The 96th Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, arrives March 10. With top contenders like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things,” it’s shaping up to be a close race, and I for one couldn’t be more excited — although maybe not as excited as Kimmel, who “always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times.” Here are some of my predictions. 

(Disclaimer: I still haven’t finished “Oppenheimer,” I unfortunately couldn’t stomach a three-hour glorified war movie)

Best supporting actress: America Ferrera — “Barbie”

America Ferrera, who played Gloria — a mother and Mattel employee — in “Barbie,” touched the hearts of women all over the world with a monologue that perfectly encapsulated the hardship of being a woman in a perpetually male-dominated society. Her performance was touching, relatable and funny. Although she is up for best supporting actress, I don’t believe “Barbie” would have been successful without Ferrera. 

Best supporting actor: Mark Ruffalo — “Poor Things” 

Mark Ruffalo stepped away from his Marvel roots to present a distinctly personal portrayal of Duncan Wedderburn in the comedy “Poor Things.” Initially, Ruffalo was intimidated by the script, believing he wasn’t the right fit for the role — “I haven’t done a lot of comedy,” he told Entertainment Weekly. Unsurprisingly, his performance didn’t disappoint — it was funny yet peculiar, and certainly one to watch out for.

Best original song: “What Was I Made For?” — “Barbie”

Billie Eilish and her brother FINNEAS have done it again — mixing Eilish’s breathtaking vocals with FINNEAS’ stunning production. The song captures the experience of womanhood, or better yet, girlhood. Paired with a montage of Barbie transitioning from a doll to a woman, many viewers were left in tears, and I’m no exception.

Best animated feature: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” may be one of the most unique movies I’ve ever seen. The sequel to “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Across the Spider-Verse” uses six different animation styles, mixing 2D and 3D animation to represent different storylines and locations. Gwen Stacy’s universe, for example, is painted with watercolors and littered with soft pastels, contrasting Miles Morales’ world, which uses darker colors and clearer and more distinct art. However, the transition between styles is never distracting — the unique art form only adds layers to an already anticipated watch. 

Best actor: Cillian Murphy — “Oppenheimer”

Murphy’s portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer” has made him the shoo-in for best actor. His performance has been described as one of his best — intense yet controlled and perfectly haunting. This is the actor’s fifth collaboration with director Christopher Nolan, although it’s Murphy’s first as the lead.

Best actress: Emma Stone — “Poor Things”

Stone delivered an eccentric yet chilling performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things,” a modern-day twist on “Frankenstein.” In the film, Bella is a “newborn,” her brain implanted in the head of her dead mother. Littered among overwhelmingly positive reviews, Stone did receive backlash for the role, some pointing out that the sexual awakening her character undergoes is disturbing, and her character can be perceived as sexist or exaggerated. Stone responded to the backlash, telling The Times she “didn’t see a child” in her scenes. However, criticism typically ended with the risqué nature of the content rather than the performance itself. Emma Stone, you will always have my heart.

Best picture: “Oppenheimer”

“Oppenheimer,” which follows J. Robert Oppenheimer’s work on the Manhattan Project during World War II, is already sweeping award season — winning seven awards at the BAFTAs and five awards at the Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture and Best Director.The movie has received some audience criticism for its selective content and length but is still predicted to win. Typically, Best Picture is awarded to a drama that features actors nominated in other major categories like best actor and director and is put out by a major film studio; “Oppenheimer” certainly meets this criteria. 

“Everything, Everywhere All at Once,” an unconventional film about the relationship between a mother and daughter, won “Best Picture” last year, giving me hope that a movie like “Past Lives” also has a shot. “Barbie” is another considerable mention; however, due to its performance this award season thus far and its genre, I think a win is unlikely.

Best director: Christopher Nolan — “Oppenheimer”

Will 2024 be Nolan’s year? It’s looking like the odds may be in his favor. Best director was his 24th Oscar nomination and would be his seventh win. However, Martin Scorsese’s direction of “Killers of the Flower Moon” is another top nomination. Best director is always a dicey and unpredictable category, so this one will truly come down to the Academy.

Best costume design: “Barbie” 

Perhaps my favorite category, the pink-soaked, colorful costumes featured in “Barbie” were one of the best parts of the film. The eccentric nature of the outfits isn’t even clear until Barbie and Ken enter the real world donning colorful jumpsuits and neon rollerblades; they fit right into the absurdity of “Barbie Land.” 

Jacqueline Durran is the mastermind behind the incredible wardrobe. Durran had worked with director Greta Gerwig previously on the 2019 adaptation of “Little Women,” which Durran went on to win an Oscar for. In an interview with The LA Times, Duran admitted she was initially fearful — “I wanted to do it justice — that was the fear. You watch it now and it looks so straightforward and simple. But that took a lot of working things out and conversation because it was almost a blank page.” It’s clear that she didn’t disappoint — performances from a star-studded cast may have shined on their own, but “Barbie Land” wouldn’t exist without Durran’s brilliance.

Catch the Oscars March 10, airing live on ABC.