Early 2026 Oscar Contenders & Predictions

When one awards season ends, another begins. The 98th Academy Awards are officially behind us, and thus, it’s time for absurdly early Oscar predictions for the 2026 film year. Now that “One Battle After Another” has been crowned the Best Picture of 2025, and “Sinners” broke so many records, what are the films that will make history in 2026? Now, even though you’ll find early predictions below, it’s better to think of this list more as a guide of films to keep an eye on in 2026 rather than genuine predictions. It’s always fun to look back on this list to see how I thought things might play out, even if I’m often completely wrong so far in advance (Check out my early 2025 predictions for a good laugh).

Before I begin, there’s a vital disclaimer for this list: When looking at films this far in advance, before many films are dated or before the fall festivals, the list will skew heavily toward established filmmakers, English-language films, and movies with slightly higher budgets. As such, there are disappointingly few films directed by women or people of color found on this list. Non-English language films will surely be in contention in top categories at the Oscars, but it isn’t easy to spot which ones this far in advance.

Below are my first predictions for 2026, followed by a lengthy breakdown of all the potential contenders. Which of these sounds like an Oscar winner to you? Our next Best Picture Oscar winner could be on this list.

BEST PICTURE
“Digger”
“Dune: Part Three”
“The Entertainment System is Down”
“Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew”
“The Odyssey”
“Parallel Tales”
“Project Hail Mary”
“Saturn Return”
“The Social Reckoning”
“Wild Horse Nine”

BEST DIRECTOR
Asghar Farhadi, “Parallel Tales”
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “Digger”
Greg Kwedar, “Saturn Return”
Christopher Nolan, “The Odyssey”
Ruben Östlund, “The Entertainment System is Down”

BEST ACTRESS
Cara Buono, “Untitled Jesse Eisenberg Musical Comedy”
Rachel Brosnahan, “Saturn Return”
Ruth Madeley, “Being Heumann”
Mikey Madison, “The Social Reckoning”
Renate Reinsve, “Fjord”

BEST ACTOR
Tom Cruise, “Digger”
Matt Damon, “The Odyssey”
Josh O’Connor, “Jack of Spades”
Will Poulter, “Saturn Return”
Sebastian Stan, “Fjord”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lily Rose Depp, “Werwulf”
Sandra Hüller, “Digger”
Frances McDormand, “Jack of Spades”
Parker Posey, “Wild Horse Nine”
Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada 2”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Steve Buscemi, “Wild Horse Nine”
Tom Holland, “The Odyssey”
Keanu Reeves, “The Entertainment System is Down”
Mark Ruffalo, “Being Heumann”
Jeremy Strong, “The Social Reckoning”

Here is a comprehensive list of the contenders we’re keeping an eye on so far, with plenty more contenders to come as the year rolls on.

1949

Paweł Pawlikowski broke through with the Academy in 2018 with “Cold War.” Could he do it again with his follow-up, “1949?” Hanns Zischler and Sandra Hüller star as novelist Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika Mann as they embark on a road trip from East Germany to West Germany during the Cold War. With both Hüller and Pawlikowski having received attention from the Academy, it’ll be easier for them to do it a second time, especially with this being a biographical film. A Cannes premiere is likely for the biopic, so we’ll find out before too long.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature, Best Actor, Best Actress, & Best Cinematography

THE ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH

David Fincher directing a sequel to an Oscar-winning Quentin Tarantino movie? Who would’ve thought? Perhaps even more surprising is that Netflix is the studio behind it. “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” stars Brad Pitt, reprising his Oscar-winning role from “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” in which Cliff explores life as a Hollywood fixer. The trailer premiered during this year’s Super Bowl, and it looks stunning. The eye-popping $200 million budget will ensure this is a craft player at the bare minimum, but it’s easy to imagine this breaking through above-the-line, too.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, & Best Sound

