentin Tarantino - “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”​

Will Win: Sam Mendes - "1917"

Could Win: Bong Joon-ho - "Parasite"

In 2000, 34-year-old Sam Mendes won the Oscar with his directorial debut, "American Beauty." 20 years later, he's primed for another victory for his seemingly one-shot war drama. Bong Joon-ho created a masterpiece, but I expect the Academy to reward him for his writing and Mendes for his technical achievement following wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and DGA.

Best Actor

• Antonio Banderas - "Pain and Glory"
• Leonardo DiCaprio - “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”
• Adam Driver - “Marriage Story”​
• Joaquin Phoenix - “Joker”
• Jonathan Pryce - "The Two Popes"

Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix - "Joker"

Could Win: Adam Driver - "Marriage Story"

Phoenix is poised to win his first Oscar after three previous nominations. All of the acting categories are likely locked up as all four have swept the awards circuit with victories at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, BAFTAs and SAG. If victorious, this will be only the second time two actors have won for playing the same character (Heath Ledger posthumously won Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight"). In 1973, Marlon Brando won Best Actor for his role as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather," and two years later, Robert De Niro won Best Supporting Actor for the same role in "The Godfather: Part II."

Best Actress

• Cynthia Erivo - “Harriet”
• Scarlett Johansson - “Marriage Story”
• Saoirse Ronan - "Little Women"
• Charlize Theron - “Bombshell”​
• Renée Zellweger - “Judy”

Will Win: Renée Zellweger - “Judy”

Could Win: Charlize Theron - "Bombshell"

The legendary Judy Garland never won an Oscar, but Zellweger is sure to win for her heartbreaking turn as the American singer and actress. If you want to rely on history, only one person has lost the Oscar after winning the Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, SAG and BAFTA (Russell Crowe for "A Beautiful Mind" — who won the previous year for "Gladiator").

Best Supporting Actor

• Tom Hanks - “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
• Anthony Hopkins - "The Two Popes"
• Al Pacino - “The Irishman”
• Joe Pesci - “The Irishman”
• Brad Pitt - “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”

Will Win: Brad Pitt - "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood"

Could Win: Joe Pesci - "The Irishman"

The average age of this year's Best Supporting Actor nominees? 71. The "young" 56-year-old Brad Pitt has been a joy to watch during the awards season during his enjoyable acceptance speeches and is guaranteed a victory Sunday night.

Best Supporting Actress

• Kathy Bates - "Richard Jewell"
• Laura Dern - “Marriage Story”
• Scarlett Johansson - “Jojo Rabbit”
• Florence Pugh - "Little Women"
• Margot Robbie - “Bombshell”

Will Win: Laura Dern - "Marriage Story"

Could Win: Scarlett Johnansson - "Jojo Rabbit"

Hollywood royalty Laura Dern has been working in the industry since she was a teenager and will earn her first Oscar at 52 years old. There really isn't even a consensus for second place among the nominees — making Dern's victory that much easier.

Best Original Screenplay

• “1917” - Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
• “Knives Out” - Rian Johnson
• “Marriage Story” - Noah Baumbach
• “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” - Quentin Tarantino
• “Parasite” - Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won

Will Win: "Parasite"

Could Win: "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood"

This two-horse race is between two-time screenwriting winner Quentin Tarantino and co-writers Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won. "Parasite" won at the Writers Guild of America Awards (WGA) — but Tarantino's film wasn't eligible because he isn't a member. While "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" seemed like an early front-runner in many categories, it's buzz has died down. The opposite can be said for "Parasite."

Best Adapted Screenplay

• “The Irishman” - Steven Zaillian
• “Jojo Rabbit” - Taika Waititi
• “Joker” - Todd Phillips and Scott Silver
• “Little Women” - Greta Gerwig
• “The Two Popes” - Anthony McCarten

Will Win: "Jojo Rabbit"

Could Win: "Little Women"

Another two-horse race, this time between Taika Waititi and Greta Gerwig. If "Jojo Rabbit" is going to win anything, Adapted Screenplay is its best bet for its charmingly satirical script. Gerwig could ride the wave with those who think she was wrongfully snubbed for Best Director, but Waititi has the momentum with recent victories at WGA and BAFTAs.

Best Animated Feature Film

• “How to Train Your Dragon: The Missing World”
• “I Lost My Body”
• "Klaus"
• “Missing Link”
• “Toy Story 4”

Will Win: "Toy Story 4"

Could Win: "Klaus"

The Annie Awards recognize the best in animation, and Netflix's "Klaus" surprised with seven victories — the most of any feature film. "Toy Story 3" became the first — and only — sequel to win Best Animated Feature and its more than $1 billion worldwide box office makes it easily the most visible nominee. I'm predicting Pixar to win its 10th award in 19 years since the category's inclusion.

Best Animated Short Film

• "Dcera (Daughter)"
• “Hair Love”
• “Kitbull”
• "Memorable"
• “Sister”

Best Documentary — Feature

• “American Factory”
• "The Cave"
• "The Edge of Democracy"
• “For Sama”
• “Honeyland”

Will Win: "American Factory"

Could Win: "For Sama"

Having Barack and Michelle Obama's production company associated can only help a film's Oscar chances. "American Factory" showcases a Chinese billionaire opening a new factory in rural Ohio at an abandoned General Motors plant. Hundreds of Chinese employees skilled in running a large-scale glass-making operation are tasked with training the 2,000 new American hires, but things don't go according to plan.

