With awards season whispers already gaining momentum, Timothée Chalamet is emerging as one of the strongest early contenders for the 2026 Oscars, thanks to his transformative performance in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming film Frankenstein. Industry insiders say the adaptation is positioned as a major critical and box office force, setting the tone for what some analysts predict will be one of the most competitive Academy Awards races in years.
Beyond Frankenstein, at least nine other films and stars are drawing significant attention across categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon MGM Studios are expected to dominate awards campaigning, continuing a shift that has reshaped Oscar influence.
Here are 10 of the hottest early tips for the 2026 Oscars race:
1️⃣ Timothée Chalamet — Frankenstein
Early reactions from private screenings indicate a career-defining performance under del Toro’s dark, poetic direction.
2️⃣ Lupita Nyong’o — The Queen of the River
A sweeping historical epic based on a West African legend, lauded for Nyong’o’s emotional intensity.
3️⃣ Cillian Murphy — The Electrical Age
Murphy follows his 2024 Best Actor win with another prestige period drama exploring the birth of global telecommunications.
4️⃣ Carey Mulligan — Mother of Exiles
A political refugee drama with strong festival expectations and awards-aligned storytelling.
5️⃣ Denis Villeneuve — Dune: Messiah (Best Director Race)
Villeneuve may secure a directing nomination as the saga continues.
6️⃣ Barry Keoghan — Saltwater Boys
A gritty Irish coastal thriller that critics say contains Keoghan’s boldest performance yet.
7️⃣ Ariana DeBose — Celestine
A 1950s jazz-biography musical that could put DeBose back in contention.
8️⃣ Martin Scorsese — The Killing of the Flower Moon (Extended Cut)
A re-edited version rumored for limited theatrical return may spark renewed Oscar conversation.
9️⃣ Animated Feature: The Glass Menagerie (Pixar)
Visually groundbreaking animation drawing early praise for emotional storytelling.
🔟 Best Original Screenplay: Fading Comets
A cosmic romance-drama from breakout writer-director Kemi Lawson gaining strong industry buzz.
Film analysts caution that festival reactions—from Cannes, Venice, TIFF, and Telluride—will reshape predictions, but expectations are already high for a year filled with heavyweight performances and ambitious filmmaking.
Sources
Variety — early awards season projections
The Hollywood Reporter — industry conversations on Chalamet and del Toro
Deadline — studio campaign planning and release window analysis
IndieWire — festival premiere expectations and streaming platform strategies
Screen Daily — international distribution and critical direction insights
