How my Saturn Award votes and predictions fared for National Science Fiction Day

Happy National Science Fiction Day!  I was planning on examining the speculative fiction nominees at the Critics' Choice Awards, but as I started to write it, I realized that I never did write a post mortem on my 2019 Saturn Awards votes and predictions.  While that may not get me as many readers, doing so will be a good examination of my judgment for the new year and hopefully improve my ability to prognosticate.  Besides, I'll feel better about myself, even if my predictions ended up being terrible.*

Follow over the jump for the Saturn Awards winners vs. my votes and predictions, plus a running total with a full point for a single prediction coming true and half a point for one of a split prediction winning or my vote forecasting the winner.  Votes versus winners is just one point each.


Best Action/Adventure Film: My vote — Mission: Impossible - Fallout.  My prediction — Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Winner: Mission: Impossible - Fallout.  1 points out of 1 for both predictions and votes.

Best Actor in a Film: My vote — Robert Downey Jr. (Avengers: Endgame).  My prediction — Robert Downey Jr. (Avengers: Endgame). Winner: Robert Downey, Jr.  2 points out of 2 for both predictions and votes.

Best Actress in a Film: My vote — Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns).  My prediction — Brie Larson (Captain Marvel). Winner: Nope, neither, Jamie Lee Curtis.  This was even more of a fandom vote than I expected, but I don't disagree with it.  The professionals would like her, too.  Still 2 points, but now out of 3 for both predictions and votes.

Best Animated Film Release: My vote — Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse.  My prediction — Incredibles 2. Winner: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse.  My vote was right, but my prediction was wrong.  That's because I expected the electorate to vote for the popular choice, not the professional choice.  In fact, the winners reflected professional opinion more than I expected, a theme of last year's awards.  Half a point, so 2.5 points out of 4 for both predictions and votes.  However, I'm 3 out of 4 for my votes.

Best Comic to Motion Picture Release: My vote — Aquaman.  My prediction — Captain Marvel. Nope. Winner: Avengers: Endgame.  I voted my personal preference for DC movies and superheroes (I'm a Batman fan), not either the professional or perceived fandom choices.  This win is the first for an outright Avengers movie for this category in Saturn Awards history and breaks the pattern of the award going to an MCU movie about a single character or lesser-known group.  It's also one the fans and professionals could agree on.  Still 2.5 points, but now out of 5 for predictions, but 3 out of 5 for votes.

Best Fantasy Film Release: My vote — Mary Poppins Returns.  My prediction — Aladdin.  Nope, neither, Winner: Toy Story 4.  Disney won no matter what, but I lost.  2.5 points out of 6 for predictions, so I'm behind there and even at 3 of 6 for votes.

Best Film Costume Design: My vote — Sandy Powell (Mary Poppins Returns).  My prediction — Aladdin. Winner: Aladdin.  I was right about my prediction at least.  3.5 points out of 7, so I'm now even on predictions but behind on votes at 3 of 7.

Best Film Director: My vote — Jordan Peele (Us).  My prediction — Anthony Russo & Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame).  Winner: Jordan Peele.  I'm glad my decision to not boycott this particular movie because it was made eligible by the extended deadline paid off.  Peale is that good.  4 points out of 8 for both predictions and votes, so even for both.

Best Film Editing: My vote — Christopher Tellefsen (A Quiet Place).  My prediction — Avengers: Endgame or John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.  Winner: Avengers: Endgame.  I got my prediction right, but I'm still just keeping even at 4.5 of 9.  On the other hand, I'm behind on my votes at 4 of 9.

Best Film Make Up: My vote — Suspiria (Mark Coulier, Fernanda Perez).  My prediction — The Dead Don't Die or Pet Sematary. Nope, none of them. Winner: Avengers: Endgame.  I don't do well with superheroes for either make-up or costumes.  I'm behind again at 4.5 out of 10 for predictions and 4 of 10 for votes.

Best Film Music: My vote — Marc Shaiman (Mary Poppins Returns).  My prediction — Alan Silvestri.  Winner: Marc Shaiman for Mary Poppins Returns.  Once again, my vote helped the winner and me at 5 out of 11 for both predictions and votes.

Best Film Production Design: My vote — John Myhre (Mary Poppins Returns).  My prediction — Aladdin or Avengers: Endgame. Winner: Avengers: Endgame.   Still behind at 5.5 out of 12 for predictions and 5 of 12 for votes.

Best Film Special / Visual Effects: My vote — Ready Player One (TBD).  My prediction — Avengers: Endgame or Godzilla: King of Monsters. Winner: Avengers: Endgame.  Still falling behind at 6 out of 13 for predictions and 5 of 13 for votes.