ALL OF A SUDDENRyusuke Hamaguchi makes his French-language debut with “All of a Sudden,” based on the non-fiction book “You and I – The Illness Suddenly Gets Worse.” The story follows the director of a nursing home (Virginia Efira) in the suburbs of Paris who is caring for patients using the Humanitude technique. When she meets a terminally ill Japanese playwright (Kyōzō Nagatsuka), her perspective changes. Stories about dementia and end-of-life have received attention from the Academy fairly often, and after Hamaguchi’s nominations for “Drive My Car,” this has plenty of potential.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best International Feature & Best Adapted Screenplay

ARTIFICIAL

Here we go again with putting a Luca Guadagnino film on this list for the fourth time in three years. And yet, his films haven’t received a single Oscar nomination since “Call Me By Your Name” in 2017. Even so, it’s only a matter of time for him to return. “Artificial” could be that moment. Written by former SNL and Pixar scribe Simon Rich, it tells the story of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s controversial firing and rehiring over five days in 2023. Andrew Garfield stars at Altman, with Monica Barbaro, Yuri Borisov, Cooper Hoffman, Cooper Koch, Jason Schwartzman, Billie Lourd, and many, many more in the extensive ensemble, with Ike Barinholtz rumored to play Elon Musk. There’s a lot to mine in the world of AI as it’s exploded over the last few years, so “Artificial” has the makings of a new “The Social Network,” if done well.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, & Best Makeup & Hairstyling

AT THE SEAFor the second year, Kornél Mundruczó’s “At The Sea” lands a spot on this list. His last English-language feature, “Pieces of a Woman,” scored Vanessa Kirby her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Now he’s back with “At The Sea,” a similar leading actress showcase for Amy Adams. Reviews from Berlinale were decidedly mixed, including Next Best Picture’s own, with complaints about an interpretive-dance thematic element but lots of praise for Adams’ performance. She stars as Laura, a woman returning to her family’s beach home from rehab, picking up the pieces of her life and career that she was forced to leave behind. Brett Goldstein, Murray Bartlett, Dan Levy, Jenny Slate, Rainn Wilson, and Chloe East round out the ensemble cast. If nothing else, perhaps Adams could get a lone Best Actress nomination.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Actress

BEHEMOTH!

It’s been way too long since we got a Tony Gilroy film, though he’s been busy creating “Andor” and winning an Emmy for it. He’s finally back with “Behemoth!,” a project that could have huge appeal for the Academy. While details are sparse, it reportedly follows a musician (Pedro Pascal) from a family of musicians in Los Angeles, and the film is “a love letter to the music of the movies and the people who make it.” According to Gilroy, James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri, and Brandon Roberts will all contribute music to the film, along with six other composers. Eva Victor, Olivia Wilde, Will Arnett, Matthew Lillard, and more have joined the film, which is still currently in production. This may get pushed to 2027, but if not, this is certainly a project to keep your eyes on.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Song, & Best Film Editing

BEING HEUMANN

Sian Heder has finally landed her follow-up to the Best Picture-winning “CODA.” Her new film, “Being Heumann,” follows the life of disability rights activist Judith Heumann, who fought for decades for accessibility legislation and more. Ruth Madeley portrays Heumann, marking the rare moment when a disabled actor has been cast to portray the lead in a biopic about a disabled person. This could be a breakout moment for Madeley, cast alongside Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney, and more. Thanks to Heder’s last film, Troy Kotsur became the first deaf man to win an Oscar. “Being Heumann” has similar potential for Madeley. We’ll find out more when Apple TV releases the film later this year.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Casting, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, & Best Costume Design

BITTER CHRISTMAS

Pedro Almodovar’s latest film, “Bitter Christmas,” debuts overseas later this week, so we’ll hear soon if it seems like it will be one to keep our eyes on. Regardless, keeping him in mind is always a good plan. “Bitter Christmas” finds him in familiar territory, a woman grieving the loss of her mother who pours herself into her work. Almodovar has described it as a “tragic comedy about gender.” Bárbara Lennie stars in the film, alongside Leonardo Sbaraglia and more. It’s one to keep an eye on for Best International Feature at the very least.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best International Feature & Best Original Screenplay

