The Awardist Tracking the top Oscars contenders for 2022 Will Smith, Jessica Chastain, Ariana DeBose, Troy Kotsur, and more top Oscars contenders ahead of the 2022 ceremony. See who's winning major awards on the circuit so far with EW's scoreboard. By Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi Entertainment Weekly's Oscars expert, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' beat reporter, host of 'Quick Drag' Twitter Spaces, and cohost of 'EW's BINGE' podcast. Almost all of the drag content on this site is my fault (you're welcome). EW's editorial guidelines Updated on March 20, 2022 03:45PM EDT The awards race is serious business, but after the SAG Awards, we're down to the wire when it comes to predicting the top contenders for the Oscars 2022 ceremony. As critics groups and Academy Awards precursors deem the best films of the year as the March 27 broadcast inches closer, we'll keep tabs on who's winning (or losing) what in the hunt. Updating as the year progresses, check back with EW's Oscars scoreboard below to find out which players are making strides in the race, and which contenders are hanging on by a prayer throughout awards season. Awards bodies tracked so far: Sundance Film Festival Venice Film Festival (VIFF) Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Awards (TIFF) Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Gotham Awards National Board of Review (NBR) New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) American Film Institute Awards (AFI) Golden Globes Film Independent Spirit Awards (Indie Spirits) Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) Writers Guild of America Awards (WGA) ACE Eddie Awards (ACE) Directors Guild of America Awards (DGA) British Academy of Film & Television Arts Awards (BAFTA) Critics Choice Awards Producers Guild of America Awards (PGA) Oscars Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, and Ariana DeBose are the top Oscars contenders. Chiabella James/Warner Bros.; Glen Wilson/Amazon Studios; Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios Contenders for Best Picture 1. CODABest Picture (or equivalent) wins: Sundance Grand Jury Prize, AFI Top 10, SAG ensemble, PGABest Picture (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, WGA (Adapted), Oscars 2. The Power of the DogBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: VIFF Silver Lion, AFI Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, BAFTABest Picture (or equivalent) nominations: TIFF People's Choice Award runner-up, PGA, ACE, Oscars 3. King RichardBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10, ACEBest Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG ensemble, PGA, WGA (Original), Oscars 4. BelfastBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: TIFF People's Choice Award, PSIFF Vanguard Award, AFI Special AwardBest Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG ensemble, PGA, ACE, BAFTA, Oscars 5. Don't Look UpBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy), Critics Choice, SAG ensemble, PGA, WGA (Original), ACE, BAFTA, Oscars 6. DuneBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, PGA, WGA (Adapted), ACE, BAFTA, Oscars 7. Licorice PizzaBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: NBR, AFI Top 10Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy), Critics Choice, PGA, WGA (Original), ACE, BAFTA, Oscars 8. West Side StoryBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10, Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy)Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Critics Choice, PGA, WGA (Adapted), Oscars 9. Nightmare AlleyBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: AFI Top 10Best Picture (or equivalent) nominations: NBR Top 10, Critics Choice, WGA (Adapted), Oscars 10. Drive My CarBest Picture (or equivalent) wins: NYFCC, LAFCABest Picture (or equivalent) nominations: Cannes Palme d'Or, Oscars Emilia Jones and Marlee Matlin in 'CODA'. Apple TV + Contenders for Best Director 1. Jane Campion — The Power of the DogBest Director (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Director of the Year Award, Golden Globes, Critics Choice, DGA, BAFTABest Director (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars 2. Kenneth Branagh — BelfastBest Director (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Director (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, DGA, Oscars 3. Steven Spielberg — West Side StoryBest Director (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Director (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, DGA, Oscars 4. Paul Thomas Anderson — Licorice PizzaBest Director (or equivalent) wins: NBRBest Director (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, DGA, BAFTA, Oscars 5. Ryusuke Hamaguchi — Drive My CarBest Director (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Director (or equivalent) nominations: LAFCA runner-up, BAFTA, Oscars Jane Campion directs 'The Power of the Dog.'. KIRSTY GRIFFIN/NETFLIX Contenders for Best Actor 1. Will Smith — King RichardBest Actor (or equivalent) wins: SBIFF Outstanding Performer of the Year, NBR, Golden Globes (Drama), SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTABest Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars 2. Benedict Cumberbatch — The Power of the DogBest Actor (or equivalent) wins: TIFF Tribute Actor, NYFCCBest Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG, BAFTA, Oscars 3. Andrew Garfield — Tick, Tick… Boom!Best Actor (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Desert Palm Achievement Award, Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy)Best Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars 4. Denzel Washington — The Tragedy of MacbethBest Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars 5. Javier Bardem — Being the RicardosBest Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), SAG, Oscars Warner Bros. Pictures Contenders for Best Actress 1. Jessica Chastain — The Eyes of Tammy FayeBest Actress (or equivalent) wins: TIFF Tribute Actor, PSIFF Desert Palm Achievement Award, SAG, Critics ChoiceBest Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Oscars 2. Nicole Kidman — Being the RicardosBest Actress (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Career Achievement Award, Golden Globes (Drama)Best Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars 3. Olivia Colman — The Lost DaughterBest Actress (or equivalent) wins: Gotham AwardsBest Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars 4. Kristen Stewart — SpencerBest Actress (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF Spotlight AwardBest Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes (Drama), Critics Choice, Oscars 5. Penélope Cruz — Parallel MothersBest Actress (or equivalent) wins: PSIFF International Star Award, VIFF Volpi CupBest Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars Jessica Chastain in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye.'. Searchlight Pictures Contenders for Best Supporting Actor 1. Troy Kotsur — CODABest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: Gotham Awards, SAG, Indie Spirits, Critics Choice, BAFTABest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Oscars 2. Kodi Smit-McPhee — The Power of the DogBest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: NYFCC, Golden GlobesBest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, SAG, BAFTA, Oscars 3. Ciarán Hinds — BelfastBest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: NBRBest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, BAFTA, Oscars 4. Jesse Plemons — The Power of the DogBest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: BAFTA, Oscars 5. J.K. Simmons — Being the RicardosBest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Supporting Actor (or equivalent) nominations: Critics Choice, Oscars Troy Kotsur in 'CODA'. Apple TV + Contenders for Best Supporting Actress 1. Ariana DeBose — West Side StoryBest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: Golden Globes, SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTABest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars 2. Aunjanue Ellis — King RichardBest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: SBIFF Outstanding Performer of the Year, NBRBest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, BAFTA, Oscars 3. Kirsten Dunst — The Power of the DogBest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Golden Globes, Critics Choice, SAG, Oscars 4. Jessie Buckley — The Lost DaughterBest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Gotham Awards, Indie Spirits, BAFTA, Oscars 5. Judi Dench — BelfastBest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) wins: N/ABest Supporting Actress (or equivalent) nominations: Oscars 'West Side Story' star Ariana DeBose is a top contender for Best Supporting Actress at the 2022 Academy Awards. Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios Check out more from EW's The Awardist, featuring Oscars analysis, exclusive interviews, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's movies and performances. Related content: Oscars heat index: SAG Awards lift Jessica Chastain, Troy Kotsur as surprise Academy Awards contenders Why did the Oscars snub Lady Gaga, Caitríona Balfe, and more 2022 contenders? EW breaks down the nods Lady Gaga, Kevin Costner, Zoë Kravitz among 2022 Oscars presenters