By Harshit, Los Angeles, Oct. 27, 2025 6 AM EDT
With barely three months left before the Academy unveils its 2026 Oscar nominations, the race for Hollywood’s highest honor is already taking shape. From Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping epic One Battle After Another to the much-anticipated Wicked: For Good, this year’s contenders reflect a vibrant mix of artistry, ambition, and global storytelling.
A Strong Start for One Battle After Another
The early favorite, according to critics and insiders alike, is Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which has drawn widespread acclaim for its audacious storytelling and powerhouse performances. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film currently holds a near-perfect 95 score on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
Anderson, a perennial Academy favorite with multiple nominations to his name, is expected to dominate several categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio’s commanding performance. The film’s blend of chaos and introspection — anchored by Chase Infiniti’s breakout role — has already made it the talk of the awards circuit.
Not far behind is Ryan Coogler’s period-horror film Sinners, also from Warner Bros., which defied box-office expectations and summer release-season bias to become one of 2025’s most critically praised genre films.
Best Picture Race: Global Talent Takes the Stage
This year’s Best Picture lineup is shaping up to be one of the most internationally diverse in recent memory. Alongside Anderson’s frontrunner, the European drama Sentimental Value — directed by Joachim Trier and starring Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning, and Renate Reinsve — has generated strong festival buzz ahead of its November release.
Meanwhile, Hamnet, Chloé Zhao’s haunting interpretation of Shakespearean grief starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, is already being hailed as one of the season’s most emotionally resonant works.
Other top contenders include Marty Supreme, a Christmas Day release featuring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow; Bugonia, the latest dark satire from Yorgos Lanthimos; and the Iranian Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident, a late-season surprise now gaining traction among Academy members.
For now, One Battle After Another remains the film to beat — but as Oscar season veterans know, December releases can upend even the strongest leads.
Best Actress: Newcomers and Powerhouses Collide
In the Best Actress race, Hollywood’s brightest veterans and emerging stars are in close contention. Chase Infiniti, a breakout star from One Battle After Another, is the industry’s latest obsession. Her quietly explosive portrayal of a woman struggling to maintain control amid chaos could earn her a debut Oscar nomination.
Renate Reinsve, the Norwegian star of The Worst Person in the World, may also return to the spotlight with Sentimental Value. Her nuanced performance as a daughter confronting her estranged father’s legacy has resonated deeply with critics.
Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley’s portrayal of Shakespeare’s grief-stricken wife in Hamnet has all the hallmarks of an Oscar darling — emotional depth, period setting, and literary pedigree.
Cynthia Erivo, reprising her role as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good, could secure another nomination if the long-awaited sequel matches its hype. Other strong contenders include Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee), Julia Roberts (After the Hunt), Emma Stone (Bugonia), and Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love).
Best Actor: DiCaprio, Moura, and a Tight Field
Leonardo DiCaprio’s return in Anderson’s One Battle After Another could easily land him a seventh Oscar nomination — and possibly his second win. But competition is fierce.
Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, who won Best Actor at Cannes for his role in The Secret Agent, has emerged as a major threat. His portrayal of a paranoid tech expert in 1970s Recife has critics calling it “career-defining.”
Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance in Sinners and Timothée Chalamet’s return in Marty Supreme round out a strong slate of male performances, while Jeremy Allen White’s portrayal of Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me from Nowhere has generated serious buzz in recent weeks.
Dark horse candidates include Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan and Rising Talent
Veteran Amy Madigan, whose performance in the horror-thriller Weapons stunned audiences, could earn her first Oscar nomination in 40 years — since her 1985 nod for Twice in a Lifetime.
Following in her wake are Teyana Taylor and Regina Hall, both praised for their scene-stealing roles in One Battle After Another. Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas are also earning acclaim for their dynamic chemistry in Sentimental Value.
And then there’s Ariana Grande, whose portrayal of Glinda in Wicked: For Good could easily earn her a nomination if the film proves to be both a critical and commercial hit.
Best Supporting Actor: Mescal vs. the Masters
Paul Mescal continues his meteoric rise with Hamnet, playing William Shakespeare himself — a feat that has oddly never before been recognized by the Academy.
Sean Penn, however, could make history if his villainous turn in One Battle After Another earns him a nomination and potential third win.
Other major contenders include Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value), Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly), and Jeremy Strong (Deliver Me from Nowhere).
A Tight Race Ahead
With months still to go before nominations are announced on January 22, 2026, the field remains wide open. The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15, 2026, promising a celebration of global storytelling, new voices, and cinematic ambition.
From Anderson’s chaotic masterpiece to Zhao’s poetic reimagining of Shakespeare, this Oscar season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory — a fitting reflection of an unpredictable year for film.