Variety Editor

Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis forecasts top 2026 Oscar races, predicting Best Actress frontrunners and whether Sinners could set records in a tight Best Picture field. Discussed on ABC News March 14, Davis analyzes prior awards shows like BAFTAs for predictive patterns favoring Warner Bros films. The preview comes hours before the March 15 ceremony in LA, influencing betting odds. Davis notes, 'Previous wins give strong insight into Oscar outcomes.'

ABC News interviewed Variety's chief awards editor Clayton Davis, who analyzed recent awards to forecast 2026 Oscar outcomes, including Best Actress, Best Picture, and whether 'Sinners' will set records. Davis highlighted frontrunners emerging from guilds and other ceremonies as reliable indicators for Sunday's Academy Awards. The discussion underscores 'Sinners' potential historic run from Warner Bros amid industry turmoil. Predictions come days before the March 15 ceremony in Los Angeles.

Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis forecasts strong wins for Warner Bros. films 'One Battle After Another' and 'Sinners' at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15 in Los Angeles, potentially breaking records amid industry turmoil from mergers and AI threats. Davis highlighted frontrunners in Best Actress based on prior awards momentum from SAG and BAFTA. The predictions come as Hollywood faces a production slump and layoffs, intensifying pre-Oscars anxiety. Experts note the ceremony's role as a PR boost for a struggling industry.