Best Documentary — Short Subject

• “In the Absence”
• “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)”
• "Life Overtakes Me"
• “St. Louis Superman”
• “Walk Run Cha-Cha”

Will Win: "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)"

Could Win: "In the Absence"

The most appealing title of them all is a powerful 15-year journey of witnessing young girls learning to read, write and skateboard in the war-torn Kabul. The short films are the trickiest to predict, but I feel pretty confident in a female-centric documentary winning in the category for the second consecutive year ("Period. End of Sentence.").

Best Live Action Short Film

• “Brotherhood”
• “Nefta Football Club"
• “The Neighbors’ Window”
• “Saria"
• "A Sister"

Will Win: "The Neighbors' Window"

Could Win: "Brotherhood"

If you're looking to win your office pool, it may come down to this unpredictable category in which any of the five shorts could win, and I wouldn't be surprised. With no front-runner, I'm betting on the only live action short in English and the lightest subject material among the nominees — with many comparing the short to Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 thriller, "Rear Window." But really — you're guess is as good as mine.

Best International Feature Film

• “Corpus Christi”
• "Honeyland"
• “Les Misérables”
• “Pain and Glory”
• “Parasite”

Will Win: "Parasite"

Could Win: none

There is no easier category to predict. South Korea's first ever nomination in the previously titled Best Foreign Language Feature Film category will also result in its first win.

Best Film Editing

• “Ford v Ferrari”
• “The Irishman”
• "Jojo Rabbit"
• “Joker”
• “Parasite”

Will Win: "Parasite"

Could Win: "Ford v Ferrari"

Who will cross the finish line? It'll be a photo finish, but the advantage lies with the American Cinema Editors' winner and potential Best Picture spoiler.

Best Cinematography

• “1917”
• “The Irishman”
• “Joker”
• "The Lighthouse"
• “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”

Will Win: "1917"

Could Win: "Joker"

It took 14 nominations for esteemed cinematographer Roger Deakins to win his first Oscar ("Blade Runner 2049"), and he's sure to win his second for his immaculate camera work in the carefully-crafted war drama.

Best Production Design

• “1917”
• “The Irishman”
• “Jojo Rabbit”
• “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”
• “Parasite”

Will Win: "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood"

Could Win: "1917"

"Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," "1917" and "Parasite" would all be worthy winners but the re-creation of Hollywood's golden age likely won't go unrecognized.

Best Costume Design

• “The Irishman"
• "Jojo Rabbit"
• "Joker"
• “Little Women”
• “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”

Will Win: "Little Women"

Could Win: "Jojo Rabbit"

A late December release date likely prevented a nomination for "Little Women" with the Costume Designer Guild, but the elegant, colorful gowns from Jacqueline Durran taking center stage in the seventh adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott coming-of-age novel should prevail.

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

• "1917"
• “Bombshell”
• “Joker”
• "Judy"
• “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil"

Will Win: "Bombshell"

Could Win: "Joker"

Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly? John Lithgow as Roger Ailes? Both are nearly unrecognizable and should easily earn the victory following its wins with the Makeup and Hairstylist Guild, Critics' Choice and BAFTA.

Best Sound Editing

• “1917”
• “Ford v Ferrari”
• “Joker”
• “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”
• “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Will Win: "1917"

Could Win: "Ford v Ferrari"

The key is differentiating the categories. Sound editors appropriately place effects within the dialogue and action while sound mixers blend all sounds together in post-production. Both categories seem to be down to "1917" vs. "Ford v Ferrari," and it's easier to predict one film to win both than separate the two. I'll go with the Best Picture front-runner to defeat the racing drama.

Best Sound Mixing

• “1917”
• "Ad Astra"
• “Ford v Ferrari”
• “Joker”
• "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood"

Will Win: "1917"

Could Win: "Ford v Ferrari"

See above.

Best Visual Effects

• “1917”
• “Avengers: Endgame”
• “The Irishman”
• “The Lion King”

• “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Will Win: "The Lion King"

Could Win: "The Irishman"

In 2016, "The Jungle Book" won for its realistic visual effects. That's why I'm going with entirely photorealistic computer-animated remake of the 1994 film. The de-aging effects in "The Irishman" could surprise — and never count out the technical masterpiece, "1917" — but it's too difficult to bet against Disney.

Best Original Score

• “1917” - Thomas Newman
• “Joker” - Hildur Guðnadóttir
• “Little Women” - Alexandre Desplat
• “Marriage Story” - Randy Newman
• “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” - John Williams

Will Win: "Joker"

Could Win: "1917"

Yes, 15 nominations is a great achievement, but composer Thomas Newman ("1917") will likely lose for the 15th time. His score in "1917" carries the intensity in the thrilling British war film as the two young soldiers travel through the trenches, but Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir became only the seventh female nominee in the Academy's history and has already swept the awards circuit with wins at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards and BAFTAs. After recently re-watching "Joker," it's easy to see why Guðnadóttir's pulsating, eerily dark score is the clear front-runner.

Best Original Song

• “I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" - “Toy Story 4”
• “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” - “Rocketman”
• "I'm Standing with You" - "Breakthrough"
• “Into the Unknown” - “Frozen II”
• “Stand Up” - “Harriet”

Will Win: "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" - "Rocketman"

Could Win: "Stand Up" - "Harriet"

If Cynthia Erivo happens to win as a co-writer for "Stand Up," she will become the youngest EGOT — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — winner ever. However, I don't see the Academy passing up the opportunity to award Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin for their song written for the former's biopic, which has already won trophies at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards and Satellite Awards.