2015 Oscar Predictions: Best Actor – Cumberbatch’s Game Improves, Carell Taps Out

Michael Keaton (Birdman) keeps his #1 ranking here (only receiving 1st and 2nd place votes) but The Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) is making his move, jockeying up 9 points to land at #2 and doing a virtual flip-flop with Steve Carell (Foxcatcher). The once strong contender tumbles nine for 3rd place.
Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) builds on the strength of his film’s reception at the Toronto Film Festival and breaks into the top 5 at #5. Only Erik and David are held back from voting him, opting instead for Unbroken‘s Jack O’Connell and American Sniper‘s Bradley Cooper, respectively.
Jason is the lone holdout in voting for Selma‘s David Oyelowo, but it also falls in line with his lack of confidence in the film across the board. Like David, his fifth spot is for Cooper.
- ‘Jay Kelly,’ ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Task’ and More on AFI’s Top 10 Films and Television of 2025 Lists - December 4, 2025
- ‘Frankenstein’ to Receive Visionary Honor from Palm Springs International Film Awards - December 4, 2025
- Robert Yeoman to be Honored with American Society of Cinematographers’ Lifetime Achievement Award - December 3, 2025


‘Jay Kelly,’ ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Task’ and More on AFI’s Top 10 Films and Television of 2025 Lists
‘Frankenstein’ to Receive Visionary Honor from Palm Springs International Film Awards
Robert Yeoman to be Honored with American Society of Cinematographers’ Lifetime Achievement Award
National Board of Review: ‘One Battle After Another’ Tops in Film, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor; Netflix Lands Four in Top 10