The 2026 Oscars are still a few months away — but if you know the RUSSH team, you'll know that awards season lives rent-free in our heads year-round. The red carpet looks, the campaign trails, the whispered front-runners, the surprise snubs — we love it all.
Whether you subscribe to the Academy Awards as an arbiter of the best films (and performances) of the year, it's hard to deny that they’re still one of the most-watched, most-discussed cultural events in the film world. And we’ll be here, speculating until that final envelope is opened.
So, who’s tipped to win in 2026? These are our Oscar predictions for the year to come.
The Testament of Ann Lee
In this historical project, Amanda Seyfried embodies the titular 18th-century visionary, founder of the Shakers, in a role that critics are already calling career-defining. A musical drama built on real Shaker hymns, filmed in 70 mm and steeped in textured period design, the film checks many boxes for awards buzz: lead performance, direction, original score, cinematography.
One Battle After Another
Could this mark Leonardo diCaprio's second-ever Oscar win? The actor was reunited with director Paul Thomas Anderson in this film, where he plays Bob, a former radical now living off the grid with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). When she vanishes and an old enemy (Sean Penn) resurfaces, Bob is forced to re-enter the world he left behind. With Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Benicio Del Toro also in the cast, it’s the kind of film the Academy loves. Expect Best Actor and Director buzz at the very least.
Weapons
Zach Cregger returns with a haunting ensemble horror that’s already being called “genre-defying.” Set in a small town rocked when an entire elementary school class goes missing, Weapons follows multiple characters — played by Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich and more — as paranoia sets in. It's already echoing the critical success of films like Get Out and Hereditary, and even has a prequel in the works.
Sentimental Value
Danish-Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier, who brought us The Worst Person in the World, is back with this quietly devastating family drama. After the death of their mother, two estranged sisters — played by Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — reconnect with their distant, once-famous filmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgård). Elle Fanning also stars in this intimate, dialogue-heavy film. If we have it our way, Reinsve will be in the conversation for Best Actress.
Frankenstein
Could this be the role that brings Jacob Elordi into the Oscars fold? Guillermo del Toro's long-awaited Frankenstein adaptation is finally coming to life, and judging by the trailers, it's worth the hype. Gothic, atmospheric, and unmistakably del Toro, the film stars Oscar Isaac as a haunted Victor Frankenstein, with Mia Goth as his ill-fated fiancée Elizabeth Lavenza. But it’s Jacob Elordi’s turn as the Creature that’s already drawing attention. Del Toro could be poised for another Best Director nod, while Elordi might just surprise in the acting categories.
Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is one of the most ambitious genre films in years — and might be one of the most surprising Oscar contenders, too. Set in 1930s Mississippi, Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore, returning to their hometown only to be confronted by a lurking supernatural evil. It’s part period drama, part Southern Gothic horror, and the dual-role performance from Jordan is career-defining.
Bugonia
From director Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia is a satirical science fiction black comedy about two conspiracy theorists who kidnap a powerful corporate executive they suspect is an alien plotting to destroy Earth. Emma Stone reunites with Lanthimos to play said CEO, while Jesse Plemons plays one of the unhinged abductors. Could Lanthimos’ streak from Poor Things carry over into this awards season?
Wicked: For Good
This one isn't out yet, but our hopes are high. If the first film tells us anything, it's that the long-awaited second instalment will be met with both critical acclaim and commercial success. Our pick? Cynthia Erivo will receive a nod for Best Actress, while the film more broadly could be recognised in categories like Best Costume Design, and Best Picture.
Marty Supreme
Biopics have proved hits at the Oscars in recent years, and while Marty Supreme isn't strictly rooted in history, we're predicting it will have a similar impact. Set in the 1950s, Timothée Chalamet stars as a young Marty Mauser pursues his dream of becoming a champion table-tennis player. He has plenty of star power around him, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Tyler the Creator both in supporting roles. Could this one win big? Time will soon tell.
Wicked: For Good
Like it or love it, there's no denying Wicked: For Good made a splash at the box office. Will part two receive as many nods (10 nominations, if you're counting) as part one? If you need a refresher, part one actually took home two awards last year: Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.
