The Academy Awards bring new angles and recognition to film, even adding a new award category for the first time in 25 years: Casting. From record-breaking contender “Sinners” to a centuries-later adaptation of “Frankenstein,” this year’s picks reflect both originality and creative remastering.
Between surprise inclusions and familiar favorites, these 10 films make this year’s race for Best Picture one to watch.
Bugonia
Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ signature style is unmistakable, and his direction with “Bugonia” continues his streak of unsettling, darkly funny films.
An English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic “Save the Green Planet!,” the film follows two conspiracy theorists who kidnap a powerful CEO, fully convinced she is an alien intent on Earth’s destruction. Lanthimos blends dark comedy with sharp social commentary, using both as tools to explore modern anxieties.
F1
“F1” brings kinetic energy to the track, reimagining Formula One racing as both a spectacle and a character study.
Formula One may not be for everyone, but director Joseph Kosinski recontextualizes the sport with this film. While the high-speed sequences deliver adrenaline, the film’s strength lies off the track, following drivers beyond the cockpit and offering a look into their private lives.
This high-speed narrative maintains its momentum, making the lengthy runtime race by.
Frankenstein
More than 200 years after its source material, “Frankenstein” proves the story, themes and characters still resonate. The classic story is reframed through atmospheric cinematography and striking imaginings of the creature, plastering the silver screen with images to the novel’s words.
The Academy also recognized the film’s craftsmanship with nominations for makeup, hairstyling and costume design, emphasizing the care taken in reintroducing this classic story to modern audiences.
Hamnet
Known for directing Marvel’s “Eternals,” Chloé Zhao delivers with her intimate, devastating portrait of loss in “Hamnet.”
Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel of the same name, the film focuses on William Shakespeare’s marriage and how the death of his young son, Hamnet, shaped the creation of his play “Hamlet.” Upheld by deeply impactful performances—particularly from its child actors—“Hamnet” captures grief with restraint, vulnerability and emotional precision.
Marty Supreme
An anxiety-infused narrative takes viewers by storm with Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme.” Roughly inspired by the life of table tennis legend Marty Reisman, the film casts Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, a gifted prodigy desperate for recognition. “Marty Supreme” invites viewers to ride Mauser’s downward spiral as he fights to make a name for himself.
Though ping-pong serves as the backdrop, the film mainly hones in on ego, obsession and self-destruction — hallmarks of Safdie’s high-stress narratives.
One Battle After Another
“One Battle After Another” blends action with introspection, following a once-active revolutionary forced back into conflict to protect his daughter.
The film balances explosive set pieces with political and social commentary, exploring the cost of resistance and the unfinished nature of battles. Its cast brings depth to morally complex characters, inviting audiences to empathize even as circumstances grow increasingly dire.
The Secret Agent
Set against a backdrop of political unrest, “The Secret Agent” explores loyalty, surveillance and identity through a tense spy narrative. The film prioritizes atmosphere over spectacle, using quiet tension and restrained performances to build suspense.
Its careful pacing and morally ambiguous characters present a love letter to classic espionage thrillers while grounding the story in modern fears about power and control.
Sentimental Value
“Sentimental Value” is a reflective drama centered on memory, family and what we attach meaning to over time. Through careful visual storytelling, the film examines how personal history shapes identity.
Rather than relying on overt emotional beats, it begs for patience, allowing moments of silence and subtlety to linger. The film earns its impact through restraint and emotional honesty.
Sinners
Ryan Coogler, director of “Black Panther” and “Creed,” stunned voting members of the Academy with this genre-bending horror film. Set in 1932, “Sinners” follows a set of twin brothers returning to their hometown to face threats both supernatural and deeply personal.
The film’s immersive sound design and thoroughly talented cast and crew work together to elevate the tension, justifying the record-breaking 16 nominations earned and positioning “Sinners” as a dominant force amongst nominees.
Train Dreams
Based on Denis Johnson’s novella, “Train Dreams” offers a quiet, meditative look at isolation, labor and the American frontier.
The film follows a railroad worker navigating a rapidly changing world, emphasizing mood and imagery over traditional tropes. Its restrained storytelling and artistic visuals reflect the inner life of its protagonist, making it a contemplative piece from start to finish.
The Oscars will take place on March 15 at 7 p.m. and can be streamed live on ABC or Hulu.
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