THE BRIDE!Though reviews for “The Bride!” weren’t as strong as many hoped, to say the least, we saw the Oscar-winning success of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” just this year. Perhaps Maggie Gyllenhaal’s entirely different take on the story could find similar success, especially with reigning Best Actress winner Jessie Buckley out in front. Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, “The Lost Daughter,” garnered three Oscar nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress for Olivia Colman, and Best Supporting Actress for Buckley. While reviews don’t necessarily seem to put “The Bride!” on the sort of trajectory needed for above-the-line nominations, the craft work could certainly still be in play.

Release Date: March 6, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Costume Design, & Best Makeup & Hairstyling

BUCKING FASTARD

Not a single one of Werner Herzog’s narrative features has received an Oscar nomination, but it’s still worth keeping an eye on his latest, “Bucking Fastard.” It’s reportedly been a long-unrealized project for Herzog, a fictionalized retelling of the life of identical twin sisters Freda and Greta Chaplin. Here, Rooney and Kate Mara, in their first film together, play twins who speak in unison and love the same man, looking for true love. Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson join them in this fantastical, wild-sounding story. Will it be the sort of film the Academy will go for? Doesn’t sound like it, but we’ll have to wait and see. Perhaps a Telluride premiere would make sense.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, & Best Production Design

CRY TO HEAVEN

Fashion Designer Tom Ford has only directed two movies thus far, “A Single Man” and “Nocturnal Animals,” but each received a single acting nomination. Will his next film, “Cry to Heaven,” go further with the Academy? This adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel is set in 18th-century Italy, in which a nobleman, Tonio, rises to fame in the opera world under the guidance of a fellow star, Guido. Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ciarán Hinds, George McKay, Colin Firth, Owen Cooper, Paul Bettany, Adele, and so many more have joined the cast. Without question, there’s a lot that the Academy could go for here. It’s still in production, which means it could land in 2027 rather than this year, but regardless, we’ll keep our eyes on it.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, & Best Makeup & Hairstyling

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2Admittedly, the film landscape has changed quite a lot since Meryl Streep landed a Best Actress nomination for “The Devil Wears Prada” in 2006. While it seems a lot less likely that the sequel, “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” could repeat that success, we can’t write it off yet. For one thing, since the first film, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci received their first Oscar nominations, while Anne Hathaway won her first. This will certainly make decent money, while Streep and the costumes will remain in the awards conversation into the fall. But will Streep land in Lead or Supporting?

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, & Best Costume Design

DIGGERThe Academy may have jumped the gun by giving Tom Cruise an Academy Honorary Award this past year. His next film may give him his first competitive acting nomination this century. Hailing from Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “Digger” finds Cruise as the most powerful man in the world as he embarks on a frantic mission to prove he’s the savior of humanity before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys the world. Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlberg and more star alongside Cruise, with Emmanuel Lubezki behind the camera. Warner Bros. had a banner awards year this year, and with “Digger” on their slate, they could be back in the conversation again.

Release Date: October 10, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, & Best Sound

DISCLOSURE DAYOnly three of Steven Spielberg’s films this century have been completely blanked by the Academy: “The Terminal,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and “The BFG.” Whether or not his latest film, “Disclosure Day,” scores a Picture nomination or not, it’s all but guaranteed to get nominations of some kind this year. Spielberg is back in his alien blockbuster bag, in which the whole world is told that aliens are real, and the ensuing fallout of that disclosure. Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo star in the picture, which debuts this June. It’s also likely to be John Williams’ final film score, so he’ll undoubtedly land a nomination. This may be more of a craft player, but don’t doubt Spielberg.

