Peter Bradshaw, film critic for The Guardian, has shared his predictions for the 2026 Oscars, offering his takes on who will win, who should win, and which films and performances were overlooked. In a year dominated by anticipated titles like Sinners and One Battle After Another, Bradshaw suggests there may be room for surprises.
For Best Picture, Bradshaw predicts Sinners will take the prize, but argues that The Secret Agent deserves the win. He names The Mastermind as a film that should have been in the running. In the Best Director category, he expects Paul Thomas Anderson to win for One Battle After Another, and also believes he should win, while noting Kleber Mendonça Filho (The Secret Agent) as a contender who was overlooked.
In the acting categories, Bradshaw forecasts Michael B. Jordan will win Best Actor for Sinners, but suggests Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) should take the award, with Josh O’Connor (The Mastermind) as a snub. For Best Actress, he predicts and endorses Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, with Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love) as a missed contender. Delroy Lindo is tipped to win Best Supporting Actor for Sinners, and Bradshaw agrees he should win, naming Russell Crowe (Nuremberg) as a snub. For Best Supporting Actress, he predicts Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) but believes Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) should win, with Gwyneth Paltrow (Marty Supreme) overlooked.
In other categories, Bradshaw predicts Zootopia 2 for Best Animated Feature but prefers Little Amélie, and calls Fixed a snub. For Best Cinematography, he expects and supports One Battle After Another, with Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight as a snub. Best Original Screenplay is predicted to go to Sinners, but Bradshaw favours It Was Just an Accident, naming Black Bag as a missed contender. Best Documentary Feature is predicted and endorsed as Mr Nobody Against Putin, with Ocean With David Attenborough overlooked. Best International Feature sees Sentimental Value as the predicted winner, but Bradshaw prefers The Secret Agent, with The Ice Tower as a snub. Best Adapted Screenplay is predicted and supported for Hamnet, with Bugonia overlooked. Best Original Score is predicted and endorsed for Train Dreams, with The Secret Agent as a snub. Best Makeup and Hairstyling is predicted and supported for Frankenstein, with Blue Moon as a snub. Best Visual Effects is predicted and endorsed for Sinners, with The Phoenician Scheme overlooked. Best Original Song is predicted and supported for Sentimental Value, with Die My Love as a snub.
