Monday, March 02, 2026

2026 Oscar Best Picture Nominees Ranked


Ranked by Ray Manukay


Lucky 13 Presents

THE 10 BEST PICTURE
NOMINEES RANKED

From the bottom of the prestigious bargain bin to the absolute cream of the 2025 cinematic crop.

By Ray Manukay • March 2026

#10 FRANKENSTEIN

Official Synopsis: A modern retelling of Mary Shelley's classic tale of creation and consequence, exploring the thin line between genius and madness.

Production Info: Directed by Guillermo del Toro | Netflix Studios

Starring:

  • Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein
  • Jacob Elordi as The Creature
  • Mia Goth as Elizabeth / Claire Frankenstein
  • Christoph Waltz as Heinrich Harlander
  • Charles Dance as Leopold Frankenstein

Accolades: 9 Academy Award Nominations including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Jacob Elordi.

Accolades: 5 Nominations including Best Production Design and Best Makeup & Hairstyling.

"Del Toro’s signature visual flair, More a tragedy of generational trauma, than a traditional monster horror film. Which results in a glorious disappointment."

#9 MARTY SUPREME

Official Synopsis: Inspired by the life of Marty Reisman, this stylized 1950s drama follows a ping-pong prodigy navigating fame and the American Dream.

Production Info: Directed by Josh Safdie | A24

Starring:

  • Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser
  • Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay Stone
  • Tyler Okonma (Tyler, the Creator) as Wally
  • Odessa A'zion as Rachel Mizler
  • Kevin O'Leary as Milton Rockwell
  • Fran Drescher as Rebecca Mauser
Accolades: 4 Nominations including Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet.

"A frantic, stylish acting showcase for Chalamet. Safdie proves he can maintain his high-tension energy even if the story lacks sincere heart."

Oscars Historical Trivia

  • Peanuts for a Ticket: The very first ceremony in 1929 was a private 15-minute dinner at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where a guest ticket cost just $5.
  • The Plaster Era: Due to metal shortages during World War II, Oscar statuettes handed out between 1943 and 1945 were made of painted plaster. Winners were invited to trade them for metal ones after the war ended.
  • The $1 Buy-Back: Since 1950, winners must sign an agreement that neither they nor their heirs can sell their statuette without first offering to sell it back to the Academy for exactly $1.
  • The Ultimate Champion: Walt Disney holds the record for the most Academy Awards won by an individual, with 26 Oscars (22 competitive and 4 honorary).
  • Five-Minute Victory: Beatrice Straight holds the record for the shortest performance to win an acting Oscar; she was on screen for just 5 minutes and 2 seconds in the 1976 film Network.
  • The 1974 Streaker: During the 46th ceremony, a man named Robert Opel ran across the stage naked while flashing a peace sign. Host David Niven famously quipped, "The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings".

#8 HAMNET

Official Synopsis: Based on the bestselling novel, it tells the story of Agnes Shakespeare as she deals with the death of her only son, Hamnet.

Production Info: Directed by Chloé Zhao | Amblin Entertainment

Starring:

  • Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare
  • Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare
  • Emily Watson as Joan Hathaway
  • Joe Alwyn as Richard Shakespeare
  • Luke Thompson as Gilbert Shakespeare

Accolades: 6 Nominations including Best Actress for Jessie Buckley.

"A Profoundly Shattering Descent into emotional trauma. Hamnet delivers its message of grief with a sledgehammer. A grueling experience that feels less like entertainment and more like a direct sit-down with pure pain."

#7 THE SECRET AGENT

Official Synopsis: Set in 1977 during the height of Brazil's military dictatorship, a technology expert named Marcelo (Wagner Moura) flees to his hometown of Recife to reunite with his son. He soon discovers the city is a den of surveillance and paranoia as he is hunted by hitmen hired by a corrupt government official.

Production Info: Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho | Distributed by [eon.

Starring:

  • Wagner Moura as Marcelo
  • Maria Fernanda Cândido as Helena
  • Gabriel Leone as Vinícius
  • Udo Kier as The Handler
  • Irène Jacob as Camille

Accolades: 4 Academy Award Nominations including **Best Picture**, **Best Actor** (Wagner Moura), **Best International Feature Film**, and **Best Casting**. Winner of Best Director and Best Actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

"A NARRATIVE KALEIDOSCOPE OF 1977 BRAZIL. One part Tarantino, one part Lynch, mischievouly sprinkled with DePalma and Scorsese yet all its own."

#6 F1

Official Synopsis: A retired Formula One driver returns to the grid to mentor a rookie teammate in the high-octane world of professional racing.

Production Info: Directed by Joseph Kosinski | Apple Original Films

Starring:

  • Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes
  • Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce
  • Javier Bardem as Ruben Cervantes
  • Kerry Condon as Kate
  • Tobias Menzies as Banning

    • Accolades: 7 Nominations including Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.

    "The most intense, visceral racing movie ever made. Kosinski proves again he is a master of the machine."

