Sound Editing is the creation of sound effects, while sound mixing is the blending of sound effects, dialogue and music so that everything can be heard clearly. They really should just make it one sound category so there won’t be any more confusion.

5th Most Likely To Win: Bridge Of Spies

It may be a Best Picture nominee, but it doesn’t have a nomination in Sound Editing. It’s pretty rare for a film to win this category without also being nominated for Sound Editing, unless it’s a musical. Plus, this movie just has the feel of a Best Picture nominee that walks away with nothing.

4th Most Likely To Win: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Sorry, but when there’s an abundance of great sci-fi/action films in one year, The Academy isn’t going to be able to reward all of them. If this movie wins anything on Oscar Night, it’ll be visual effects, and even that seems like a long shot at this point.

3rd Most Likely To Win: The Martian

In another year, The Martian would be a surefire winner for both sound categories and Visual Effects. But this year, we have not one, not two, but THREE effects-heavy Best Picture nominated movies in both of the sound categories. And The Martian is the one without a Best Director nomination or a Best Editing nomination. The other two have better chances are winning in the top categories, so I think they also have better chances here.

2nd Most Likely To Win: The Revenant

I can see a scenario where there’s a split in the Sound categories. The sound mixing in this film is very good, and it feels like the kind of film that wins. But something tells me that the film isn’t gonna win in all that many categories.

MY PREDICTED WINNER: Mad Max: Fury Road

A loud action movie that everybody loves and has a Best Picture nominee? It just seems like the kind of film that’s gonna walk off with a lot of technical awards, including both Sound categories. It won the BFCA, and everybody is praising the film’s sound design. I fully expect Mad Max to walk off with both sound categories.

I’ve seen four of the five nominees. My ranking is;

1.) The Martian
2.) Mad Max: Fury Road
3.) The Revenant
4.) Bridge Of Spies