2020 Oscar Nomination Predictions: MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING and VISUAL EFFECTS (November)

Dolemite Is My Name bounces back up into the top for Makeup & Hairstyling this month as The Irishman drops down. It’s a tough call since this branch really loves its old man makeup. While the aging makeup in The Irishman is quite good (especially on Joe Pesci) they might have to really show what was makeup vs VFX throughout the film.
Here are my 2020 Oscar Nomination Predictions in Makeup & Hairstyling and Visual Effects for November 26, 2019.
MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
Green – moves up Red – moves down Blue – new/re-entry
1. Bombshell (Lionsgate)
2. Judy (Roadside Attractions)
3. Joker (Warner Bros)
4. Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)
5. Downton Abbey (Focus Features)
NEXT UP (alphabetical by film)
1917 (Universal)
The Aeronauts (Amazon)
The Irishman (Netflix)
Little Women (Sony/Columbia)
Rocketman (Paramount)
OTHER CONTENDERS (alphabetical by film)
Aladdin (Disney)
Avengers: Endgame (Disney)
Hustlers (STX Entertainment)
IT: Chapter Two (Warner Bros)
The King (Netflix)
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Disney)
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (Sony/Columbia)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Disney)
Us (Universal)
MAKEUP OR VFX?
Cats (Universal)
Gemini Man (Paramount)

Moving The Lion King up to the top spot for Visual Effects since they made the (obvious) decision to not submit it as an animated film even though it’s 100% artificially created as any computer generated animated film is. Everything else feels good for now until we have the December shortlist and VFX nominations to give some more direction.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Green – moves up Red – moves down Blue – new/re-entry
1. The Lion King (Disney)
2. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Disney)
3. Avengers: Endgame (Disney)
4. Ad Astra (20th Century Fox)
5. The Irishman (Netflix)
NEXT UP (alphabetical by film)
1917 (Universal)
The Aeronauts (Amazon)
Cats (Universal)
Gemini Man (Paramount)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (Sony)
OTHER CONTENDERS (alphabetical by film)
Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox)
Aladdin (Disney)
Captain Marvel (Disney)
Dumbo (Disney)
Ford v Ferrari (20th Century Fox)
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Warner Bros)
Midway (Lionsgate)
Pokemon Detective Pikachu (Warner Bros)
Terminator: Dark Fate (Paramount/20th Century Fox)
- 2026 Cannes Film Festival Winners: Cristian Mingiu’s ‘Fjord’ Takes the Palme, Seventh Win in a Row for NEON - May 23, 2026
- Cannes 2026: Sandra Wollner’s ‘Everytime’ Wins Un Certain Regard Grand Prize - May 22, 2026
- ‘Coward’ Review: Belgian Soldiers Find Love in Lukas Dhont’s Hidden Romance Masterpiece [A] Cannes - May 21, 2026

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 345: Recapping the 79th Cannes Film Festival and Looking to the Awards Future
‘The Beloved’ Review: Javier Bardem Makes a Meal Out of Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s Movie-Making Buffet [B]
‘The Dreamed Adventure’ Review: Valeska Grisebach’s Observant Thriller Examines the Grey Zones of Morality [B+]
‘Minotaur’ Review: Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Timeless, Domestic Epic is an Unflinching Look at Putin’s Russia [A] Cannes