The air in Hollywood just got a lot thinner. It’s that specific time of year where careers are made, or at least redirected, by a single early-morning announcement. If you've been wondering who was nominated for an oscar for the 98th Academy Awards, you aren't alone. Everyone from studio heads to the guy making lattes on Sunset is obsessing over the shortlist.
The 2026 awards season feels different. It’s gritty. We’ve seen a shift from the massive, neon-soaked blockbusters of the early 2020s toward something a bit more... human? Or in the case of some frontrunners, decidedly monstrous.
The Heavy Hitters: Who Was Nominated for an Oscar in the Big Categories
The Best Picture race is basically a bloodbath. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another has been the name on everyone’s lips since it premiered, and it absolutely dominated the nomination morning. It’s an epic, and the Academy loves an epic, especially one that feels this urgent.
But then you have Sinners. Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan are like the modern-day Scorsese and De Niro, and their latest collaboration is sweeping up nods like it’s easy. It’s a vampire flick, technically, but it’s really about the rot in the American dream.
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Here are the names and films currently leading the pack:
- Michael B. Jordan is the heavy favorite for Best Actor in Sinners.
- Jessie Buckley delivered an absolute powerhouse performance in Hamnet that has her at the top of the Best Actress predictions.
- One Battle After Another pulled in double-digit nominations, including Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson.
- Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, is the technical marvel of the year, likely to clean up in Production Design and Makeup.
- Sentimental Value and No Other Choice are the international darlings that actually have a shot at the big trophy.
The Snubs and Shockers That Have Us Stunned
Honestly, the snubs are always more interesting than the actual nominations. We all thought Dwayne Johnson was a lock for The Smashing Machine. He went full "serious actor," transformed his body, and took a massive swing. But the Academy? They basically looked the other way.
It’s brutal.
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And then there’s the Wicked: For Good situation. While Cynthia Erivo was expected to be a surefire nominee, she was noticeably absent from some of the early guild lists. It seems the sequel didn't quite capture the same "magic" with the nominating committee as the first part did, though Ariana Grande is still very much in the conversation for Supporting Actress.
You've also got the "quiet" movies. Train Dreams is a tiny, beautiful film that many feared would get lost in the noise. Seeing Joel Edgerton’s name pop up is a win for the "small" movies that usually get crushed by the marketing budgets of Netflix and Disney.
Why the International Race Is the One to Watch
The "Best International Feature" category used to be a side note. Not anymore. Ever since Parasite broke the glass ceiling, the Academy has been much more global.
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Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value (Norway) isn't just a "foreign film" this year—it's a "film" film. It’s getting nods for screenplay and acting (Renate Reinsve is a force of nature). Then you have The Secret Agent from Brazil and It Was Just an Accident from France. These aren't just subtitles on a screen; they are some of the best-directed movies of the decade.
Practical Steps for Oscar Season 2026
If you want to stay ahead of the curve before the ceremony on March 26, 2026, here is your roadmap:
- Watch the Shortlists: The Academy releases shortlists for categories like Visual Effects and Documentary Feature early. Check the official Oscars.org site to see the 15 films currently in the running for those technical slots.
- Follow the Guilds: The SAG-AFTRA and DGA (Directors Guild) nominations are the most accurate predictors. If a director isn't nominated by the DGA, their chances of winning an Oscar are statistically slim.
- Prioritize the "Small" Nominees: Big movies like Avatar: Fire and Ash will be in theaters forever. Seek out the limited-release nominees like Marty Supreme or Sentimental Value now, as they often disappear from streaming quickly after the ceremony.
- Track the Technicals: Movies like F1 might not win Best Picture, but they are masterclasses in Sound and Editing. Seeing these on a big screen is a completely different experience than watching them at home.
The race is far from over. While we know who was nominated for an oscar, the actual winners are decided by a few thousand voters who are currently being bombarded with "For Your Consideration" ads. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Keep an eye on the Critics’ Choice and BAFTA results over the next few weeks to see who actually has the momentum to make it to the podium.