The race for the 98th Academy Awards has officially begun, with the unveiling of the highly anticipated shortlists. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the contenders in 12 categories on Tuesday, setting the stage for the ceremony to be broadcast on ABC on March 15.
Frontrunners and Box Office Titans Emerge
Topping the list is the musical spectacle Wicked: For Good, which secured an impressive eight mentions across the initial categories. The Wizard of Oz prequel finds itself tied with the blockbuster Sinners, which earned recognition in casting, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, original song, sound, and visual effects.
These films represent both critical and commercial success. Jon M. Chu's Wicked: For Good, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, amassed a formidable $469.8 million at the global box office. Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler's acclaimed vampire film Sinners, featuring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role, garnered $368 million worldwide.
Another major player is Guillermo del Toro's reimagining of Frankenstein, which landed a solid six mentions, including nods for its casting, cinematography, and makeup.
A Landmark Year for Women in Film
The 2026 shortlists highlight a significant and powerful trend: the outstanding performance of female filmmakers. In a remarkable showing, seven out of the 15 films shortlisted for Best International Feature are directed by women. This strength is mirrored in the documentary field, where 10 out of 15 shortlisted films have female directors, including Annemarie Jacir for Palestine 36.
Women also demonstrated formidable presence in the newly introduced Casting category, which will debut at next year's ceremony. Ten films made the cut, with notable entries like One Battle After Another, overseen by casting director Cassandra Kulukundis.
The Road to the Nominations
While the shortlists provide a clear indication of the year's strongest contenders, the journey is far from over. Academy voters will now scrutinise these selections, casting their ballots to narrow the field between January 12 and 16. The full list of Oscar nominations across all 24 categories will then be revealed on January 22, finalising the line-up for Hollywood's biggest night.
Other notable films making a strong showing across the 12 categories include Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, and the Spanish film Sirât.
