Hamnet, One Battle After One other Lead The Race

Awards season is upon us, and so it is my pleasure to convey you ScreenRant‘s Greatest Image predictions for the Oscars 2026. I have been dealing with these prediction items for the previous few years, protecting an in depth eye on the state of the race, and that is no totally different as we search for what Academy voters will deem the very best films of 2025.

For many of the yr, Greatest Image seemed to be vast open, simply ready for a film to burst onto the scene that might seize the eye of everybody. Sinners did that early within the yr, frightening extra conversations about how horror deserves to be extra widely known by the Academy.

Extra not too long ago, pageant debuts for Hamnet and Sentimental Worth put them extra squarely within the race, as The Secret Agent and It Was Simply An Accident jumped into the image with their premieres. But, it has been the debut of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After One other in theaters (after skipping the pageant circuit) that has helped it steal all the eye.

We have nonetheless acquired a couple of months to go till the Academy formally pronounces the ten film lineup of Greatest Image nominees on January 22, 2026. That is how I see issues at this level, however hold checking again, as I will probably be updating this because the Oscars season continues to unfold.

The Greatest Image Nomination Frontrunners

Though many of those films are nonetheless unseen by the vast majority of the inhabitants, the mix of titles already launched in theaters, these screened at varied festivals, and the idea in established filmmakers helps present a information and inform choices. Right here is my present Oscars 2026 Greatest Image nominations prediction (in alphabetical order):

The most secure of those predictions, these which might be already possible locks for a nomination, are Hamnet, One Battle After One other, Sentimental Worth, and Sinners.

Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet turned a Greatest Image frontrunner after its premiere at Telluride and screening at TIFF, the place it gained the Folks’s Alternative Award. The winner of that award has acquired a Greatest Image nomination 22 occasions. These nominations have resulted in six wins, together with Zhao’s final movie, Nomadland.

One Battle After One other has been met with rapturous applause now that it is out in theaters. Critics and audiences are calling it a masterpiece, and the love for it’s sure to proceed with Academy voters. It is positioned as a serious contender throughout the board, not simply in Greatest Image.

Sentimental Worth left an enormous impression on the Oscar race after its Cannes debut, successful the second most prestigious award, the Grand Prix. Whereas not as large a precursor because the Palme d’Or, Joachim Trier’s new movie remains to be well-positioned to surpass The Worst Individual within the World‘s two nominations and issue into Greatest Image.

There’s additionally no likelihood Sinners will probably be forgotten regardless of its launch earlier within the yr. Ryan Coogler has a robust historical past with the Academy after Black Panther. His interval vampire movie that digs into vital themes and the affect of Black artists is destined to be widely known and provides the ceremony considered one of 2025’s largest movies.

This provides Warner Bros. two of the largest frontrunners within the class, which may assist the studio cap off an unbelievable yr critically and on the field workplace. However, Focus can be looking for its first Greatest Image win, whereas Neon has confirmed to be a power on this race, successful twice not too long ago for Parasite and Anora.

The latter’s momentum is considered one of many the explanation why The Secret Agent appears more likely to be nominated. It had an amazing response at Cannes, successful awards for Greatest Director and Greatest Actor, and that might carry the movie towards a Greatest Image nomination, amongst others.

Netflix can be certain to be within the combine right here as soon as once more, because the streamer has racked up 10 nominations within the class over time. A Home of Dynamite is the most definitely to get nominated, backed by robust opinions, Kathryn Bigelow’s tense path, and a starry forged.

I’ve picked Jay Kelly to even be featured, given Noah Baumbach’s stable observe document with the Academy and the star energy connected, though I really feel much less assured that this would be the one to make it by way of. One other Netflix film may emerge, or one other non-streaming title also can take its place.

This leaves us with Avatar: Fireplace and Ash, Marty Supreme, and Depraved: For Good, which no person has seen. There is not any buzz about them from first screenings, making these predictions extra a vote of confidence within the movies, administrators, and the historical past with the Oscars.

In any case, James Cameron’s first two Avatar films earned Greatest Image nominations, even when The Means of Water acquired fewer nominations total. I am not going to rely on Hollywood immediately turning its again on him and this franchise at this level. So long as the film is one other technological marvel, it must be in.

Equally, Depraved: For Good feels assured to be within the lineup as long as the second a part of the musical sticks the touchdown. Depraved was a phenomenon ultimately yr’s ceremony, incomes 10 nominations and successful two. The recognition and anticipated high quality of the sequel makes it a cushty prediction at this level.

Marty Supreme is positioned as A24’s large awards play for this Oscars season. Every part from its late launch to its place in Timothée Chalamet’s quest for greatness provides to its Oscar potential. Being outdoors the festivals should not harm a film like this, which might be the final large title to enter the race, presumably shaking up every part upon its arrival.

