Awards pundits were taken by surprise from the first two words spoken at the Oscar nominations on Thursday. Elle Fanning, for Sentimental Value, said hosts Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman, kicking off the nominations with the best supporting actress category. Fanning's nod was unexpected, as she had garnered praise for her role but many did not predict she would be nominated.
The excitement continued as a series of surprising snubs and nominations followed.Here are eight big takeaways from the 2026 Oscars nominations:
**1. Some Hot Favourites Missed Out**
Paul Mescal's omission for 'Hamnet' was surprising, especially since Jessie Buckley, his co-star, is a frontrunner for best actress. Likewise, breakout star Chase Infiniti from 'One Battle After Another' was bypassed despite high expectations. Other notable absences included Jesse Plemons for 'Bugonia' and Joel Edgerton for 'Train Dreams.'
**2. F1 is a Comfort-Food Movie**
Brad Pitt’s racing film managed to secure a best picture nomination, despite not having other major nods. Its placement demonstrates a strong appreciation from the Academy for fun, traditional films.
**3. Sinners Were the Big Winners**
With 16 nominations, Ryan Coogler’s 'Sinners' shattered previous records held by films like 'Titanic' and 'La La Land.' This horror-infused musical certainly resonated with Academy voters, blending indie artistry with genre themes.
**4. Wicked Did Not Bewitch the Academy**
Unlike its predecessor, 'Wicked: For Good' earned zero nominations, a stark contrast to the ten it received back in 2014.
**5. The Brits Showed Up**
Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku were the only British talent in acting categories, showing that despite fewer Brits nominated, there’s still strong recognition for their performances.
**6. Several Actresses Carried Their Films to a Nomination**
Three actresses brought their films to the Oscars without any help from their co-stars. Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, and Amy Madigan’s performances were standout enough to warrant recognition.
**7. New Category is a Mixed Bag**
The introduction of a casting category saw overlapping nominations, although surprising misses like 'Sentimental Value' raised eyebrows.
**8. Timothée is Even Closer to Greatness**
Timothée Chalamet, likely a frontrunner for best actor this year, continues to impress and is now one of Hollywood’s greats as he garners his third nomination for 'Marty Supreme.'
Keep an eye out for the awards as nominations lead up to exciting showdowns!
The excitement continued as a series of surprising snubs and nominations followed.Here are eight big takeaways from the 2026 Oscars nominations:
**1. Some Hot Favourites Missed Out**
Paul Mescal's omission for 'Hamnet' was surprising, especially since Jessie Buckley, his co-star, is a frontrunner for best actress. Likewise, breakout star Chase Infiniti from 'One Battle After Another' was bypassed despite high expectations. Other notable absences included Jesse Plemons for 'Bugonia' and Joel Edgerton for 'Train Dreams.'
**2. F1 is a Comfort-Food Movie**
Brad Pitt’s racing film managed to secure a best picture nomination, despite not having other major nods. Its placement demonstrates a strong appreciation from the Academy for fun, traditional films.
**3. Sinners Were the Big Winners**
With 16 nominations, Ryan Coogler’s 'Sinners' shattered previous records held by films like 'Titanic' and 'La La Land.' This horror-infused musical certainly resonated with Academy voters, blending indie artistry with genre themes.
**4. Wicked Did Not Bewitch the Academy**
Unlike its predecessor, 'Wicked: For Good' earned zero nominations, a stark contrast to the ten it received back in 2014.
**5. The Brits Showed Up**
Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku were the only British talent in acting categories, showing that despite fewer Brits nominated, there’s still strong recognition for their performances.
**6. Several Actresses Carried Their Films to a Nomination**
Three actresses brought their films to the Oscars without any help from their co-stars. Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, and Amy Madigan’s performances were standout enough to warrant recognition.
**7. New Category is a Mixed Bag**
The introduction of a casting category saw overlapping nominations, although surprising misses like 'Sentimental Value' raised eyebrows.
**8. Timothée is Even Closer to Greatness**
Timothée Chalamet, likely a frontrunner for best actor this year, continues to impress and is now one of Hollywood’s greats as he garners his third nomination for 'Marty Supreme.'
Keep an eye out for the awards as nominations lead up to exciting showdowns!
