The Oscars used to be predictable. You’d see a period piece about a king with a stutter or a sweeping war epic, and you’d basically know who was taking home the gold. But the 98th Academy Awards, set for March 15, 2026, feels like a different beast entirely. We've got a vampire horror film leading the pack with a record-shattering 16 nominations, a conspiracy thriller starring Emma Stone, and a stop-motion animated film from Latvia that already shook the industry last year.
If you’re just looking for a list of who might win, you’re missing the point. This year is about the total collapse of traditional "Oscar bait." You might also find this related story interesting: Why the 2026 Brit Awards in Manchester will be a total chaos.
Ryan Coogler and the Sinners phenomenon
Let’s talk about Sinners. Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller didn't just get lucky. It secured 16 nominations, officially passing the 14-nomination record previously shared by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. That’s insane. For decades, the Academy treated horror like a tacky cousin they only invited to the party for technical awards. Now, Sinners is the frontrunner for Best Picture.
Michael B. Jordan is pulling double duty here, and his nomination for Best Actor isn't just a "thank you" for his career. It’s a recognition of a dual performance that actually required range. If he wins, he’ll be the first actor to win for playing twins in a single film. It’s the kind of high-wire act that usually wins people an Emmy, but the Academy is finally biting. As reported in latest coverage by IGN, the implications are notable.
The Emma Stone era is getting ridiculous
Emma Stone is only 37. Think about that. With her nomination for Bugonia, she’s now the youngest woman to ever earn seven Oscar nominations. She snatched that record from Meryl Streep, who was 38 when she hit that milestone.
But here’s the stat that actually matters: Stone is the only actress in history whose first five nominations were all for movies that also got Best Picture nods. Birdman, La La Land, The Favourite, Poor Things, and now Bugonia. That isn't just talent; it’s an incredible eye for scripts. While everyone else is chasing blockbusters, she’s out here making weird, experimental conspiracy dramas with Yorgos Lanthimos and winning. Honestly, it’s her world and we’re all just watching the trailers.
Why 207 years matters for Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is finally here, and it’s a heavy hitter in the production design and costume categories. But the real "fun fact" is the sheer age of the source material. There’s a 207-year gap between Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel and this 2025 adaptation.
That’s one of the longest gestation periods in Best Picture history. We’ve seen dozens of Frankenstein movies, but this is the first one that feels like it actually respects the gothic gore of the original text rather than the "green guy with bolts" trope. Kate Hawley’s costume design is already being called the fashion event of the year. Turning a monster story into a style icon is exactly the kind of weirdness the 2026 Oscars is embracing.
The international surge is no longer a fluke
Last year, the 97th Oscars proved that the world is tired of the Hollywood bubble. Anora took the big prize, and Brazil’s I’m Still Here snatched Best International Feature away from the heavily favored Emilia Pérez.
This year, the momentum continues. Keep an eye on The Secret Agent from Brazil and Sentimental Value from Norway. Wagner Moura, who you probably know from Narcos, is nominated for Best Actor. If he wins, he’ll be the first Brazilian actor to take that trophy. The Academy’s voting body has become significantly more international over the last three years, and it shows in the nominations. We’re moving past the era where "International Feature" was the only category for non-English films.
Technical records that actually mean something
Most people tune out during the Sound and Visual Effects categories. Don't do that this time.
- Ruth E. Carter: If she wins for Sinners, she becomes the first Black woman to win three Oscars. She’s already a legend for Black Panther, but this would cement her as the undisputed queen of costume design.
- Zinzi Coogler: As a producer on Sinners, she could become the first Black woman to ever win Best Picture. It’s 2026, and we’re still hitting "firsts" like this. It’s about time.
- Zootopia 2: It’s the highest-grossing film in the mix, having banked $1.86 billion. It’s also a legal headache in Europe, where it has to be called Zootropolis because a zoo in Denmark trademarked the word "Zootopia" back in 2009.
Stop waiting for the old Hollywood to return
The 98th Oscars represents a permanent shift. The "Sinner" versus "Saint" narrative is everywhere, with Sinners and One Battle After Another representing two completely different visions of what a "prestige" movie looks like. One is a high-octane genre buster; the other is a methodical, intense drama from Paul Thomas Anderson.
Don't expect a clean sweep for anyone. The competition between Coogler and Anderson is the tightest director race we’ve seen in a decade. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, watch the smaller categories like Best Achievement in Casting—a new category this year that finally gives credit to the people who actually build these ensembles.
Check the screening schedules for Sinners and Bugonia before the ceremony on Sunday. Most of these are already hitting streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix, so there’s no excuse for being the person at the watch party who hasn't seen the Best Picture nominees.
