Los Angeles: The popcorn blockbusters that filled cinemas over the summer might be as distant a memory as the smell of sun cream, but the film industry is now gearing up for the most exciting time of the year: awards season. Hamnet, Sinners, and Christy are just a few of the titles you can expect to hear more about now that the awards race is underway, although some potential contenders haven’t even premiered yet.
According to BBC, a significant number of Oscar-tipped movies launched at the recent Venice, Telluride, and Toronto film festivals, joining others that had already generated buzz at Sundance and Cannes earlier in the year. Set in 1596, Hamnet examines the death of William Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son and the events that led the Bard to write his play Hamlet. The film recently won the Toronto People’s Choice Award, typically a harbinger of Oscars success, and will be released in UK cinemas on 9 January 2026.
One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is another strong contender. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the film follows a group of former revolutionaries who reunite to rescue a kidnapped daughter. Critics have broadly agreed the film earns its lengthy runtime with gripping storytelling and rapid pacing. It is set to hit UK cinemas on 26 September.
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a vampire movie that defies its early awards year release to become both a box office hit and an Oscars contender, tells the story of twin brothers returning to the Mississippi Delta, unaware of the evil force awaiting them. Emma Stone’s latest film, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, features her as a powerful CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists. While Stone has previously won best actress twice, her co-star Jesse Plemons could earn his first nomination. This film will be released in the UK on 7 November.
The sports biopic genre sees Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney as famed boxer Christy Martin, and The Smashing Machine, featuring Dwayne Johnson as UFC fighter Mark Kerr, entering the race. Christy, directed by David Michôd, follows Martin’s rise and survival of an attempted murder, while The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie, earned him the best director award at Venice. Christy releases on 28 November, with The Smashing Machine following on 3 October.
Sentimental Value, a Cannes breakout hit, reunites Best Actress contender Renate Reinsve with director Joachim Trier. The film explores the reconnection of estranged sisters with their father. Additionally, a new film by Luca Guadagnino, featuring Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield, tackles sensitive themes and aims to bring the director back into the awards conversation, releasing on 22 October.
Jafar Panahi’s latest film, a Cannes Palme d’Or winner, examines themes of political repression in Iran and is expected to compete in the international category, representing France. Releasing on 5 December, it may also contend for Best Picture. Meanwhile, Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, brings table tennis to the fore, releasing on 1 January 2026.
Blockbuster sequels, Wicked: For Good and Avatar: Fire and Ash, are expected to dominate the box office and could secure Best Picture nominations thanks to the expanded category. Other films generating buzz include Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, George Clooney’s Jay Kelly, music biopics Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and Song Sung Blue, Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, and Brendan Fraser’s Rental Family. Strong contenders in the international film category and various other films are also vying for recognition.