Films Nonetheless In The Combine

These 10 films are removed from the one titles which might be in rivalry for Greatest Image. There’s a vast pack of different movies with various ranges of alternatives to enter the race and transfer up into the earlier part, knocking others all the way down to right here.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein are two of the largest omissions from my present predictions. Each administrators have an amazing historical past with the Oscars, every having a number of Greatest Image-nominated films: The Favorite and Poor Issues for Lanthimos; The Form of Water (which gained) and Nightmare Alley for del Toro.

I am hesitant to incorporate Frankenstein after its reception has been a bit cooler than anticipated for a ardour challenge of this dimension. Bugonia has a widespread pageant circuit to assist construct its case, however I am unable to assist however marvel if the absurdist sci-fi comedy will play extra like Sorts of Kindness with Academy voters somewhat than being one other Poor Issues.

I am additionally protecting an in depth eye on It Was Simply An Accident, France’s choice for Greatest Worldwide Function Movie, which takes a crucial take a look at Iran’s political repression. Neon acquired it after it gained the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and Jafar Panahi’s movie may actually ring a bell with audiences because it turns into extra broadly accessible.

The latter would proceed a robust worldwide streak for Academy voters when deciding on the Greatest Image nominees. Park Chan-wook’s No Different Alternative and the Israel-Gaza story in The Voice of Hind Rajab may additionally acquire momentum and replicate the rising presence of worldwide artists changing into Academy members.

Then there are extra typical Hollywood productions with large stars that also have Oscar hopes. Bradley Cooper’s Is This Factor On? starring Will Arnett, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, and Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: Ship Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White want robust campaigns to change into stronger rivals.

Moreover, late-year movies in Tune Sung Blue and Ella McCay that should not be forgotten about. Each may generate a number of appearing nominations to bolster their Greatest Image standing.

It is also value mentioning Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mom Sister Brother. This was the Golden Lion winner at Venice. Within the final decade, 5 of these winners acquired a Greatest Image nomination, with two successful the Oscars’ high prize. There would not appear to be any present momentum on Father Mom Sister Brother‘s facet, however maybe that might change.

All these films are value protecting in thoughts going ahead. The identical may even be true for Prepare Desires, Nouvelle Obscure, The Testomony of Ann Lee, If I Had Legs I might Kick You, Wake Up Lifeless Man, and Weapons. However, even when considered one of them turns into an even bigger contender to earn a nomination, there’ll solely be one winner.

Predicted Greatest Image Winner

At this second, Greatest Image actually appears like a two-horse race: Hamnet vs. One Battle After One other — with Sinners lurking because the stealth winner. Since I wasn’t at Telluride or TIFF, I have never seen Zhao’s loosely true story adaptation of William Shakespeare’s love life. However that is not holding me again from selecting it because the winner.

Hamnet appears like a extra unconventional decide than it did two weeks in the past, now that One Battle After One other has debuted. PTA’s film is rightfully the speak of the film trade, and it is acquired an amazing alternative to rack up double-digit nominations. Every part on this second makes it really feel just like the film of the yr, with some even calling it the film of the century.

That is why it very properly might be the Greatest Image winner come March 15, 2026. However there was loads of skepticism about One Battle After One other‘s standing forward of its vast launch. It is solely as soon as it turned broadly seen that its rivalry solidified. However, the larger swell of help for PTA’s movie is sensible as of proper now.

There is a restricted variety of folks, together with critics and present Academy voters, who’ve seen Hamnet. There are solely 46 opinions logged on Rotten Tomatoes proper now. That is properly under One Battle After One other, which has 334 opinions. That has left Zhao’s film feeling prefer it has misplaced floor to PTA’s, however the tides may change in November when the Shakespeare movie opens vast.

As soon as Hamnet has the identical publicity as One Battle After One other, I consider the film will present everybody why it was heralded as a Greatest Image frontrunner after Telluride and TIFF. Zhao’s path, the stellar performances from the forged, and the technical points ought to all add to the movie’s resume.

In any case, the Academy has proven loads of favor towards Zhao. Her final function, Nomadland, additionally gained the Folks’s Alternative Award at TIFF earlier than successful Greatest Image, Greatest Director, and Greatest Actress. Hamnet may observe an identical route this awards season.

This race is way from over, and there is a likelihood Hamnet really loses some steam as soon as it opens vast. Contemplating the emotional responses elicited from the pageant showings, Zhao’s intimate movie ought to actually join with viewers and, extra importantly, voters as its awards season marketing campaign actually kicks into excessive gear.

For that motive, I am sticking with Hamnet as the anticipated Greatest Image winner for the Oscars 2026. However there’s loads of time for minds to alter, particularly as the varied precursors assist form the race.

8/10

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Dates

March 15, 2026

Web site

https://www.oscars.org/