Oscars 2026 Predictions: ‘One Battle After Another’ Leads Race as Major Favorites Emerge

With the 98th Academy Awards approaching, film analysts and industry insiders have identified several strong contenders expected to dominate the ceremony, with “One Battle After Another” emerging as the leading favorite in multiple categories.

The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, has gained significant momentum throughout the awards season after winning several major industry prizes, including key guild awards that historically align with the Best Picture winner. Experts say these victories have positioned the movie as the frontrunner for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars.

However, the race remains highly competitive. “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler, is considered the strongest challenger after earning the highest number of nominations and gaining strong support from critics and audiences. Many analysts believe the two films could dominate the ceremony and split several major awards.

In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan is widely predicted to win Best Actor for his performance in Sinners, overtaking earlier favorite Timothée Chalamet following a late surge in industry support.

For Best Actress, Jessie Buckley is considered the clear frontrunner for her role in the historical drama “Hamnet.” Her performance has earned critical acclaim throughout the awards season and she has already collected several major precursor awards.

Meanwhile, Sean Penn is widely predicted to win Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Battle After Another, while the Best Supporting Actress category remains one of the most competitive races, with contenders including Amy Madigan, Teyana Taylor, and Wunmi Mosaku.

In other categories, analysts expect “KPop Demon Hunters” to win Best Animated Feature, while “The Perfect Neighbor” is predicted to take the Best Documentary Feature award. Technical awards could go to films such as “Frankenstein,” which is favored in areas like production design, costume design, and makeup.

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Hollywood and will be hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien. Industry observers say that although several categories have clear favorites, the unpredictable nature of Oscar voting means surprises are still possible on the night of the awards.