It’s award season, which is genuinely one of the best times of year if you’re a movie lover like us. There’s something special about diving into all the nominated films, rewatching favorites from the past year, and gearing up for the Oscars. But let’s be real — with so many Best Picture nominees, it can feel overwhelming to figure out which ones are actually worth your time. That’s where we come in. As people who watch every single nominee every year, we’ve done the legwork for you.
We’ve watched, rewatched, and ranked all the Best Picture nominees so you know exactly which movies you absolutely can’t miss, which ones are worth it if you have time, and which ones you can safely skip. Here’s The Only 2026 Oscar Best Picture Ranking You Need to Read.
10. Bugonia
Oh Bugonia... If you love weird — and we mean truly weird — Bugonia is for you. Yorgos Lanthimos stays true to his signature bizarre directing style, blending genres and creating something completely one-of-a-kind. It’s not entirely our cup of tea, but we absolutely understand why critics are recognizing it. Emma and Jesse are enough reason to watch this one.
9. F1
This might be the biggest surprise on the Best Picture list — stealing spots from widely nominated films at other awards shows like Jay Kelly and Wicked: For Good (please still see Wicked anyway). That said, F1 is a fun movie that works whether you’re obsessed with the sport or know absolutely nothing about it. We really didn’t think we’d enjoy watching this movie as much as we did, but Brad Pitt is perfect in this entertaining watch.
8. Sentimental Value
Another film where subtitles shouldn’t stop you. Sentimental Value does something extraordinary in capturing raw family emotion in a contemporary, complex way. We can see people potentially skipping this one because of the language barrier and abstract storytelling, but it has multiple nominations for a reason — it’s deeply moving. This could easily sneak up and steal some wins.
7. The Secret Agent
This one has been catching everyone by surprise, and it’s genuinely captivating with Wagner Moura delivering the performance of his career. He recently won the Golden Globe, beating out major frontrunners, which proves this awards season is completely unpredictable — there’s just too much talent and too many incredible films. Don’t let the subtitles scare you away; this film absolutely needs to be seen. The Secret Agent can definitely take the Oscars this season.
6. Train Dreams
Visually stunning, Train Dreams is a must-watch this season. It’s definitely a slow-burn film, so you’ll need patience if you’re committing to watching all the nominees this year. But the gorgeous Pacific Northwest scenery is absolutely captivating, and the cinematography is breathtaking — we can easily see it taking home that award.
5. Marty Supreme
Timothée Chalamet wants an Oscar badly — this is his fifth nomination, and one of his films almost always ends up in the Best Picture race. He’s phenomenal as always in Marty Supreme. Who knew a movie about table tennis could be this stressful? But it absolutely is, keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time. He fully commits to every role he takes, and he’ll definitely be battling Michael B. Jordan for Best Actor this year.
4. Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro and Oscar Isaac might be some of the biggest snubs this award season because this isn’t just the best Frankenstein adaptation ever made — it’s an incredible film in every single way. Jacob Elordi perfectly embodies the “monster,” and del Toro masterfully shows humanity in its rawest, truest form. The film is visually stunning while also being reflective, heartbreaking, and beautiful all at once. Elordi is absolutely our pick for Best Supporting Actor — this is hands down the best performance of his career so far.
3. Hamnet
This one’s for the literature lovers and anyone navigating grief and loss. Hamnet is an absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking story about life, death, and everything in between. Chloé Zhao does an incredible job capturing raw human emotion in this retelling of a story many of us grew up knowing. Jessie Buckley will almost certainly win Best Actress for her performance — she’s that good. If you have the time and you’re okay with shedding some tears (maybe a lot of them), this is absolutely worth watching.
2. Sinners
If you’re only watching one film this year, make it this one. It’s broken the record for most Oscar nominations of ALL time! Honestly, this could easily be this year’s best picture winner. It was genuinely incredible — we have zero notes. This is probably the most original film we’ve ever seen, and there’s truly nothing else like it. Vampires during the Jim Crow era? Musical numbers mixed with horror and action? Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers with completely opposite personalities? Yes to all of it. Michael B. Jordan absolutely deserves Best Actor for this role — watching him embody two entirely different characters throughout the film was unreal. This is his best work yet, and Ryan Coogler’s directing and vision brought something truly unique to the screen. Please, please watch this one!
1. One Battle After Another
From the opening scene to the credits, you’ll be on the edge of your seat completely captivated by what happens next. The pacing is flawless, the script is sharp, and the original score elevates every moment — it’s genuinely a masterpiece. The film tackles incredibly timely topics with biting satire and perfectly timed comedy, while the entire cast delivers unforgettable performances. Leonardo DiCaprio as a devoted but perpetually high father to a teenage girl? It’s the character we never knew we needed from him.
This is what we think will win Best Picture, although Sinners 100% deserves the win just as much as this one!
Have you watched any of these films yet? Which one’s your favorite? Tag us on Instagram & TikTok to let us know!
For The Aesthetic 