The race to the 98th Academy Awards is heating up, with early buzz pointing to record-breaking contenders and fan favorites.
🏆 Top Contenders
Sinners has made history, receiving 16 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan — surpassing the previous record of 14 nominations.
One Battle After Another is close behind with 13 nominations, widely expected to compete in Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), and multiple acting categories.
🎬 Other Films Generating Buzz
Hamnet — with multiple nominations including Best Actress for Jessie Buckley.
Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, and Frankenstein — garnering strong attention across major and craft categories.
KPop Demon Hunters — emerging as a frontrunner in animation and original song categories.
Industry experts largely agree that Sinners and One Battle After Another will dominate the nominations tally, with One Battle often considered the favorite for both Best Picture and Best Director. Other films like Hamnet, Frankenstein, and Marty Supreme are repeatedly mentioned in early awards speculation. Some early predicted nominees were surprisingly left out, while others made the cut, sparking further debate.
With nominations officially announced on January 22, 2026, many of these films are already streaming or soon to be released digitally, giving audiences the chance to catch up before the Oscars ceremony on March 15, 2026.