98th Oscars Trivia

  • The All-Time Record: Ryan Coogler's Sinners has officially become the most-nominated film in history with 16 nominations, surpassing the 14 held by Titanic and La La Land.
  • PTA's Epic Return: Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another holds 13 nominations. If he wins, it will be his first Oscar after 11 previous career nominations.
  • A New Era for Casting: This is the first year the Academy has introduced the Best Casting category. The inaugural nominees include Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners.
  • Young Legend: At age 30, Timothée Chalamet tied Marlon Brando as the youngest actor to receive three Best Actor nominations.
  • Historic Diversity: Sinners set a record for the most Black individuals nominated for a single film (ten). Additionally, Wagner Moura became the first Brazilian ever nominated for Best Actor.
  • Biggest Shock: The musical sequel Wicked: For Good was completely shut out with zero nominations, despite the first film winning two Oscars just last year.

#5 BUGONIA

Official Synopsis: Two men kidnap a high-powered CEO, convinced she is an alien intending to destroy Earth.

Production Info: Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos | Focus Features

Starring:

  • Emma Stone as Michelle
  • Jesse Plemons as Teddy
  • Alicia Silverstone as Dr. Rose
  • Stavros Halkias as Gus
  • Hong Chau as Detective Sun

    • Accolades: 8 Nominations including Best Actor for Jesse Plemons and Best Actress for Emma Stone.

    "A Claustrophobic Masterpiece of Tension. The sparring between Stone and Plemons makes this one of the riveting thrillers of the year."

#4 TRAIN DREAMS

Official Synopsis: An epic tale of a day laborer in the American West as he witnesses the modernization of the world at the turn of the century.

Production Info: Directed by Kelly Reichardt

Starring:

  • Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier
  • Felicity Jones as Gladys Grainier
  • Clifton Collins Jr. as William
  • Kodi Smit-McPhee as The Stranger
  • Barry Keoghan as Eddie

    • Accolades: 5 Nominations including Best Cinematography.

    "A cinematic poem catching moments of pure sincerity and peaceful acceptance. A triumph of atmosphere and sincerity.A beautiful, fragile look at a life being lived. "

#3 SINNERS

Official Synopsis: Two brothers returning home for a fresh start find an ancient evil waiting for them in the shadows of the South.

Sinners Cast
  • Michael B. Jordan (Lead)
  • Wunmi Mosaku (Supporting)
  • Delroy Lindo (Supporting)

Production Info: Directed by Ryan Coogler | Warner Bros. Pictures

  • Michael B. Jordan as Elias / Silas
  • Hailee Steinfeld as Adelaide
  • Jack O'Connell as The Preacher
  • Wunmi Mosaku as Martha
  • Delroy Lindo as The Elder

    • Accolades: 9 Nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.

    "A Southern Gothic Masterpiece of Symbolism and Soul.A triumph of thought and visualstorytelling with deep, symbolic layers that reward multiple viewings."

    #2 SENTIMENTAL VALUE

    Official Synopsis: A famous actress and her estranged father are forced to reconcile after a sudden family tragedy occurs during a film shoot.

    Production Info: Directed by Joachim Trier

    Starring:

    • Renate Reinsve as Nora
    • Stellan Skarsgård as Gustav
    • Elle Fanning as Alice
    • Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Sigrid
    • Anders Danielsen Lie as Eivind

    Starring:

      Accolades: 6 Nominations including Best International Feature.

      "THE NEED FOR PERFORMANCE AND THE SALVATION OF STORYTELLING. A profoundly moving drama with comedy, set against the backdrop of the performing arts. Sentimental Value explores the dynamics of a family moving through life's trials and tribulations through their artistic expression in the performing arts. It's a fascinating grounded look at how past experiences and traumas inform art."

    #1 ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

    Official Synopsis: A sprawling, atmospheric odyssey following the intertwined lives of ambitious souls and the haunting legacy of power across the American landscape.

    One Battle After Another Cast
    • Leonardo DiCaprio (Lead)
    • Benicio del Toro (Supporting)
    • Sean Penn (Supporting)

    Production Info: Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

    Accolades: 11 Nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

    "Paul Thomas Anderson makes a triumphant return to the screen with One Battle After Another a riveting, visceral experience—a non-stop chase that serves as both a literal and metaphorical fight for the human spirit. Anderson delivers arguably one of the best films in recent cinematic memory."

    Ceremony & Host Details

    Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026

    Live Broadcast: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT on ABC

    The Host: Conan O'Brien

    Returning for his second consecutive year, Conan O’Brien was brought back by the Academy following the massive critical and ratings success of the 97th Oscars.

    • Streaming First: In a modern twist, the 98th Oscars will be available to stream live via Hulu and Disney+ alongside the traditional ABC broadcast.
    • The "Conan Touch": O’Brien has teased a performance-heavy opening, jokingly promising to "finally solve the mystery of why these shows are four hours long."
    • Red Carpet: Coverage begins at 3:30 PM ET, featuring a special "Behind the Scenes" digital stream hosted on the Academy’s social channels.

    at 8:13 PM

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