Release Date: June 12, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, & Best Sound

DUNE: PART THREEIs the third time the charm for Denis Villeneuve? Well, I’m doubtful we’re in for a “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” sort of Best Picture win for this third installment, but a Best Picture nomination seems safe, as long as the reception is as strong this time around. Warner Bros. released the trailer for “Dune: Part Three,” giving us an early taste of the “epic conclusion.” Few series have received the level of acclaim that the “Dune” series has thus far, and there’s no reason to think that would change now. This time around, Robert Pattinson and Anya Taylor-Joy join the cast in this adaptation of “Dune: Messiah.” It’s still strange that Villeneuve didn’t receive a Best Director nomination for either previous films, but this is sure to be a juggernaut in the tech categories regardless.

Release Date: December 18, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Visual Effects, & Best Sound

THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IS DOWN

Few directors are skewering the rich like Ruben Östlund. After back-to-back Palme d’Or wins for “The Square” and “Triangle of Sadness,” anticipation is high for “The Entertainment System is Down.” The premise is simple, but with plenty of opportunity for satire: “The passengers of a lengthy flight contend with their boredom as the plane’s entertainment system is broken.” Not only that, but with Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, Daniel Brühl, Samantha Morton, Nicholas Braun, and more, the ensemble is undeniable. Shockingly, this film will be skipping Cannes this year, meaning Östlund won’t yet become the first director to win three Palme d’Ors, but we can expect a fall festival premiere instead.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, & Best Film Editing

FJORD

Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, who previously co-starred in “A Different Man,” have both finally received their first Oscar nominations. Now, they’ll again star together in “Fjord,” from director Cristian Mungiu. When a Romanian-Norwegian family moves back to a remote village in Norway, they are accused of disturbing behavior toward their children, and become the center of scrutiny in this community. That’s a little bit of a vague description, but it’s enough to promise something special. Stan and Reinsve are two of the best working actors today, and Mungiu could bring excellent work out of them. He’s won prizes at Cannes for three out of his last four films, so we can expect Fjord to premiere there.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature, Best Actor, Best Actress, & Best Original Screenplay

FLOWERVALE STREET

Typically, a film from “It Follows” director David Robert Mitchell wouldn’t be likely to land on a list of early Oscar contenders, but in the wake of “Weapons” becoming an unexpected awards contender, “Flowervale Street” may be worth considering. This sci-fi flick stars Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, and Maisy Stella as a family who begin to notice strange happenings around their neighborhood. Produced by J.J. Abrams for Warner Bros., this film has been delayed a few times, but if it’s a hit this August, perhaps it could break into the awards race.

Release Date: August 14, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Production Design & Best Visual Effects

THE GREAT BEYOND

As is to be expected, we know shockingly little about J.J. Abrams’ next film, “The Great Beyond.” It’s only the second original film he’s ever directed, following 2011’s “Super 8,” so the anticipation is high. All we know thus far is that it follows a young, newlywed couple who struggle to survive against a supernatural entity. Glen Powell and Emma Mackey presumably star as the couple, alongside Jenna Ortega, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophie Okonedo, and Merritt Meaver. In all likelihood, this is more of a blockbuster play for Warner Bros. than an awards contender, but the November release date suggests that if it’s good, it could achieve both.

Release Date: November 13, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design, & Best Sound

HERE COMES THE FLOOD

Netflix has landed the latest film from Fernando Meirelles, “Here Comes The Flood,” a heist flick with a stellar cast. Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Danai Gurira, and more star in a script from Simon Kinberg. The premise, as reported, may be a bit generic, but with that cast, generic doesn’t seem likely: A bank guard, a teller, and a master thief become entangled in a deadly game. Is this more of “Train Dreams” or “A House of Dynamite” for Netflix? Well, it’s likely to be the latter, but it’s worth keeping our eyes on regardless.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Actor, Best Film Editing, & Best Sound

I LOVE BOOSTERSIt may seem strange to put a film from the director of “Sorry to Bother You” on this list, but Boots Riley is nothing if not original. “I Love Boosters” follows a group of shoplifters in the cutthroat world of high fashion. The trailer promises that Riley hasn’t toned down his style one bit, with Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Demi Moore, and a colorful Will Poulter rounding out the cast. Reviews out of SXSW, including our own here at Next Best Picture, promise it’s a wholly unique ride. This off-the-wall comedy looks wild, and not the thing the Academy typically goes for, but you never know what Neon could pull off if the film hits just right.