Best Film Writing: My vote — Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John Krasinski (A Quiet Place).  My prediction — Avengers: Endgame. Winner: A Quiet Place.  6.5 out of 14 for predictions and 6 of 14 for votes.

Best Horror Film Release: My vote — A Quiet Place.  My prediction — Us.  Winner: A Quiet Place.  7 out of 15 for both predictions and votes.

Best Independent Film Release: My vote — American Animals.  My prediction — Mandy. Winner: Mandy.  My vote lost but I got a full point so I'm now even at 8 out of 16 for predictions, 7 out of 16 for votes.

Best International Film Release: My vote — Border.  My prediction — Shadow. Nope, neither. Winner: Burning.  Now behind at 8 out of 17 for predictions, 7 out of 17 for votes.

Best Performance By A Younger Actor in a Film: My vote — Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place).  My prediction — Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Far From Home). Winner: Tom Holland.  Back to even at 9 out of 18 for predictions, behind at 7 out of 18 for votes.

Best Science Fiction Film Release: My vote — Solo: A Star Wars Story.  My prediction — Ready Player One. Winner: Ready Player One.  Finally ahead at 10 out of 19 for predictions, still behind at 7 out of 19 for votes.

Best Supporting Actor in a Film: My vote — Lin-Manuel Miranda (Mary Poppins Returns).  My prediction — Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War). Winner: Josh Brolin.  Pulling ahead at 11 out of 20 for predictions, still behind at 7 out of 20 for votes.

Best Supporting Actress in a Film: My vote — Amber Heard (Aquaman).  My prediction — Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Endgame). Nope, neither. Winner: Zendaya. Ironically, Zendaya was my second choice to vote for.  11 out of 21 for predictions, 7 out of 21 for votes.

Best Thriller Film Release: My vote — Destroyer.  My prediction — Bad Times at The El Royale. Winner: Bad Times at The El Royale.  Predictions ahead at 12 out of 22, votes well behind at 7 out of 22.  My sense of what the Saturn electorate will vote for in movies is still better than my personal taste.

Now, my votes and predictions in the television and streaming categories.  I'll start the tally for votes and predictions over again, then add both movies and TV at the end.

Best Action / Thriller Television Series: My vote — Killing Eve.  My prediction — Better Call Saul or Riverdale.  Winner: Better Call Saul.  0.5 out of 1 for predictions, 0 of 1 for votes.  The Saturn electorate picked the more professional choice of the two shows I forecast.

Best Actor in a Streaming Presentation: My vote — John Krasinski (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan).  My prediction — Jon Bernthal (Marvel’s The Punisher) or David Tennant (Good Omens). Nope, neither. Winner: Henry Thomas.  0.5 of 2 for predictions, 0 of 2 for votes.

Best Actor on a Television Series: My vote — Jeffrey Wright (Westworld).  My prediction — Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead). Nope, neither. Winner: Sam Heughan (about time!)  I'm glad to have been wrong.  Still, 0.5 for predictions and 0 for 3 on votes.

Best Actress in a Streaming Presentation: My vote — Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).  My prediction — Sonequa Martin-Green (Star Trek: Discovery).  Winner: Sonequa Martin-Green.  Green was much better in the second season than she was in the first, which earned her a win last year.  Now 1.5 for predictions and 0 for 4 on votes.

Best Actress on a Television Series: My vote — Sandra Oh (Killing Eve).  My prediction — Caitriona Balfe (Outlander). Neither. Winner: Emilia Clarke.  Clarke would have been the second choice of professionals and fans alike, so I was pleasantly surprised that she won.  Still, 1.5 for 5 on predictions and 0 for 5 on votes.

Best Animated Series on Television: My vote — Star Wars Resistance.  My prediction — Star Wars Resistance. Winner: Star Wars Resistance.  Add a point to both predictions and votes, so 2.5 for 6 on predictions and 1 for 6 on votes.

Best Fantasy Television Series: My vote — The Good Place.  My prediction — Outlander.  Nope, neither. Winner: Game of Thrones.  This was the professional choice over the fan choices I picked.  2.5 out of 7 for predictions and 1 for 7 for votes.

Best Guest Performance on a Television Series: My vote — Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead).  My prediction — Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead). Winner: Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  3.5 out of 8 for predictions and 2 for 8 on votes.

Best Horror Television Series: My vote — The Walking Dead.  My prediction — The Walking Dead. Winner: The Walking Dead.  I'm now even on my predictions at 4.5 out of 9 and batting .333 at 3 of 9 for my votes.

Best Science Fiction Television Series: My vote — Westworld.  My prediction — The Orville. Winner: Westworld.  Still even at 5 of 10 for predictions and catching up but still behind on my votes at 4 of 10.

