2018 Oscar Predictions: BEST ACTOR – Gary Oldman Charges Through
What more is there to say about Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour from Focus Features) and is security as the next Best Actor Oscar winner? He has the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Screen Actors Guild awards. He only has BAFTA to lock down and really, it’s not like their not going to give this to him, he’s playing one of Britain’s most respected leaders of all time.
But it’s who’s in second place (right now) that might surprise. It’s not Timothée Chalamet (Sony Pictures Classics’ Call Me By Your Name) as its been all season, it’s Daniel Day-Lewis Phantom Thread, also from Focus Features. Not by much, but still significant. Phantom Thread‘s extraordinary over-performance on nomination morning, earning Best Picture and Director nominations, plus the possibility of it being DDL’s swan song tips him over by just two points. If there is an upset in the making for Oldman it might be Day-Lewis. It’s worth noting that no Best Actor has ever won without being SAG nominated first, which DDL wasn’t. But, this season has been filled with hurdles that need jumping that are, and could, happen.
Here are the Best Actor winner predictions from the Gold Rush Gang for Tuesday, January 30, 2018.
| BEST ACTOR | ERIK ANDERSON |
BRYAN BONAFEDE | GREG HOWARD | EVAN KOST |
JASON OSIASON | KENNETH POLISHCHUK |
DENIZCAN SÜRÜCÜ | RICHARD ANTHONY |
ŞÜKRÜ SÖĞÜT | MATT DINN | TOTAL POINTS |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100 |
| 2 | Daniel Day-Lewis – Phantom Thread | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 85 |
| 3 | Timothée Chalamet – Call Me by Your Name | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 83 |
| 4 | Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 72 |
| 5 | Denzel Washington – Roman J. Israel, Esq. | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 60 |
- Oscar Shortlists: ‘Sinners’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ Net Most Mentions, ‘Sirāt’ Makes Sound Waves - December 16, 2025
- San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Awards: ‘Sinners’ Tops in Picture, Director, Actor - December 15, 2025
- Southern Eastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) Awards: ‘Sinners,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ Top Most Wins - December 15, 2025


Oscar Shortlists: ‘Sinners’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ Net Most Mentions, ‘Sirāt’ Makes Sound Waves
‘The Housemaid’ Review: Going From Booktok to Big Screen Saps Thriller of Sexiness and Fun [D]
‘Fallout’ Season Two Review: Bring Back My Ghouls [A-]