2026 Oscars - My Picks

Happy Oscars day! The ceremony rewarding some of the greatest films 2025 had to offer is in just a few hours; with little time to waste, I'm skipping the formalities and jumping right in to provide my picks in several key categories. (Please note these are how I would theoretically vote, and not predicitions of who will win.) (ALSO: Follow me on Letterboxd @oneillmi or by clicking here for more in-depth reviews of some of these movies!)

Best Picture - One Battle After Another

It was a good year for movies in my opinion; in other years, Sinners would be my clear favorite. Hamnet had strong elements, Marty Supreme revels in chaos, and Bugonia was 2025' second-most-tense film, behind my winner pick, One Battle After Another. OBAA spends its entire three hour runtime resting on a knife's edge, and exists squarely within the current political moment better than Paul Thomas Anderson could have even predicted at the start of production. It's jam-packed with truly show-stopping movie moments, a popcorn blockbuster that doesn't sacrifice any of its artistry or point of view.

Best Directing - Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another

For the reasons mentioned above, PTA gets his first Oscar for directing - and earns it. Again, Coogler/Sinners is an extremely worthy choice, but I think it barely gets edged out here.

Best Actor in a Leading Role - Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme

This was probably the closest category for me between Chalamet and Michael B. Jordan. Both deliver absolutely stellar performances (in Jordan's case, two!), but for me the deciding factor is that Sinners thrives with its ensemble, whereas Marty Supreme would completely fall apart without Chalamet at the helm of its titular character. He's lucky that his comments about live theatre only emerged just after the voting window shut.

Best Actress in a Leading Role - Emma Stone, Bugonia

Perhaps controversially, I found moments of frontrunner Jessie Buckley's performance in Hamnet to be a little bit overwrought. Instead, I preferred Emma Stone's deliberate, restrained Michelle Fuller. (It's also frankly ridiculous to me that Jesse Plemons isn't also nominated.)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

Col. Steven J. Lockjaw is a wicked mix of evil and pathetic, a deeply insecure racist who seeks power through condescension while groveling at the feet of those deemed higher than him. He's a ridiculous yet complex villain, and Sean Penn navigates those complexities brilliantly.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Another very strong category. Teyana Taylor drives the first hour of One Battle After Another, and Amy Madigan gave us one of the most iconic horror characters in years. But Annie is the heart of Sinners, and Wunmi Mosaku stands out with her layered character even with a half-dozen other stars around her.

Best Music (Original Song) - Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson, "I Lied to You" from Sinners

Sorry, KPop fans - as great as "Golden" is, "I Lied to You" and the scene in which its contained may be the great film moment of the decade so far. It's absolutely magical - metaphorically and literally - and celebrates the extensive history of Black-made music. The easiest choice I made this award season.

OK, other quick hits - no blurbs, just picks!

Best Music (Original Score) - Sinners, Ludwig Göransson (Hamnet came close!)

Best Adapted Screenplay - One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay - Marty Supreme

Best Casting - Sinners

Best International Feature - The Secret Agent

Best Animated Feature - KPop Demon Hunters

Best Cinematography - One Battle After Another

Best Editing - Marty Supreme

Best Costume Design - Sinners

Best Makeup and Hair - Frankenstein

Best Production Design - Hamnet

Best Visual Effects - Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Sound - One Battle After Another (the clock ticks!!!)

I didn't see the short films or documentaries in time, sorry! Also,Sorry, Baby was robbed of nominations in several categories!!