We are officially entering the “prestige gauntlet,” where the biggest movies of the last twelve months battle for a permanent spot in history. The 2025-2026 race has been one for the ages, marked by the return of legendary auteurs and the definitive arrival of new superstars. Whether you’re looking for a visceral horror-musical, a meditative historical drama, or an unhinged sports comedy, the current slate offers a level of variety we haven’t seen in years.
Grab your popcorn and clear your watchlist: here are the 10 films currently leading the pack for the 98th Academy Awards.
Marty Supreme
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Fresh off its Christmas Day release, Josh Safdie’s solo directorial debut has set the industry on fire. Timothée Chalamet delivers what critics are calling a career-defining performance as Marty Mauser, a 1950s ping-pong hustler. It’s a frantic, stylish, and unexpectedly moving “screwball nightmare” that has Chalamet at the top of every Best Actor prediction list for 2026.
One Battle After Another
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Paul Thomas Anderson is back with a film that many are already calling the Best Picture frontrunner. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and featuring a breakout turn by Chase Infiniti, this sprawling epic has dominated the critical conversation since the fall. It’s a technical marvel that serves as a reminder of why PTA remains one of the greatest living filmmakers.
Sinners
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Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan proved that “genre” films can be high art. This 1930s-set vampire horror-musical was a box office phenomenon earlier in 2025 and has maintained incredible momentum. With its stunning cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw, it is a locks for multiple technical nominations and a serious Best Picture threat.
Hamnet
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Directed by Chloé Zhao, this adaptation of the beloved novel is a masterclass in atmosphere and grief. Jessie Buckley is currently the woman to beat in the Best Actress race, delivering a haunting performance as Agnes Hathaway. Zhao’s naturalistic style perfectly complements this intimate look at the family behind Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy.
Frankenstein
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Guillermo del Toro’s “magnum opus” hit Netflix earlier this fall and has remained a staple of the awards conversation. Starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi (as the Creature), the film is a lush, soulful, and visually arresting reimagining of the classic tale. It is expected to dominate the craft categories, from Production Design to Makeup and Hairstyling.
Blue Moon
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The latest collaboration between Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke is a deeply personal look at the life of lyricist Lorenz Hart. Hawke is currently a top-three contender for Best Actor, bringing a raw, musical vulnerability to the role that has resonated deeply with voters. It’s a quiet, beautiful film that reminds us why this duo is one of the best in cinema history.
Sentimental Value
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Norway’s official entry for the 2026 Oscars, directed by Joachim Trier, is a witty and biting look at family dynamics and the theater world. Renate Reinsve continues to prove she is a global superstar, and the film is a heavy favorite to win Best International Feature—if it doesn’t sneak into the main Best Picture category first.
Jay Kelly
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Noah Baumbach returns to Netflix with a star-studded cast led by George Clooney and Adam Sandler. A “coming-of-age” story for the middle-aged, the film features Sandler in a supporting role that has generated significant buzz for its warmth and comedic timing. It’s a classic Baumbach script—sharp, talky, and deeply human.
Bugonia
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Yorgos Lanthimos continues his prolific streak with Bugonia, a sci-fi conspiracy thriller that reunites him with his Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness star Emma Stone, alongside Jesse Plemons. Based on the cult South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, the story follows two obsessed men who kidnap a high-powered CEO, convinced she is an alien leader planning an invasion. Given Lanthimos’s recent track record with the Academy, this film is expected to be a major player in the 2026 races for Best Director, Best Actress, and Adapted Screenplay, offering a bizarre yet socially relevant take on modern paranoia.
Song Sung Blue
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Director Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) returns with Song Sung Blue, a soulful musical drama based on the true story of a husband-and-wife Neil Diamond tribute band. Starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, the film has been hailed during its early screenings as a powerful “comeback” vehicle for both leads. Jackman, in particular, is drawing Best Actor buzz for his raw, vocally demanding performance that balances the kitsch of tribute acts with the heartbreaking reality of blue-collar struggle. It is the kind of transformative, performance-heavy biopic that Academy voters traditionally find irresistible.
