Nominations for the Academy Awards come out Jan 22., and the film industry is currently entrenched in the 2026 awards season. Even though most people might not pay attention to ceremonies like the Oscars, the films that get nominated for and receive awards can guide trends in the film industry and influence the kinds of movies that get made. 

This year, it seems that Hollywood has found a good balance between critical and commercial success, creating artistically driven films with impressive commercial draws. Films like “Marty Supreme,” “Sinners,” “One Battle After Another” and “Frankenstein” have already done well this season, but their continued success in the upcoming BAFTA and Academy Awards ceremonies could determine the trajectory of the film industry in years to come. 

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Marty Supreme

“Marty Supreme” was one of the most anticipated releases of 2025: a period piece loosely based on ping pong champion Marty Reisman. The film pairs Josh Safdie, a filmmaker with a cult following, and Timothee Chalamet, one of Hollywood’s biggest young stars, playing the titular character. 

Timothee Chalamet embarked on an online marketing campaign to promote “Marty Supreme” by collaborating with celebrities and embodying the persona of the titular character, the cocky yet endearing Marty Mauser. The film is the highest-budget A24 movie to date, and it seems to be trying to strike a balance between critical appeal and commercial success.

Critically, “Marty Supreme” has been successful this awards season. Chalamet has already nabbed a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for his performance. Throughout the decade, Chalamet has become a superstar, with several critically acclaimed performances, but he hasn’t won any major awards until now. 

While “Marty Supreme” has also been praised for its other aspects, such as directing, cinematography, and supporting performances, the film hasn’t garnered any awards yet besides those Chalamet won. Although the film is a worthy contender for many awards, it’ll probably be edged out by films like “One Battle After Another” or “Sinners,” which are perhaps more culturally relevant. 

One Battle After Another

“One Battle After Another” pairs legendary writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson and legendary actor Leonardo DiCaprio, two artists who aren’t shy of critical acclaim. DiCaprio plays an ex-revolutionary who is forced to save his daughter, played by Chase Infiniti, from a corrupt military official. 

Despite the star-studded cast, “One Battle..” was still a massive gamble, being a $175 million auteur-driven film with a hotly political subject matter. While it underperformed at the box office, it’s one of the most successful films this year when it comes to critical acclaim. 

At the Critics Choice Awards, “One Battle” won for best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay. The film also won four of the biggest awards at the Golden Globes, including best comedy/musical and best director.  Notably, Leonardo DiCaprio was not awarded for his leading performance in the film. 

Despite this, the film still has a good chance at winning even more accolades for directing, writing, and best picture overall. The Academy Awards remain the only major awards ceremony Anderson hasn’t won for, despite 11 nominations in the past. Because of this, he seems like a safe choice to win, or at the very least be nominated, for the Oscars, even if the film doesn’t succeed in other categories 

Sinners

”Sinners” has made a big storm this year, and the awards season will only elevate it further. The film was a surprise critical and commercial success, the most profitable original film since “Inception” in 2010. It’s also possibly the most culturally impactful movie to come out this year.

A fusion of horror and historical drama, “Sinners” centers around the story of two brothers in Jim Crow-era Mississippi, both played by Michael B. Jordan, using impressive technology, trying to leave their troubled past behind, only to discover a vampire outbreak. Given how strange it may sound, the success of “Sinners” is an unprecedented achievement. 

“Sinners” was nominated for several awards and has already won multiple, such as the Critics Choice Awards for best original screenplay, best ensemble, and best young actor for Miles Caton. On top of that, it has won best original score for both the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes. 

The film’s award success seems a little hard to predict, because in the past, the industry has been more reluctant to award horror movies at the same level as their other contenders. But “Sinners” might just be unique and impactful enough to break that mold this year. It has a solid chance at winning even more awards, from directing, writing, acting, visual design, score and more. 

Frankenstein 

Along with “Sinners,” “Frankenstein” is the other horror film making a big stir this year. The film is set apart from numerous other adaptations of the “Frankenstein” novel because of the cast, including Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, and the guiding force of director Guillermo Del Toro. Del Toro is known for his fantastical visual aesthetic, withhis previous films having won some of the biggest awards in the industry. 

“Frankenstein” was relatively successful at the Critics Choice Awards, winning many awards for visual aspects, such as best production design, best costume design and best hair and makeup. More surprisingly, Jacob Elordi nabbed a win for best supporting actor. Although “Frankenstein” didn’t win any awards at the Golden Globes, the film was nominated for multiple, and the Golden Globes has fewer categories than most other award shows.

Because of Del Toro’s reputation for lush imagery, “Frankenstein” is a safe bet to win most awards in the realm of visual design. What’s less likely is that the film wins the major awards for acting, writing, or directing because horror movies aren’t the most competitive for the awards season. 

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Overall, these four films are the ones that have the most potential for success as this awards season continues. While they’ve already seen big wins this season, the BAFTAs, as well as the Academy Awards, which is arguably the biggest movie awards ceremony, still await. These films’ success in these upcoming ceremonies will be the most influential on the careers of the actors and creatives involved, and the future of the industry as a whole.