2021 Oscar Predictions: CINEMATOGRAPHY (December)

As alluring as it sounds to have a category like cinematography be composed entirely of first-time nominees, it’s not going to happen. Regardless of branch, voters have their favorites and friends. That doesn’t mean we aren’t in store for the majority to likely be new, however.

Erik Messerschmidt (Mank) and Nomadland‘s Joshua James Richards are locks here. Each won some critics’ hardware last week with Richards taking three cinematography wins so far. Dariusz Wolski has one of the most prolific careers as a Hollywood cinematographer with films like Crimson Tide, the Pirates of the Caribbean series and Ridley Scott’s go to DP for the last 10 years. Yet he’s never earned an Oscar nomination. That could change with News of the World. Another never-nominated director of photography is Da 5 Bloods‘ Newton Thomas Sigel. Also a blockbuster lenser, Sigel has been behind Bohemian Rhapsody, Three Kings and The Usual Suspects and also has Cherry with Tom Holland coming out in March.

But previous nominees Hoyte van Hoytema (Tenet) and Phedon Papamichael (The Trial of the Chicago 7) are their to stake their own claim with Sean Bobbitt (Judas and the Black Messiah) not far behind.

Green – moves up; Red – moves down; Blue – new entry this month

1. Mank (Netflix)
Erik Messerschmidt

2. Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
Joshua James Richards

3. Tenet (Warner Bros)
Hoyte van Hoytema

4. News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Dariusz Wolski

5. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Phedon Papamichael

6. Minari (A24)
Lachlan Milne

7. Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros)
Sean Bobbitt

8. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Tobias A. Schliessler

9. Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Newton Thomas Sigel

10. The Prom (Netflix)
Matthew Libatique

Other Contenders (alphabetical by film)

The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
Ben Smithard

Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix)
Maryse Alberti

The Midnight Sky (Netflix)
Martin Ruhe

Mulan (Walt Disney Pictures)
Mandy Walker

One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Tami Reiker

News of the World image courtesy of Bruce Talamon/Universal Pictures