Happy to announce that nearly all Oscar categories are officially updated with our latest predictions for which films and performers are looking good for nominations at the 2026 Oscars! Head over to the Oscar Predictions page and browse through the categories you’re most excited for to find out how the race is shaping up.
This most recent update will reflect Searchlight Picture’s acquisition of Venice breakout “The Testament of Ann Lee.” We’re feeling that Amanda Seyfried is ripe for a second career nomination and her very first in the Lead Actress category! But will the project be too polarizing to find traction in other categories like Best Picture, Screenplay or Production Design?
In other news, it seems NEON has shelved Julia Ducournau’s “Alpha” for 2026, which is a shame because although the film disappointed at the Cannes Film Festival it also featured top-notch work from its makeup designers. We confidently feel it would have figured into the Makeup Branch’s annual bake-off had it met eligibility requirements. The film also included moving performances from the oft-overlooked Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim in supporting roles. We won’t hold our breath for the kind of support NEON will afford the release, certainly not after the number they did on last year’s People’s Choice Winner “The Life of Chuck.”
Stay tuned for updates to the few categories remaining, including Best Documentary and Best Original Song. And of course, look out for constant changes throughout the month of October as we get our first taste of the handful of films left to screen and would-be contenders finally press their luck with general audiences and the perilous U.S. box-office.