Covid-19 has inflicted an enormous blow on the movie industry, causing studios to halt film production and movie theaters to close. As a result, award shows such as the Golden Globes and Emmys have had to host ‘virtual’ ceremonies. However, the most prestigious of all the awards shows, the Oscars, has decided to be in person.

To adhere to Covid-19 guidelines, the Oscars, like the Golden Globes, will be a dual location show. Along with being held in person, the Oscars have been pushed back to April 25, two months later than their usual date in February. The delay was decided upon in order to extend the eligibility period for films to enter. This extension was needed due to the lower volume of films produced during the pandemic.

In recent years, viewership of the Oscars has been down significantly. Last year’s show garnered only 23.6 million viewers. While that may sound like a lot, it was the smallest size ever with 6 million less than 2019’s viewership count, which was itself the second smallest viewership of all-time. This begs the question: How low will this year’s viewership be?

With , the nominations now out — announced by Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas — the top films with the most nominations are: Mank (10), Nomadland (6), Judas and the Black Messiah (6), The Father (6), Minari (6), Sound of Metal (6), The Trial of the Chicago 7 (6).

Competition for the best picture award is remarkably close. Many predict that Nomadland will earn the title because of its success at the Golden Globes. Others predict that Promising Young Women directed by Emerald Fennell, Mank directed by David Fincher, or the all Black produced film by Spike Lee, Judas and the Black Messiah, will win. The one conclusion reached by all is the tightness of these Oscar races.

Here are the nominations for some of the most anticipated categories in the 2021 Oscars:

Best Picture:

The Father

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

Minari

Nomadland

Promising Young Women

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Director:

Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round

David Fincher, Mank

Lee Isaac Chung, Minari

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Best Lead Actor:

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Gary Oldman, Mank

Steven Yeun, Minari

Best Lead Actress:

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman

Frances McDormand, Nomadland

Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Best Supporting Actor:

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami

Paul Raci, Sound of Metal

Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Supporting Actress

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman, The Father

Amanda Seyfried, Mank

Youn Yuh-jung, Minari