Final Oscar Predictions: Best Sound Oppenheimers Willie D. Burton Could Become Fi

September 2024 · 9 minute read

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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 senior 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.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

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OSCARS | EMMYS | GRAMMYS | TONYS

2024 Oscars Predictions:
Best Achievement in Sound

Weekly Commentary (Updated March 7, 2024): In the highly competitive sound category, “Oppenheimer” production sound mixer Willie D. Burton could become the first Black person to win three Oscars in the category, an historic achievement. A victory for “Oppenheimer” would also grant Universal Pictures its 10th statue, placing it third overall behind Columbia Pictures and MGM.

Burton won two Academy Awards previously for “Bird” and “Dreamgirls.” Nominated alongside Burton is four-time winner Richard King (he won for best sound editing when the category was divided into two). He would become the most awarded, breaking his tie with Ben Burtt, and joining sound mixers Thomas T. Moulton, Douglas Shearer and Fred Hynes, who all have won five.

The closest competition to “Oppenheimer” is the BAFTA winning “The Zone of Interest,” which has outstanding work that adds to the intense nature of the drama.

Will Win: “Oppenheimer” (Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O’Connell)
Could Win: “The Zone of Interest” (Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn)
Should Win: “Oppenheimer”
Should have been here: “Robot Dreams” (Steven Ghouti, Fabiola Ordoyo, Laia Picón) and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Michael Semanick, Juan Peralta, Geoffrey G. Rubay)

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.

The 96th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 10.

And the Nominees Are:

  • Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) — Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O’Connell
  • The Zone of Interest” (A24) — Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn
  • Maestro” (Netflix) — Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
  • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” (Paramount Pictures) — Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
  • The Creator” (20th Century Studios) — Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
  • Eligible Titles (Alphabetized by Studio)**

    2022 category winner: “Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount Pictures) — Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor

    Oscars Predictions Categories

    BEST PICTURE | DIRECTOR | BEST ACTOR | BEST ACTRESS | SUPPORTING ACTOR | SUPPORTING ACTRESS | ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY | ADAPTED SCREENPLAY | ANIMATED FEATURE | PRODUCTION DESIGN | CINEMATOGRAPHY | COSTUME DESIGN | FILM EDITING | MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING | SOUND | VISUAL EFFECTS | ORIGINAL SCORE | ORIGINAL SONG | DOCUMENTARY FEATURE | INTERNATIONAL FEATURE | ANIMATED SHORT | DOCUMENTARY SHORT | LIVE ACTION SHORT

    About the Academy Awards

    The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners have been selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Seventeen branches are represented within the nearly 10,000-person membership. The branches are actors, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists’ representatives), music, producers, production design, short films and feature animation, sound, visual effects and writers.

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