Best Streaming Horror and Thriller Series: My vote — Stranger Things.  My prediction — The Haunting of Hill House. Winner: Stranger Things.  Now behind at 5 for 11 on my predictions and votes.

Best Streaming Science Fiction Action and Fantasy Series: My vote — Star Trek: Discovery.  My prediction — Star Trek: Discovery or Lost in Space.  Winner: Star Trek: Discovery.  Now behind at my predictions at 5.5 out of 12 but even with my votes at 6 out of 12.

Best Streaming Superhero Series: My vote — The Umbrella Academy.  My prediction — Marvel's Daredevil. Winner: Marvel's Daredevil.  Predictions back to even at 6.5 out of 13 but votes behind at 6 of 13.

Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series: My vote — Gotham.  My prediction — Supergirl or The Flash. Winner: Supergirl!  Predictions now even at 7 out of 14 but votes falling farther behind at 6 of 14.

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Presentation: My vote — Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery).  My prediction — Ethan Peck (Star Trek: Discovery). Winner: Doug Jones.  Predictions and votes slightly behind at 7 of 15.

Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series: My vote — Ed Harris (Westworld).  My prediction — Lennie James (Fear the Walking Dead) or Khary Payton (The Walking Dead). Nope. Winner: Peter Dinklage.  Dinklage was the professional choice, so I'm glad he won, but I'm falling farther behind at 7 of 16 for both predictions and votes.

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Presentation: My vote — Sissy Spacek (Castle Rock).  My prediction — Parker Posey (Lost in Space).  Nope. Winner: Maya Hawke.  Not a bad choice, but definitely a fandom one.  7 of 17 for both predictions and votes.

Best Supporting Actress on a Television Series: My vote — Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead).  My prediction — Danai Gurira or Melissa McBride (The Walking Dead) or Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul). Winner: Danai Gurira.  Predictions 7.3 out of 18, votes 8 of 18.

Best Younger Actor on a Television Series: My vote — David Mazouz (Gotham).  My prediction — KJ Apa or Cole Sprouse (Riverdale). Nope, none of them. Winner: Maisie Williams, who was my second choice for my vote.  Williams is like the rest of the "Game of Thones" winners, very much a professional's choice, but also one for her work in the series as a whole from the fans.  Final tally for TV, 7.3 out of 19 for predictions, votes 8 of 19.  Unlike movies, my votes were more in line with the winners than my predictions were.  The Saturn electorate decided to take more cues from the professionals than they had in previous years.

Now the home entertainment awards, for which I did not make any predictions, although I did share my votes.

Best DVD / BD Classic Film Release: My vote — 2001: A Space Odyssey (4K) Winner: 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Got that one right, so 1 of 1.

Best DVD / BD Collection: My vote — The Matrix Trilogy (4K) Winner: Universal Monsters.  That's very old school.  1 of 2.

Best DVD / BD Release: My vote — Fahrenheit 451 Winner: King Cohen.  Who?  1 of 3.

Best DVD / BD Special Edition Release: My vote — 12 Monkeys (Collector's Edition). Winner: Water World.  Not surprised.  1 of 4.

Best DVD / BD Television Movie or Series Release: My vote — The Night Stalker Winner: The Outer Limits.  Even more old school, 1 of 5.  Good thing I didn't make any predictions!

Total predictions, 19.3 out of 41.  Total votes 16 of 46.  Overall, my take on the Saturn Awards electorate is still a better forecasting tool than my personal votes.  That's worth knowing.

With that out of the way, I can continue celebrating National Science Fiction Day by playing Star Wars: The Old Republic.  Star Wars and gaming on a holiday!  What better way to not be all DOOM all the time?

*I'll get to the Critics' Choice Awards the weekend of the 11th and 12th.  Stay tuned.

Previous entries in this series:

• How did my predictions for the Saturn Awards movie nominees compare to reality?
• 'Avengers: Endgame' vs. 'Aquaman' at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'Ready Player One' vs. 'Bumblebee' at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'Aladdin' vs. 'Mary Poppins Returns' at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'Us' vs. 'A Quiet Place' at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• Action, Thriller, Independent, and International Films at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'Game of Thrones' vs. 'Outlander' at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'The Walking Dead' vs 'Fear the Walking Dead' and 'The Haunting of Hill House' vs. 'You' at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'Westworld' vs. 'The Orville' and 'Doctor Who' plus 'Star Trek: Discovery' vs. 'Lost In Space' at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'Supergirl' vs. 'The Flash' again for best superhero show on television plus 'Marvel’s Daredevil' leads streaming superhero nominees at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• 'Better Call Saul' vs. 'Riverdale' for Best Action/Thriller TV Series again plus home entertainment nominees at the 2019 Saturn Awards
• My 2019 Saturn Awards votes and predictions