Three upcoming films might make up for Uncut Gems getting snubbed on the 2020 Oscars. Uncut Gems is a chaotic thriller that stars Adam Sandler as a jeweler who makes a high-stakes wager that would utterly change his life. Along with Sandler, the forged consists of Julia Fox, LaKeith Stanfield, and professional basketball participant Kevin Garnett.
Upon its launch in 2019, evaluations for Uncut Gems have been unbelievable. The film, which was co-directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, has a tremendous rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and is usually considered one in all Sandler’s greatest films. The actor was praised for his efficiency, and the general tense ambiance of the movie was a excessive level for a lot of. Regardless of this, it acquired zero Oscar nominations.
Now that each one the key summer season blockbusters have been launched, it is time to begin wanting in the direction of awards season. It is nonetheless tough to foretell precisely what films can be nominated on the 2026 Oscars, however it’s very doable that The Smashing Machine, Marty Supreme, and Jay Kelly will redeem Uncut Gems‘ snubs.
Three 2025 Motion pictures May Be Main Awards Contenders 6 Years After Uncut Gems Was Snubbed
Uncut Gems might have, and arguably ought to have, been nominated for main Oscars equivalent to Finest Image, Finest Director, and Finest Authentic Screenplay. Moreover, Sandler’s wonderful efficiency ought to have earned him a Finest Actor nomination. Sadly, this wasn’t the case, however a number of of those creatives have promising films on the horizon.
Previously, Josh and Benny Safdie have co-directed all their films. Nevertheless, after Uncut Gems, the brothers determined to go their separate methods. They each have films popping out this yr, and will probably be fascinating to see how they fare. Curiously, each of their films are sports activities biopics.
Whereas there have been rumors of a feud between the Safdie brothers, Benny has advised Selection that the break up is just “a pure development of what we every need to discover.“
Firstly, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine will launch in theaters on October 3 and inform the story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr throughout the rise of the UFC. The A24 movie will star Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Based mostly on the trailer, it appears to be like prefer it might probably be the very best film of Johnson’s profession, and it is doable that he can be nominated for Finest Actor.
Secondly, Marty Supreme can be directed by Josh Safdie and arrive in theaters on Christmas Day. The movie will star Timothée Chalamet and is impressed by the lifetime of Marty Reisman, who competed as a desk tennis champion within the mid-1900s. Marty Surpreme additionally has the awards-friendly backing of A24, and Chalamet has been an Academy favourite lately.
Lastly, writer-director Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly will see Sandler in a supporting position. The film will middle on the connection between an actor and his supervisor, performed by George Clooney and Sandler respectively, as they journey by Europe and replicate on their lives. Forward of Jay Kelly‘s premiere on the Venice Movie Pageant, there’s hope that Sandler may very well be within the operating for Finest Supporting Actor.
How Will The Smashing Machine, Marty Supreme, & Jay Kelly Fare Throughout Awards Season?
Since none of those films have had their official premieres but, it is laborious to foretell whether or not they actually can nab any main nominations on the 2026 Academy Awards. Nevertheless, they’re undoubtedly three extremely anticipated movies that appear positioned to be award contenders.
With that being mentioned, the 2026 awards season can be full of loads of unbelievable films. Titles equivalent to Hamnet, Bugonia, and Sentimental Worth have already got simply as a lot buzz because the aforementioned films do. Moreover, there’s an opportunity that blockbusters like Sinners, Depraved: For Good, and Avatar: Hearth and Ash will take up Finest Image slots as effectively.
This doesn’t suggest that The Smashing Machine, Marty Supreme, and Jay Kelly cannot additionally stand out throughout awards season. Pitting the Safdie brothers in opposition to one another would make for an incredible awards season storyline, however it’s definitely worth the reminder that The Smashing Machine and Marty Supreme are each A24 initiatives. The corporate might must favor one over the opposite when campaigning.
The Smashing Machine and Jay Kelly are each in competitors on the Venice Movie Pageant, which commences on the finish of August. In the meantime, Marty Supreme‘s Christmas launch date is a main marketing campaign spot that has labored for a lot of movies previously, together with Chalamet’s 2024 film A Full Unknown.
We’ll have some early evaluations for The Smashing Machine and Jay Kelly quickly, however due to its late-in-the-year launch date, it’ll be an extended wait to see how critics reply to Marty Supreme. Subsequently, we’ll probably have to attend a couple of extra months to study which of those three films, if any, will actually thrive on the 2026 Academy Awards.
Regardless, it is extremely thrilling that the Safdie brothers and Sandler, three of the primary contributors to Uncut Gems, all have a shot at being nominated for, and probably profitable, an Academy Award. Uncut Gems is certainly some of the noteworthy snubs lately, so I might be thrilled if any of those films discover success on the 2026 Oscars.
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The Smashing Machine
- Launch Date
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October 3, 2025
- Runtime
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123 minutes
- Director
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Benny Safdie
- Writers
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Benny Safdie
- Producers
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Beau Flynn, David Koplan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia
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Marty Supreme
- Launch Date
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December 25, 2025
- Director
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Josh Safdie
- Writers
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Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
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Jay Kelly
- Launch Date
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November 14, 2025
- Runtime
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132 minutes
- Director
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Noah Baumbach
- Writers
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Emily Mortimer, Noah Baumbach
- Producers
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David Heyman, Noah Baumbach, Amy Pascal