Release Date: May 22, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, & Best Production Design

THE INVITEOne of the few titles from this year’s Sundance that has a shot at breaking through with the Academy is Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite,” which A24 snapped up. This chamber piece is entirely set inside one San Francisco apartment as a couple on the rocks, Seth Rogen & Olivia Wilde, invite a much more charming and free couple, Edward Norton & Penelope Cruz, over for dinner. This film is as riotous as it is sad, but the sharp script and Wilde’s direction keep it moving effortlessly. While this isn’t likely an across-the-board contender, Rashida Jones & Will McCormack’s script could feasibly land in Adapted Screenplay, along with a host of Golden Globe noms. Keep an eye out for this one this summer.

Release Date: June 26, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Adapted Screenplay

JACK OF SPADES

Joel Coen’s first film without his brother Ethan, following their split, “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” received three Academy Award nominations. Now he’s back with “Jack of Spades,” starring Josh O’Connor, Frances McDormand, Lesley Manville, and Damien Lewis. Little is known about the film, other than it being a gothic mystery set in “the atmospheric setting of 1880s Scotland.” There’s a lot to mine there, and with Bruno Delbonnel behind the camera and Carter Burwell’s score, this will, at the very least, feature stunning craft work.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, & Best Makeup & Hairstyling

JOSEPHINEThe buzziest film out of this year’s Sundance, “Josephine,” won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award Dramatic, the top two awards from the festival. The last films to win both awards were “Minari” and “CODA,” both of which won big at the Oscars. Yet, sadly, the same might not befall “Josephine,” which was picked up by upstart distributor Sumerian Pictures, the newly launched film arm of Sumerian Records. “Josephine” was a tough sell for bigger-name distributors; it’s a challenging film to sell. From director Beth de Araújo, the film follows eight-year-old Josephine (Mason Reeves), who witnesses a horrible assault. Her parents (Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan) must care for her through the ensuing trauma. The film is a tough watch, but undeniably impactful. An awards run for a film like this, regardless of quality, was always going to be a tough sell. But now, with Sumerian Pictures behind it, the question isn’t just “will it get awards,” but “will audiences even see it?”

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, & Best Film Editing

KLARA AND THE SUN

A few years out of the spotlight may bode well for Taika Waititi’s latest directorial project. Though public opinion has waned on Taika Waititi as of late, it seems to be more a product of over-saturation and a couple of bad projects than anything else. If it’s good, his newest project could turn that around. “Klara and the Sun,” based on the latest novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, follows a robot, or “AF” (artificial friend), named Klara (Jenna Ortega), chosen to be the companion of a young girl named Josie (Mia Tharia). Amy Adams and Natasha Lyonne also star in Waititi’s film, with Sony distributing. Waititi has shown the ability to balance comedy alongside serious subjects well with his Oscar-winning “Jojo Rabbit.” Could he do it again this year?

