Two award finalists, Netflix’s Train Dreams and Apple TV’s The Lost Bus, both prominently showcase devastating forest fires as a main point, nearly a year after a string of wildfires devastated Los Angeles. In the former, Robert Grainier, Joel Edgerton’s logger, returns home from a work trip to discover that his house, the nearby forest, and his old family life have all been destroyed by fire. Through the eyes of real-life school bus driver Kevin McKay (played by Matthew McConaughey), who was entrusted with transporting 22 children to safety during the tragedy, The Lost Bus tells the true story of the Camp Fire, the deadly and destructive wildfire that tore through California’s Butte County in 2018. The first step in achieving the vast visual effects needed for both films was to ground them by filming them in suitable settings. The area where Train Dreams was shot has already been devastated by fire.
VFX supervisor Ilia Mokhtareizadeh (After Yang) tells THR, “When I first read the script, my first thought was, ‘OK, we really have to do this justice.” “The movie didn’t have the most We undoubtedly had numerous logistical obstacles in order to complete tasks, but I don’t want to state it was a tight budget. In order to create the necessary ambiance, we constructed a massive lighting rig with smoke generators that we placed in the rear of the forest to produce all of the orange backlight. Mokhtareizadeh and his colleagues occasionally set tiny, useful fires for further visual reference, even though the majority of the wildfire scenes were completely computer-generated. He clarifies, “But there was absolutely no way that was going to be practical for the giant wall of fire in the distance.” The difficulty was that it had to feel very large and far since he wouldn’t be able to stand in it if it felt too close. … In the distance, there must have been some sort of menacing creature. During the sequences where Edgerton treks through the burning forest in pursuit of his family, the lighting equipment also served as a visual guide. The official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tony Awards ceremonies, compiled by Variety head awards editor Clayton Davis, are included in the Variety Awards Circuit section, which serves as the hub for all awards news and related content throughout the year. The prediction pages do not represent personal favorites for any particular challenger; rather, they show the current race standings. Competitions are dynamic and subject to alter depending on events and buzz, as previous official (and unofficial) polls indicate. Every Thursday, predictions are updated. Oscars Best Sound Commentary (as of December 7, 2025): This year’s Oscar contest for best sound is defined by action spectacles, musical world-building, and franchise muscle. Warner Bros.’ “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” both have rich, deep soundscapes based on layered chaos, a technique the branch has frequently praised. Apple’s “F1” transforms what could have been a typical sports bombast into a rich experience by relying on the mechanics of velocity and the emotional sound of motors. An authority on par with Despite Glenda Jackson’s well-known assertion that humor is more difficult than drama, Oscar voters typically reject it.

At the Golden Globes, which feature three categories dedicated to recognizing the finest in comedy and musicals, such isn’t the case. The number of Globe candidates for Best Comedy/Musical Film that make it into the Academy’s Best Picture lineup each year has increased since the Oscar field was increased from five to ten. Four of the six Globes comedy/musical candidates went on to win an Oscar in 2024. How many of the nominees from this year will be retained?
There are also a lot of franchise-heavy competitors. “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” Paramount’s last installment of Ethan Hunt’s continuous missions, and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” 20th Century Studios’ most recent exploration of the Pandora universe, both arrive with their signature aural ambition. The former is defined by tactile stunt settings, while the latter is influenced by the aural ecosystems of fire and water and is created by skilled craftspeople. NOTE: The Academy has the last say about all titles, release dates, studios, and listed and credited craftspeople. In Way of the Warrior Kid, Apple and Skydance’s adaptation of the best-selling children’s book by Jocko Willink, McConaughey will next star opposite Chris Pratt, Linda Cardellini, Jude Hill, and Ava Torres. The film, which was directed by McG, centers on a self-conscious boy who struggles to perform a single pull-up and is teased. That is, until his uncle Jake, a highly skilled Navy SEAL, is hurt while on a mission and moves in with his sister to receive treatment. Jake embarks on a new quest after learning that his 13-year-old nephew Marc is having scholastic, social, and physical difficulties: Blue Moon, Bugonia, Marty Supreme, No Other Choice, Nouvelle Vague, and One Battle After Another (which has nine nominations altogether) are this year’s nominees for Best Comedy/Musical Film. The musical sequel Wicked: For Good, which was expected to make it into both the Oscars and the Globes Best Film program, was conspicuously absent. The Greatest Image Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Casting Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing Top Hairstyles and Cosmetics Best Score for Production Design Best Visual Effects and Sound Best International Film and Best Animated Feature
The latest Oscar odds from Gold Derby suggest that the Best Picture contest may end up being a farce. Marty Supreme and Bugonia are expected to make it into the Top 10, and One Battle After Another is leading the pack to victory. One Battle After Another would join a select club of Comedy/Musical Film winners that advanced to the Academy Awards if it were to win both the Golden Globes and the Oscars, as is currently anticipated. The serious competitors Bohemian Rhapsody, The Descendants, The Hours, and Saving Private Ryan were defeated by recent Globes Comedy winners Green Book, The Artist, Chicago, and Shakespeare in Love. Ironically, comedic contenders like Birdman, Anora, and Everything Everywhere All at Once all won on Oscar night after losing at the Globes.