The film industry is entering its most exciting time of the year: awards season. Festivals in Venice, Telluride, Toronto, Sundance, and Cannes have already unveiled many of the movies expected to dominate the conversation all the way to the Oscars ceremony on March 14, 2026.
From literary adaptations and music biopics to political thrillers and sports dramas, the lineup looks stronger than ever. Here are the 12 frontrunners generating the loudest Oscar buzz.
1. Hamnet
Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, Hamnet tells the tragic story of William Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son and the grief that inspired Hamlet. Directed by a recent Oscar-winning filmmaker and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, it has already won the Toronto People’s Choice Award — often seen as an Oscar bellwether.
2. One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson reunites with Leonardo DiCaprio for a gripping political drama about a group of ex-revolutionaries who team up to rescue a kidnapped daughter. At nearly three hours, critics say the film’s urgency and energy justify its length. This could finally bring Anderson his long-awaited Best Director win.
3. Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s surprise vampire thriller, starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers, was released unusually early in the year but has stayed in the awards conversation. A box office hit with an original idea, it has been hailed as a much-needed injection of creativity in Hollywood.
4. Bugonia
Emma Stone shaves her head for her fourth collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos. She plays a powerful CEO abducted by conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien. Beneath the dark comedy lies existential commentary, as expected from Lanthimos. Jesse Plemons could also land his first Oscar nomination.
5. Christy
Sydney Sweeney transforms into legendary boxer Christy Martin in this gritty biopic. Directed by David Michôd, the film charts Martin’s rise in the 1990s and the shocking murder attempt by her husband in 2010. With physical transformation and raw intensity, Sweeney could land her first Academy nod.
6. Anemone
Daniel Day-Lewis returns from retirement to star in a drama directed by his son Ronan. He plays a veteran who reconnects with his brother after decades of isolation. With Day-Lewis involved, Oscar attention is almost guaranteed.
7. The Smashing Machine
Dwayne Johnson surprises critics with a transformative turn as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the 1990s. Directed by Benny Safdie, who won Best Director in Venice, the film marks Johnson’s most dramatic performance to date and could redefine his career.
8. Sentimental Value
Joachim Trier’s latest family drama, which won the Cannes Grand Prix, follows two sisters reconnecting with their estranged father after their mother’s death. Renate Reinsve shines in a role that may earn her a Best Actress nomination.
9. After the Hunt
Luca Guadagnino directs a provocative drama starring Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and breakout star Ayo Edebiri. Tackling themes of power, assault, and academia, the film is expected to ignite fierce debate on social media during awards season.
10. It Was Just An Accident
Winner of the Palme d’Or in Cannes, Jafar Panahi’s politically charged drama follows a man who unexpectedly meets his former torturer in a garage. Representing France instead of Iran in the international category, the film could also break into Best Picture.
11. Marty Supreme
Timothée Chalamet headlines Josh Safdie’s quirky sports biopic inspired by ping-pong legend Marty Reisman. With a stylish New York backdrop, this offbeat tale could make its way into categories from Best Actor to Original Screenplay.
12. Wicked: For Good & Avatar 3
Two massive blockbusters round out the list. Wicked: For Good continues the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), while James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash expands the Na’vi saga with a new tribal conflict. Both are expected to dominate the box office — and possibly sneak into Best Picture, given the Academy’s push for popular films in the lineup.
Other Films to Watch
- Kathryn Bigelow returns with A House of Dynamite, starring Rebecca Ferguson.
- Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein could clean up in technical categories.
- Jeremy Allen White plays Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me From Nowhere, one of two high-profile music biopics alongside Song Sung Blue.
- Brendan Fraser follows The Whale with Rental Family, set in Tokyo.
- International contenders include No Other Choice (South Korea), The Secret Agent (Brazil), Sirāt (Spain), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).
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