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design & Best Visual Effects

LOOK BACKBeloved Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda is back this year with not one, but two films, including “Look Back,” a new adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot manga. The manga was previously adapted into an anime feature by Kiyotaka Oshiyama. In the story, one popular student and another who’s a shut-in with social anxiety bond over creating manga together. The material is a phenomenal match for Kore-eda’s emotional coming-of-age style. GKIDS recently picked the film up for distribution in America. They put forth an impressive campaign for “Kokuho” this year, garnering Japan’s first-ever Makeup & Hairstyling nomination. While Kore-eda will be competing with his own film “Sheep in the Box,” either film could easily become Japan’s selection for Best International Feature, so keep your eyes peeled.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, & Best Original Score

MICHAELLook, music biopics have been up or down with the Academy as of late, with “Deliver Me From Nowhere” flopping hard just last year. We’re certainly a long way off from “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Even so, we can’t ignore the inevitable popularity of “Michael.” Antoine Fuqua directs this officially sanctioned film covering the life of Michael Jackson, starring the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Lionsgate showcased an extended look at the film all the way back at CinemaCon 2024, which appeared to cover his life from childhood to his final years, with hints that it might not shy away from his alleged child molestation, though that seems hard to believe. The popularity of Michael Jackson is sure to propel this to an enormous haul at the box office, but will awards attention come along? With Colman Domingo playing the singer’s father, it’s possible.

Release Date: April 24, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Makeup & Hairstyling & Best Sound

MOTHER MARY“Mother Mary” has been a long time in the works, but we’ll finally see it before long. After “Peter Pan and Wendy” for Disney, it’s time for the next “one for me” movie in his filmography. Described as an “epic melodrama that follows the relationship between a musician and a fashion designer,” there’s a lot of potential here. Michaela Coel, Anne Hathaway, and Hunter Schafer star in the film, which will also feature original songs from composer Daniel Hart and writers Jack Antonoff and Charli xcx, who may also be in the Original Song mix for “Wuthering Heights.” It’s hard to imagine the film misses an Original Song nomination, at the very least, though Charli will be competing against her own work from other films. None of Lowery’s films has broken through with the Academy, but perhaps “Mother Mary” will change that.

Release Date: April 17, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, & Best Original Song

NARNIA: THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW

Three films in, with three Best Picture nominations, it would be foolish to write off Greta Gerwig, no matter what the project may be. A blockbuster franchise hitting Netflix certainly wouldn’t normally be high on my Oscar predictions, but Gerwig could change that, after seeing what she could do even with “Barbie.” We don’t know too much about her take on the Narnia series, other than that it will adapt “The Magician’s Nephew,” the origin story of Narnia itself. Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, and Carey Mulligan have joined the cast, with Meryl Streep rumored to voice Aslan. Gerwig has also solidified an exclusive IMAX wide-release, rare for Netflix, which will give it quite the boost this Thanksgiving before dropping on the streamer at Christmas.

Release Date: November 26, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Visual Effects, & Best Sound.

THE ODYSSEY

Fresh off his Best Picture win for “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan returns with a big-budget retelling of “The Odyssey” this July. Much like his last film, half of Hollywood has joined the cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, John Leguizamo, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth. It’s a challenging story to adapt, but Nolan’s grounded approach is likely to connect to audiences. If he can get an R-rated biopic about a nuclear physicist close to a billion dollars, I don’t see why “The Odyssey” can’t do the same. Could recently-minted three-time winner Ludwig Göransson be back on the stage so soon? Expect it to at least get several craft nominations, and I’m betting Damon can get into the Best Actor lineup, too.

Release Date: July 17, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Sound & Best Visual Effects

PAPER TIGER

James Gray may be one of the most underrated American directors today. His work is typically quite understated, which is why audiences don’t always click with his films the way critics tend to. Nevertheless, his films always tend to sound, on the surface, as if they would greatly appeal to the Academy. This year, “Paper Tiger” tells the story of two brothers, played by Adam Driver and Miles Teller, pursuing the American Dream before getting entangled with the Russian Mafia. Scarlett Johansson also stars in this tale that sounds a bit reminiscent of “The Brutalist.” Can Gray finally break through with the Academy? We’ll see which studio picks this up, and whether they can mount a campaign to get it there.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay & Best Costume Design

