Resolution Criteria

The winner will be revealed live on air during the Oscars ceremony on March 15, 2026. Resolution will be determined by the official Academy Awards announcement at the ceremony, which can be verified at Oscars.org. There will be 10 Best Picture nominees when the Academy Awards nominations are announced on Jan. 22.

Background

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" is leading the Best Picture race, and if there is any film capable of challenging it, it would be its studio sibling, Ryan Coogler's "Sinners," though it would be unlikely to overtake it. "Sinners" is the most nominated movie at the Critics' Choice Awards with 17 nominations and has taken home awards for its screenplay, cinematography, and supporting actress. Other contenders include "Hamnet," "Frankenstein," and "It Was Just an Accident," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.