It’s time to grab the ballots as the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards have officially landed in Los Angeles. Announced by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman, this year’s reveal delivered a mix of expected frontrunners, buzzy surprises, and one undeniable headline-maker: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. Which stormed into Oscar history with 16 nominations, making it the most-nominated film of all time. The announcement showcases a fascinating year for the Academy. One where bold filmmaking, international storytelling, and auteur-driven visions dominate the conversation.
Best Picture: A Lineup That Reflects A Changing Academy
This year’s Best Picture nominees showcase the Academy’s widening embrace of scale, experimentation, and emotional depth:
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
From high-energy movies like F1 to literary adaptations like Hamnet and Train Dreams, alongside genre-defining ambitions such as Sinners and Frankenstein, this category feels less like a competition and more like a declaration of where cinema is heading.
Performance Categories: Star Power Meets Career-Defining Turns
The acting races are stacked with both prestige veterans and performers hitting new creative peaks. With that being said, Jordan’s nomination continues Sinners’ dominance, while Buckley, Reinsve, and Stone solidify their reputations as actors drawn to emotionally complex material.
Best Actor
- Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
- Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)
- Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
- Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
Best Actress
- Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
- Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You)
- Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue)
- Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)
- Emma Stone (Bugonia)
Directors In The Spotlight
The Best Director category highlights the Academy’s love affair with filmmakers who challenge form and tone. Coogler’s inclusion here feels inevitable and historic, while Trier and Zhao continue to represent the Academy’s growing appreciation for international and intimate storytelling.
- Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)
- Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)
- Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
- Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)
- Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
Supporting Performances Steal The Conversation
Best Supporting Actress
- Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value)
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value)
- Amy Madigan (Weapons)
- Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners)
- Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actor
- Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another)
- Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein)
- Delroy Lindo (Sinners)
- Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
- Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)
Notably, Sentimental Value and One Battle After Another dominate these categories, signaling how ensemble strength played a major role in this year’s voting.
A New Oscar Era: Best Casting Debuts
One of the most talked-about changes this year is the introduction of Best Casting, honoring the architects behind unforgettable ensembles. The inaugural nominees include:
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sinners
As many of us know, it’s a long-overdue recognition and one that further cements Sinners as a production firing on every cylinder.
Craft Categories Showcase Technical Excellence
From Production Design and Cinematography to Sound, Score, and Visual Effects, films like Frankenstein, Hamnet, F1, and Sinners consistently reappear across technical categories. As a result, it’s proof that 2025 was a year where artistic ambition and craftsmanship aligned.
International And Animated Storytelling Shine
Additionally, the International Feature race highlights global voices with nominees from Brazil, France, Norway, Spain, and Tunisia, while Animated Feature blends original IP and beloved franchises, including Zootopia 2 and KPop Demon Hunters.
Looking Ahead To Oscar Night
With historic nominations, the debut of new categories, and a slate of films that push the boundaries of what Oscar contenders can be, this year’s race is shaping up to be one of the most compelling in Academy history. And if the nominations are any indication, Oscar night 2026 won’t just celebrate cinema… it will redefine it.
Nonetheless, comedian Conan O’Brien returns as host for the second consecutive year. In doing so, he’s bringing continuity and levity to a ceremony that will honor films released in 2025 across 24 competitive categories. The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15th, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Interested in tuning in? The ceremony will air live on ABC in the U.S. and is also expected to stream on Hulu.