PARALLEL TALES

It’s been a tough few years for Asghar Farhadi, who was plagued with accusations of plagiarism around his last film, “A Hero,” but he’s since been acquitted of the charges. Now he’s returning to French for his next film, “Histoires parallèles,” or “Parallel Tales.” Nothing is yet known about the plot, but it will star Vincent Cassel, Isabelle Huppert, and Virginie Efira. Farhadi’s films have twice won Best Foreign Language Film (now International Feature), but perhaps he can get a Director nomination as well.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature Film, Best Original Screenplay, & Best Film Editing

PROJECT HAIL MARYFor the past nine years, excluding the Covid-hampered 2020, at least one Best Picture nominee was released outside of the fall-winter season. With reviews as strong as this, “Project Hail Mary” could fit the bill this year. Phil Lord & Chris Miller already have an Oscar for producing “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” along with a LEGO one for producing “The LEGO Movie,” but they haven’t directed a live-action film since 2014’s “22 Jump Street.” Now, they’ve adapted the best-selling novel “Project Hail Mary,” with a massive budget from Amazon MGM. Ryan Gosling stars alongside Sandra Hüller in this story of an astronaut adrift in the universe while on a mission to save Earth’s dying sun. It hails from Andy Weir, author of “The Martian,” and finds a similar charming tone paired with heart-pounding action. This is already a sizable hit for Amazon MGM, and if the buzz holds up, this could propel Lord & Miller into a new stratosphere, awards-wise.

Release Date: March 20, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, & Best Visual Effects

SATURN RETURN

Is there any more exciting creative pair right now than Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley? The duo co-writes their scripts and alternate directing duties. Both Kwedar’s “Sing Sing” and Bentley’s “Train Dreams” received Adapted Screenplay and Original Song nominations, while “Train Dreams” broke into Best Picture this year. Now it’s Kwedar’s turn to direct again this year with “Saturn Return,” a drama spanning a decade in the lives of two college sweethearts in Chicago, navigating the tests of adulthood. Will Poulter and Rachel Brosnahan star in the romance, two performers who seem ripe for their first Oscar nominations. No studio is attached yet, but a fall festival run seems likely. Can they have a third awards hit in a row?

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song, & Best Original Score

SHEEP IN THE BOX

One of two films from Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda coming this year, Neon has already picked up the rights to “Sheep in the Box.” This sci-fi drama stars Haruka Ayase and Daigo Yamamoto as a couple who welcome an infant humanoid robot after their own son passes. Only one of Kore-eda’s previous films, Palme d’Or winner “Shoplifters,” has ever been nominated for an Oscar, but as more and more international features break through into Best Picture, Kore-eda seems as likely as ever to receive recognition. Will this or his other film, “Look Back,” be Japan’s selection? It’s reasonable to think that if either of these films receives that distinction, it could have a shot at other awards as well. Expect a Cannes premiere for this.

Release Date: TBD

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, & Best Original Score

THE SOCIAL RECKONING

Sequels to Best Picture nominees rarely return to the Academy Awards, but perhaps “The Social Reckoning” is more of a spiritual sequel than a direct follow-up to “The Social Network.” This time, it isn’t David Fincher behind the camera, but Aaron Sorkin, directing his own script, that follows whistleblower Frances Haugen’s leak of internal Facebook documents in 2021. Mikey Madison plays Haugen alongside Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, with Jeremy Strong taking on the role of Mark Zuckerberg from Jesse Eisenberg. All three of Sorkin’s directorial features have netted Oscar nominations thus far. Are people in the mood to explore more of the social networks that are destroying society? We’ll find out this October.

