Best Actor nominees
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences handed out its first awards in 1929, sound was still a new concept, and no "talkies" were allowed to be nominated for best picture — it was believed that it would present an unfair advantage. Emil Jannings took home the first Oscar for Best Actor during that ceremony, but now, everyone wants to know — will this be the year Leo finally gets his Oscar?
- Bryan Cranston, as Dalton Trumbo in Trumbo
- Matt Damon, as Mark Watney in The Martian
- Leonardo DiCaprio, as Hugh Glass in The Revenant
- Michael Fassbender, as Steve Jobs in Steve Jobs
- Eddie Redmayne, as Lili in The Danish Girl
Best Actress nominees
Bette Davis holds the record for most consecutive Best Actress nominations, along with Greer Garson, both of whom have been nominated five times — out of those five times, both received one Academy Award.
- Cate Blanchett, as Carol Aird in Carol
- Brie Larson, as Joy "Ma" Newsome in Room
- Jennifer Lawrence, as Joy in Joy
- Charlotte Rampling, as Kate Mercer in 45 Years
- Saoirse Ronan, as Eilis in Brooklyn
Best Supporting Actor nominees
Bradley Cooper, who has yet to win an Oscar, has been nominated three years in a row — twice for Best Actor and once for Best Supporting Actor. And although it's rare, some actors have received both types of nominations in the same year. Most recently, Jamie Foxx was nominated for Best Actor for his lead role in Ray and Best Supporting Actor in Collateral in 2004.
- Christian Bale, as Michael Burry in The Big Short
- Tom Hardy, as John Fitzgerald in The Revenant
- Mark Ruffalo, as Mike Rezendes in Spotlight
- Mark Rylance, as Rudolf Abel in Bridge of Spies
- Sylvester Stallone, as Rocky Balboa in Creed
Best Supporting Actress nominees
When Patty Duke accepted her Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1963, she gave the shortest acceptance speech to date. Her words? "Thank you." What will this year's winner say in her speech?
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, as Daisy Domergue in The Hateful Eight
- Rooney Mara, as Therese Belivet in Carol
- Rachel McAdams, as Sacha Pfeiffer in Spotlight
- Alicia Vikander, as Gerda in The Danish Girl
- Kate Winslet, as Joanna Hoffman in Steve Jobs
Best Director nominees
John Ford still holds the record for most Best Director Academy Awards, with four. William Wyler holds the record for most nominations in this category (12) and has won three.