The 2026 awards season is drawing to a close, with just the grand finale left, the 98th Academy Awards (aka the Oscars). Every year, I set myself the challenge of watching every single Oscar-nominated movie across the major categories (Picture, Directing, Acting, Screenplay, and the new category Casting). I'm happy to report that my goal has now been achieved.
After watching every Oscar 2026 movie, from curious choices like “F1” (it’s fine, but Oscar-worthy? Not for me), to the biggest contenders such as “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another,” I’m collecting what I believe to be the strongest players that you need to watch ahead of Hollywood’s biggest night. You might not have time (or the desire) to catch every single Oscar nominee, but these five films deserve to be on any watchlist, as they’re unmissable.
The Oscars 2026 field is pretty strong, and in the name of curation, I had to exclude some excellent efforts (like “Hamnet” and “Bugonia”). So, without further introduction, these are the strongest films in the running this year, according to somebody who has watched every major Oscar nominee.
‘Sinners’
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. You simply can’t talk about the Oscars 2026 without tipping your cap to “Sinners.” Ryan Coogler’s fan-favorite horror-thriller set a new record for the most Oscar nominations by a single movie with 16. It’s that rare breed of movie that has unanimous, across-the-board support. Critics love it. Film fans love it. And the general audience flocked to see this rip-roaring thrill ride in theaters in great numbers.
If you somehow haven’t watched “Sinners," now is the time to correct that oversight, and even if you have seen it already, trust me, it holds up on rewatch. As you may know, the flick has Michael B. Jordan on double-duty, playing twins Stack and Smoke. They return from Chicago to open a junk joint in their native Mississippi, but when opening night starts strong, things get a little sticky when a sinister vampire (Jack O’Connell) shows up at the door.
Watch "Sinners" on HBO Max now
‘One Battle After Another’
The Oscar 2026’s other major contender is “One Battle After Another.” It’s predicted to go toe-to-toe with “Sinners” for the night’s biggest prizes (namely Best Picture), and either would be a worthy winner. Helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, it's epic in almost every sense of the word, weaving a sprawling story that will have you hooked throughout its chunky 162-minute runtime. But remarkably, it barely feels half its length.
Leonardo DiCaprio, in one of his most hilarious performances to date, plays Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary in hiding with his young daughter (Chase Infiniti). When a ghost from the past resurfaces, and Bob’s daughter goes missing, he’s drawn into a madcap odyssey to locate her. DiCaprio and Infiniti are exceptional, but so is the entire cast, including Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall and Teyana Taylor. This might be PTA’s masterpiece.
Watch "One Battle After Another" on HBO Max now
‘Marty Supreme’
I signed up for Club Chalamet a long time ago. I think the confident (you might say cocky) actor has more than earned his stripes, delivering award-calibre performances on an impressively consistent basis. “Marty Supreme” might just be his best to date. The clue is in the name: Marty is the fulcrum of this Josh Safdie comedy-drama, and Chalamet is the perfect actor to embody a tennis table player with ambitious dreams that nobody takes seriously.
Marty Mauser (Chalament) doesn’t just believe he can be the world’s greatest ping pong player; he’s convinced it’s a certainty. But as his unshakable hubris gets him into several difficult jams, he faces the prospect of his life goal not panning out as originally planned. Funny, engaging and constantly raising the stakes, “Marty Supreme” is pure entertainment, and I love it.
Watch "Marty Supreme" on Prime Video (buy/rent) now
‘Train Dreams’
“Train Dreams” is among the most soulful movies of 2025, and much to my frustration, I suspect that of all the Best Picture nominees, it likely ranks among the least seen. Even with its Netflix premiere (after a limited theatrical run), it never made the splash it truly deserved. Yes, it might be slower-paced and more meditative than its Oscar rivals, but it’s gorgeous both visually and thematically. And its charting of a life well-lived is extremely special.
Based on the novel of the same name by Denis Johnson, “Train Dreams” follows Robert Grainier (Joel Egerton), an orphaned child in the early 20th century, who takes work on the Great Northern Railway. This brings him into contact with a diverse group of people, and also forces him away from his beloved wife (Felicity Jones) and young daughter. Thick with a melancholic atmosphere, “Train Dreams” never forgets to celebrate the beauty in life.
Watch "Train Dreams" on Netflix now
‘Blue Moon’
I have a real fondness for dialogue-driven movies, single-location settings and the works of Richard Linklater, so it’s hardly shocking that I fell under the spell of “Blue Moon,” a picture that combines these elements with a transformative performance from Ethan Hawke to boot. Quietly devastating, this biographical drama is capable of comedy, but is also a harrowing examination of a self-destructive figure lost to his numerous vices. It’s a must-watch.
Hawke plays Lorenz Hart, one-half of the legendary Broadway duo Rodgers and Hart. But rather than focus on his heyday, “Blue Moon” is set on the opening night of the musical hit “Oklahoma!” This is significant as it marked Rodgers' first collaboration with new partner Oscar Hammerstein, and Hart finds himself wallowing in self-pity over his writing partner’s newfound success. He’s an outside bet at most, but Hawke would be a worthy Best Actor winner, because he delivers a career-best turn in this sobering biopic.
Watch "Blue Moon" on Netflix now
