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On the eve of the Writers Guild Awards, let’s look back at how the Oscar contenders have been doing at the precursor prizes. Breaking down these early awards — by both nominations and winners — as well as the top Oscar nominations by categories gives us 35 key categories that determine the strongest Oscar contenders. These races range from the early bird Critics Choice nominations all the way to the Oscars, with stops along the way for the guilds, the Golden Globes and the BAFTAS.

Different films will have different strengths: some will do well with acting, others with writing and directing and some will pop up here and there. To be a strong Oscar contender, a film needs to be represented across a range of races.

Last year, Damien Chazelle‘s “La La Land” was the leader of the pack, with a total of 31 boxes ticked out of 35; it only missed out on the nomination and win boxes for SAG Film Ensemble and a writing win at BAFTA and WGA for Chazelle. It was the heavy favorite, of course, but Barry Jenkins “Moonlight” shocked us all and won Best Picture after ticking 26 boxes (the second highest tally) while Denis Villeneuve‘s “Arrival” had a tally of 17.

DISCUSS All the Oscar contenders with Hollywood insiders in our notorious forums

This year’s counting started with the Critics’ Choice, Golden Globes nominations and SAG Awards nominations in December, continued when the producers, writers and directors guilds as well as BAFTA announced their slates and also includes the results of the BFCA and HFPA final voting as well as those of the first wave of guilds.

“The Shape of Water” helmer Guillermo del Toro won Best Director at the DGA Awards. This brought his fantasy film into a tie with Martin McDonagh’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Both have 23 boxes ticked. While the latter was not eligible for consideration at the WGA Awards on Feb. 11, it is a strong contender at the BAFTA Awards one week later.

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ACE – American Cinema Editors

DGA – Directors Guild of America

PGA – Producers Guild of America

SAG – Screen Actors Guild

WGA – Writers Guild of America

Critics Choice, Best Picture – NOMINATION

Critics Choice, Best Picture – WIN

Golden Globe, Best Picture – NOMINATION (Comedy/Musical or Drama)

Golden Globe, Best Picture – WIN (Comedy/Musical or Drama)

Golden Globe, Directing – NOMINATION

Golden Globe, Directing – WIN

Golden Globe, Acting – NOMINATION (Any category)

Golden Globe, Acting – WIN (Any category)

Golden Globe, Writing – NOMINATION

Golden Globe, Writing – WIN

BAFTA, Best Picture – NOMINATION

BAFTA, Best Picture – WIN

BAFTA, Directing – NOMINATION

BAFTA, Directing – WIN

BAFTA, Acting – NOMINATION

BAFTA, Acting – WIN

BAFTA, Writing – NOMINATION

BAFTA, Writing – WIN

SAG, Singular Performance – NOMINATION

SAG, Singular Performance – WIN

SAG, Ensemble Cast – NOMINATION

SAG, Ensemble Cast – WIN

PGA – NOMINATION

PGA – WIN

DGA – NOMINATION

DGA – WIN

WGA – NOMINATION

WGA – WIN

ACE – NOMINATION

ACE – WIN

Oscar, Directing – NOMINATION

Oscar, Acting – NOMINATION

Oscar, Writing – NOMINATION

Oscar, Editing – NOMINATION

Love Across the Board? (Over 5 Total Nominations)

PREDICT the Oscar winners now; change them until March 4

Be sure to make your Oscar nomination predictions so that Hollywood studio executives can see how their films are faring in our Academy Awards odds. Don’t be afraid to jump in now since you can keep changing your predictions until just before winners are announced on March 4.