The 98th Academy Awards race has officially hit full speed.
Following the January 22, 2026 nominations announcement,
this year’s Oscars are shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and historic in decades defined by record breaking totals, emotional acting battles, and a clash between prestige dramas and bold genre filmmaking.
With the ceremony set for March 15 at the Dolby Theatre, here’s everything you need to know.
The Record Breaker: Sinners Makes Oscar History
Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller Sinners has rewritten the Academy’s record books.
The film earned 16 nominations, surpassing the previous record of 14 held by:
- All About Eve
- Titanic
- La La Land
It’s the first supernatural horror thriller ever to dominate the Oscars at this level, a major shift for an Academy historically cautious about genre films.
Key Highlights:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Ryan Coogler)
- Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan)
- Supporting nominations for Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku
The film is heavily favored in technical categories, particularly:
- Cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkapaw)
- Original Score (Ludwig Göransson)
For many voters, Sinners represents a turning point: proof that horror can be high art.
The Main Rival: One Battle After Another
Close behind with 13 nominations, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is widely viewed as his career defining epic.
The industry narrative has quickly become:
Paul Thomas Anderson vs. Ryan Coogler
Anderson recently strengthened his case by winning the Directors Guild of America Award historically one of the most reliable predictors of the Oscar winner.
While Sinners leads in total nominations, One Battle After Another is seen as the more traditional “prestige” contender, with strong acting ensemble support.
The International Surge: Sentimental Value
Joachim Trier’s Norwegian drama Sentimental Value earned 9 nominations and has become the year’s major international success story.
The film secured acting nominations for:
- Renate Reinsve (Lead Actress)
- Elle Fanning (Supporting Actress)
- Stellan Skarsgård (Supporting Actor)
Alongside The Secret Agent, this year marks the first time international films secured nominations in all four acting categories, a milestone moment for global cinema.
The Most Competitive Category: Best Actor
This year’s Best Actor lineup is being called the strongest in a decade.
The Nominees:
- Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
- Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)
- Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
- Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
Chalamet made history as the youngest man ever to receive three career acting nominations at age 30.
DiCaprio’s performance is being described as his most transformative since The Revenant.
Jordan anchors Sinners with emotional weight that grounds its supernatural themes.
Meanwhile, Wagner Moura’s nomination marks a historic breakthrough for Brazilian actors in a leading category.
There is no clear runaway winner and that unpredictability is driving intense speculation.
Best Actress: The Emotional Center of the Oscars
If one acting race has a clear favorite, it’s Best Actress.
The Frontrunner: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Buckley is widely considered the one to beat for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet.
She has already won:
- Golden Globe (Drama)
- Critics’ Choice Award
A raw, emotionally devastating scene widely referred to as
“the scream” became the defining moment of her campaign.
With 8 nominations overall, Hamnet has strong support from the Academy’s actor branch.
The Challenger: Rose Byrne
In If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Byrne delivers a dramatic performance far removed from her comedic roots.
She won the Golden Globe (Musical or Comedy) and remains the strongest potential spoiler.
The Legacy Narrative
- Emma Stone (Bugonia) is seeking her third Oscar, a rare achievement.
- Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue) returns to the Oscar spotlight 25 years after her nomination for Almost Famous.
Renate Reinsve’s nomination further reinforces the year’s international momentum.
Current betting markets list Jessie Buckley as the strong favorite.
Best Director: A Long Awaited Coronation?
The industry consensus suggests this may finally be
Paul Thomas Anderson’s year.
After decades of critical acclaim, he has never won a directing Oscar and the narrative appears aligned in his favor.
Still, Ryan Coogler’s record breaking achievement with Sinners makes this far from guaranteed.
Other nominees include:
- Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)
- Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)
- Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)
It’s a lineup defined by bold, auteur driven voices.
Supporting Categories: Veterans vs. Breakouts
Supporting Actor
Stellan Skarsgård currently leads, but faces strong competition from:
- Sean Penn
- Jacob Elordi
- Benicio del Toro
- Delroy Lindo
Supporting Actress
Teyana Taylor is the favorite, while Amy Madigan’s 40 year gap between nominations has created one of the most compelling comeback stories in Oscar history.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place:
- Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
- Location: Dolby Theatre
- Host: Conan O’Brien (returning for his second consecutive year)
Final Outlook: A Historic Year in the Making
This year’s Oscars reflect a changing Academy.
Genre films are breaking records.
International cinema is expanding its influence.
And the acting categories are deeper than ever.
Whether Sinners completes a historic sweep or
Paul Thomas Anderson finally claims his long awaited win,
the 98th Academy Awards are poised to be remembered as a turning point.