There are many battles taking place in this year’s race for best supporting actor — between monsters, vampire hunters, estranged fathers, and the like. It really is one after another. There’s no Lockjaw here, but wait … Sean Penn somehow smoked his way in. 

Before I get into it, let me lick a comb and slick back my hair. This is getting good. 

Stellan Skarsgård leads the way as the players round the bend. The 74-year-old actor scored the Golden Globe and his first-ever Oscar nomination this year for his performance as declining director and imperfect father Gustav Borg in “Sentimental Value” — also the first international film to score a best supporting actor nomination. Skarsgård’s legendary status is undeniable; he has raised talented children in the same industry while also delivering numerous snubbed performances. He may benefit from this common line of thought among Academy voters: The older, admirable folks deserve their flowers.

This brings us to Delroy Lindo, whose nomination for his role as Delta Slim in “Sinners” is a delightfully pleasant surprise — and one of the record-breaking 16 nominations scored by Ryan Coogler’s original film. Yes, Lindo is in last place out there on the track because of how quickly his Oscar campaign jumpstarted after the gun went off. But as an experienced and reputable actor — though he had not been well recognized by his peers until this moment — he could very well catch up with Skarsgård and steal the show. Sinners may soon repent for underestimating him.

Now, shift your eyes over to the 6-foot-5 guy towering right behind Skarsgård. That right there is Jacob Elordi, a 28-year-old Australian who transformed into Dr. Frankenstein’s Creature for Guillermo del Toro’s captivating adaptation of the gothic novel. Elordi’s performance was a notch up from his little-to-work-with debut film “The Kissing Booth” and a notch down from the teen terror evoked by his “Euphoria” character Nate Jacobs. After replacing Andrew Garfield in “Frankenstein” and winning a Critics’ Choice Award for the role, Elordi has proven that only he can make an audience fall for a “monster.” Sorry, Garfield. Save your seductive “shot of espresso” talk for another classic. Maybe the Creature From the Black Lagoon? Although del Toro already did that one, too.

The two other actors behind Elordi are neck and neck. One’s got a stiff gait and a tight shirt, while the other is karate-chopping dirt in the former’s face — and yikes, that looks like it hurts. Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro both showed off revolutionary craftsmanship in “One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic comedy. Penn bulked himself into antagonist Steven J. Lockjaw, while del Toro brought his own little hands-behind-the-head dance to Sergio St. Carlos. They’re tied at the moment because they have been recognized the same number of times for their respective roles. However, nipping at each other’s heels won’t help their cause. It’s all just “Sentimental Value” for Skarsgård now.

Tune in to ABC for live coverage of the 98th Academy Awards on March 15 at 4 p.m. PDT. I hear the hooves picking up in the dust, so stay put to see who wins gold. 

And let’s hope the nominees for best supporting actress don’t pick up “Weapons” in the next go-round. Oh, hold on, am I hearing that correctly? Amy Madigan’s in there? Shoot. Well, folks, here comes Aunt Gladys.