The leading contenders at the 2026 Oscars.

Hanoi [Vietnam], March 10: Ahead of the Oscars, Michael B. Jordan and Timothee Chalamet are leading contenders for Best Actor, while Jessie Buckley is predicted to win Best Actress. Meanwhile, the Best Picture category is a close competition between 'One Battle After Another' and 'Sinners'.
With less than a week to go, the 98th Academy Awards will honor the best films, individuals, and teams of the past year across 24 categories. Critics and film enthusiasts worldwide are already making their own predictions about the winners of the golden statuettes. Below are some of the most anticipated names ahead of the most awaited film awards ceremony on the planet.
Best Movie: 'Sinners' or 'One Battle After Another'?
One Battle After Another swept numerous pre-Oscar awards. Specifically, the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio was listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top 10 best films of 2025 and won Best Picture from the National Critics' Council. Director Paul Thomas Anderson's passion project was also honored as Best Picture at the Critics' Choice Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and other awards. The film received a 94% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes , describing it as a spectacular comedic adventure filled with breathtaking action sequences and Paul Thomas Anderson's most entertaining film yet.
While One Battle After Another received 13 Oscar nominations this year, Sinners is setting a record with 16 nominations. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film impressed with a spectacular performance by Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers who are criminals returning to their hometown and facing supernatural evil forces. The film also received rave reviews from critics, being honored by the National Critics' Council and the American Film Institute as one of the best films of the past year. Sinners also received numerous important nominations at pre-Oscar awards, but its chances of winning were lower compared to One Battle After Another .
In an award ceremony as unpredictable as the Oscars, both One Battle After Another and Sinners are considered strong contenders. Independent critic Adam White stated, "To be frank, One Battle After Another is the best film of 2025, so it probably deserves the award." However, he also indicated that it wouldn't be surprising if Sinners were to win. Marcus Jones of Indie Wire believes Paul Thomas Anderson's film will be named the winner, while Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter places Sinners at the top of the list.
Best Director: Will Paul Thomas Anderson extend his winning streak?
The Best Director category is a competition between Paul Thomas Anderson ( One Battle After Another ) and renowned directors Ryan Coogler ( Sinners ), Chloe Zhao ( Hamnet ), Joachim Trier ( Sentimental Value ), and Josh Safdie ( Martyr Supreme ). Most predictions from The Hollywood Reporter, Independent, IndieWire, etc., believe that the 56-year-old filmmaker deserves the prestigious Oscar for his work in One Battle After Another . Prior to this, he won Best Director at numerous prestigious awards ceremonies: the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, BAFTA, and more.
If Paul Thomas Anderson doesn't win an Oscar after more than a dozen missed opportunities, the next name attracting considerable attention is Ryan Coogler. If Coogler wins the upcoming award, he will become the first Black filmmaker to win Best Director.
Best Actor: An Unpredictable Race
This race has seen competition from Leonardo DiCaprio ( One Battle After Another ), Timothee Chalamet ( Martyr Supreme ), Michael B. Jordan ( Sinners ), Ethan Hawke ( Blue Moon ), and Wagner Moura ( The Secret Agent ). Of these, Timothee Chalamet and Michael B. Jordan are receiving the most attention.
Both stars had impressive wins leading up to the Oscars, and observers and critics had valid reasons for predicting one of them would win. While Timothee Chalamet's role in Marty Supreme earned him Best Actor at both the Critics' Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, Michael B. Jordan's portrayal of the twins in Sinners earned him the same award at the SAG Awards. However, many believe that Timothee Chalamet's recent controversial statements could cost him the Oscar, thus increasing Michael B. Jordan's chances of winning.
Best Actress: Is Jessie Buckley the clear favorite?
As of now, the scenario of Jessie Buckley winning Best Actress at the Oscars is widely believed by critics and film observers. The 80s-born star received enthusiastic praise for her explosive performance as a grieving mother in Chloe Zhao's Hamnet. David Fear of Rolling Stone even stated that people will be talking about Jessie Buckley's performance for years to come.
Before attending the 2026 Academy Awards with a major nomination, Jessie Buckley swept the Best Actress category at a number of important awards ceremonies: SAG, BAFTA, Critics' Choice Awards, Golden Globes, etc.
In other categories such as Best Supporting Actress, Teyana Taylor ( One Battle After Another ), Amy Madigan ( Weapons ), and Wunmi Mosaku ( Sinners ) are considered strong contenders. Meanwhile, Sean Penn ( One Battle After Another ), Delroy Lindo ( Sinners ), and Stellan Skarsgard ( Sentimental Value ) are leading candidates for Best Supporting Actor.
Additionally, One Battle After Another is predicted to win Best Adapted Screenplay. Sinners is considered the strongest contender in the Best Original Screenplay race. For Best International Film, attention is focused on Sentimental Value (Norway) and The Secret Agent (Brazil). Furthermore, K-Pop film Demon Hunters is considered a strong contender for Best Animated Film.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper