The race for Hollywood's top honours has intensified with the Producers Guild of America (PGA) revealing its nominees for the prestigious Darryl F. Zanuck Award. Announced on Friday, 9th January 2026, the list of ten films serves as a crucial barometer for the upcoming Academy Awards.
The PGA's Top Contenders
The nominated films, which represent the PGA's choice for outstanding theatrical motion picture production, include several awards season stalwarts. "One Battle After Another," "Sinners," and "Marty Supreme" all secured pivotal nominations, reinforcing their status as frontrunners. They are joined by other critically acclaimed titles such as "Frankenstein," "Hamnet," and "Sentimental Value."
The list also features "Bugonia" and "Train Dreams," alongside two more unexpected selections: the Formula One blockbuster "F1" and the horror sensation "Weapons." Notably, four of the nominated films—"F1," "Weapons," "One Battle After Another," and "Sinners"—were theatrical releases from Warner Bros.
Notable Omissions and Oscar Implications
In a surprising turn, the guild's selection committee passed over two major studio spectacles: "Avatar: Fire and Ash" and "Wicked: For Good." Many industry observers had considered both big-budget projects to be likely contenders for a producing honour.
The PGA nominees closely align with the choices made earlier this week by the actors and directors guilds. This consensus is significant, as the full list of ten is a strong predictor for the Best Picture batch when Oscar nominations are revealed on 22nd January. Historically, the winner of the Zanuck award has gone on to win the Best Picture Oscar 17 times in the past 22 years, including last year's victory for "Anora."
Animated and Television Honours
Beyond the top film prize, the guild also announced nominees in other categories. For animated feature, the five contenders are "KPop Demon Hunters," "Zootopia 2," "Elio," "The Bad Guys 2," and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle."
Television productions were also recognised across various categories. Notable nominees include "Andor," "The Pitt," "South Park," "Adolescence," "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and "Mr. Scorsese."
The 37th annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on 28th February in Los Angeles, where the winners will be crowned, further shaping the narrative of the 2026 awards season.
