Oscar Predictions: Best Sound — Action Epics, Musical World-Building and Franchise Giants Define the Aural Race

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Oscars Best Sound Commentary (Updated Dec. 7, 2025): Action spectacles, musical world-building and franchise muscle define this year’s Oscar race for best sound race.

“One Battle After Another” and “Sinners,” both from Warner Bros., deliver dense, immersive soundscapes built on layered chaos, a style the branch has often rewarded. Apple’s “F1” leans on the visceral roar of engines and the physics of velocity, elevating what could have been standard sports bombast into a textured experience.

Universal’s “Wicked: For Good” showcases how musically driven films can compete with the loudest blockbusters (although the CCA snub for best sound stings a little).

Franchise-heavy contenders also loom large. Paramount’s final installment of Ethan Hunt’s ongoing missions, “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” and 20th Century Studios’ latest look at the world of Pandora, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” arrive with trademark sonic ambition. Tactile stunt environments define the former, while the latter, shaped by veteran artisans, is determined by the aural ecosystems of water and fire.

Even character-driven dramas like A24’s “Marty Supreme” and 20th’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” remind voters that quiet can be competitive when it’s emotionally calibrated.

Watch out for Apple’s “The Lost Bus” and Netflix’s “Frankenstein” — both of which add intrigue and a level of passion that can occupy the branch members.

Oscars shortlist voting begins Dec. 8.

NOTE: All titles, release dates, studios and listed and credited artisans are subject to change, and are ultimately determined by the Academy.

Eligible Artisans (Best Sound)