Release Date: October 9, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, & Best Makeup & Hairstyling

UNTITLED JESSE EISENBERG MUSICAL COMEDY

It’s still a bit surprising that Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” didn’t score a Best Picture nomination, despite having an Original Screenplay nomination and a Best Supporting Actor win for Kieran Culkin. Perhaps his next film will reach even higher heights, awards-wise. We don’t even have a title for the film, but it’s said to be a musical comedy about a woman cast in a local production who loses herself in the role under the strong-willed director’s influence. Eisenberg will star, along with Cara Buono, Julianne Moore, and Paul Giamatti. It’s unclear whether this will include original songs, but there’s still a lot to look forward to. Could this be Giamatti’s Oscar? One can only hope.

Release Date: December 3, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, & Best Original Song

WERWULF

Robert Eggers has carved out a fascinating, effective niche for himself with immaculately crafted horror films. He’s not shy about the horror elements, as we saw in “Nosferatu,” but doesn’t skimp on the craftwork either, leading to four nominations for his vampire epic. Next up, he’ll move from vampires to werewolves with “Werwulf.” Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson, this new take on the classic creature is set in a 13th-century village, plagued by a werewolf stalking the locals. Immediately, it sounds like it’ll be a shoo-in for Costume Design, Production Design, and Makeup nominations at the very least. It’s also matching the Christmas release that turned “Nosferatu” into a modest hit, so signs are pointing to another strong release from Eggers. After this year’s Oscars, it’s clear that horror has never had so much love from the Academy.

Release Date: December 25, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, & Best Makeup & Hairstyling

WILD HORSE NINE

Martin McDonagh is on a pretty stellar run with the Academy after “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” so naturally his next film should have a spot on this list. The only plot description on IMDB reads: “CIA agents Chris and Lee face a trust-testing mission from Santiago to Easter Island during 1973 Chile.” We don’t yet know who plays who, but the cast is stacked, with John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, Sam Rockwell, Parker Posey, Mariana di Girolamo, and Tom Waits. McDonagh’s dark comedy has certainly resonated strongly in recent years, so hopefully that can continue here. One thing’s for certain: we need Steve Buscemi to get his long-overdue Oscar run. Let’s start the campaign now.

Release Date: November 6, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, & Best Film Editing

WILDWOODHailing from Laika and director Travis Knight, “Wildwood” is the studio’s first feature in six years, and yet the distribution is a bit concerning. After a long-running partnership with Focus Features for their first four features, and then Annapurna to distribute “Missing Link,” “Wildwood” will be released in theaters by Fathom Events. It’s extraordinarily concerning that no studio came alongside Laika for distribution, but perhaps this will allow Laika to retain more profit. Whatever the reasoning, there’s still a lot to look forward to from “Wildwood.” Adapted from the novel of the same name, it’s an epic fantasy about two seventh-graders, Prue and Curtis, who are drawn into a hidden magical forest to save Prue’s infant brother. Jacob Tremblay and Peyton Elizabeth Lee star as Curtis and Prue, with an all-star voice cast alongside them: Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Angela Bassett, Jemaine Clement, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, and more. Caleb Deschanel serves as cinematographer, which is perhaps a sign of the level of craft on “Wildwood.” Laika has yet to win Animated Feature, but Disney and Pixar’s losing streak could help bring them the gold. Could it contend in other categories as well?

Release Date: October 23, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score & Best Visual Effects

WUTHERING HEIGHTSI know, I know. The discourse around “Wuthering Heights” has gone on long enough. But let’s face it: despite the 60% Rotten Tomatoes score and never-ending debate, the craftwork in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation is pretty stunning. While there’s no chance the film contends in any above-the-line categories, it’s exactly the type of work that the Costume branch of the Academy tends to recognize. It’s also likely to hang around the conversations for Production Design, Cinematography, and Original Song, too. Don’t count this one out for a nomination or two.

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Oscar Prospects: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, & Best Original Song

Yes, that’s an enormous list of movies to keep an eye on, with many more to come. Before we know it, Cannes will unveil more major contenders before the fall festival circuit gets here. Which of these films do you think could be our next Best Picture? Do you have any gut feelings about any of these movies? Which ones do you think we’re underestimating? Let us know in the comments below or over on our X account.