The 2026 Oscars are gearing up to be one of the most unpredictable and exciting seasons we’ve had in ages, with standout performances, eye-catching effects and scripts already getting people talking. From thoughtful dramas to big, buzzy blockbusters, it’s anyone’s game – and the films tipped for glory are as varied as they are ambitious.
With an inaugural award for Best Casting and a growing appreciation of genre films, the field is more diverse than ever.
Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon and Apple are pushing prestige projects that rival the traditional studios and the big film festivals of Cannes, Venice and Sundance have already propelled several contenders into the spotlight.
Here are our 15 top tips for the most Oscar-worthy films generating the loudest buzz. Nominations are announced on 22nd January 2026. The 98th Academy Awards will take place on 15th March.
Bugonia (15)
This is a darkly comic sci-fi thriller directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone. A remake of the cult South Korean film Save the Green Planet! it follows pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller (Stone), who is kidnapped by conspiracy theorists convinced she’s an alien bent on destroying Earth.
Anemone (15)
A psychological drama directed by Ronan Day-Lewis, in his feature directorial debut, from a screenplay he co-wrote with his father, Daniel Day-Lewis, who also stars in the lead role. It features Day-Lewis’s return to acting for the first time since Phantom Thread in 2017, alongside Sean Bean and Samantha Morton in supporting roles. It follows a troubled recluse whose estranged brother arrives to convince him to come home and reunite with his family.
The Choral (12A)
An uncompromising new choirmaster (Ralph Fiennes) sets an ambitious task for a Yorkshire town’s choral society after several of its members leave for the battlefields of the First World War.
The film follows the group of teenage boys and girls preparing for a performance of Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, a work chosen because it wasn’t written by a German.
Sentimental Value (15)
Joachim Trier’s entertaining drama sees Norwegian auteur-on-the-slide Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) putting his showbiz family through the wringer in the service of his fading career.
Hamnet (12A)
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are knockouts in Chloé Zhao’s poignant adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel with a stirring tearjerker ending.
This historical drama imagines the life of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, and how they cope with a terrible tragedy.
Steve (15)
Cillian Murphy stars as the devoted headteacher of a ’90s reform school for boys in this adaptation of Max Porter’s bestseller “Shy”.
Over the course of one pivotal day, Steve attempts to protect the boys the world has all-but given up on. With the school’s impending closure, he tries to help one of the most troubled boys, Shy, who is both vulnerable and self-destructive. But Steve has his own issues…
Wicked: For Good (PG)
Now demonised as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba lives in exile. Meanwhile Glinda resides at the palace in Emerald City, revelling in the perks of fame and popularity. But the Wicked Witch needs to reunite with Glinda to transform herself and all of Oz, for good. Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum headline.
Frankenstein (15)
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a gothic adaptation of the classic novel, following brilliant but egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) as he creates a sentient Creature (Jacob Elordi). When Victor rejects his creation, the Creature embarks on a journey of self-discovery and vengeance, leading to a tragic tale of love, loss, and the consequences of playing god.
Sinners (15)
A genre-defying Southern Gothic horror-musical set in 1932 Mississippi, directed by Ryan Coogler. The story follows twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return home only to discover a lurking supernatural evil.
The Lost Bus (15)
A gripping survival drama from Paul Greengrass, based on a true story. Matthew McConaughey plays Kevin McKay, a school bus driver who must lead 22 children and their teacher to safety from a raging wildfire in 2018.
Dead of Winter (15)
An action-thriller set in a remote, snowbound cabin. Emma Thompson stars as a widow who, after her husband’s death, encounters a kidnapped young woman held by a dangerous couple, while a blizzard rages.
One Battle After Another (15)
A sweeping, satirical action-thriller from director Paul Thomas Anderson. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob, a former revolutionary reunited with old comrades to rescue his kidnapped daughter when their nemesis (played by Sean Penn) resurfaces.
I Swear (15)
A heartfelt biographical drama about John Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at a time when it was little understood. Robert Aramayo plays Davidson, supported by Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, Peter Mullan, and Scott Ellis Watson (as young John).
The Smashing Machine (15)
A high-intensity action film. Dwayne Johnson headlines, portraying real life extreme fighter Mark Kerr. Its gritty, physical storytelling explores themes of strength, violence, and redemption.
A House of Dynamite (15)
When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond. Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson lead a stellar ensemble cast in this powerful thriller.
