FINAL 2021 Oscar Nomination Predictions: COSTUME DESIGN

A peculiar category where there are three pretty clear leaders in Emma., Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Mank, who hit CDG, BAFTA and Critics Choice. From there it’s really up in the air.
Mulan and Promising Young Woman both earned CDG and BFCA nominations it’s a tough road for contemporary costumes at the Oscars so unless PYW is suddenly a top 2 film I don’t see it pulling off this hat trick so the upper hand goes to Mulan‘s period/fantasy costuming.
I’m confounded as to why News of the World hasn’t simply underperformed in costume categories, it’s non-existent. And from a previous winner, no less. When the film failed to score a Producers Guild nomination this week or a BAFTA nomination today it was enough to make me pull the film from here too. I’m taking a giant risk and going with Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Costumed by a previous nominee (Michael Wilkinson, American Hustle) and with colors and designs that feel impossible to pass up.
It’s a risky prediction but unless NotW massively overperforms I can see Jingle Jangle happening unless Ammonite (from previous winner Michael O’Connor) somehow translates its only BAFTA nomination into an Oscar nod. Or…15-time nominee and 3-time winner Sandy Powell shocks with a nomination for The Glorias. She’s been the sole nomination for her film three times before, not to mention Glorias director Julie Taymor’s perfect record with getting a nomination in this category for all four of her feature films.
Here are my final 2021 Oscar nomination predictions in Costume Design.
- 1. Mank (Netflix) – BAFTA, BFCA, CDG
Trish Summerville - 2. Emma. (Focus Features) – BAFTA, BFCA, CDG
Alexandra Byrne - 3. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) – BAFTA, BFCA, CDG
Ann Roth - 4. Mulan (Walt Disney Pictures) – BFCA, CDG
Bina Daigeler - 5. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Michael Wilkinson
Watch out for: The Glorias (Roadside Attractions)
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