David’s Ranking of the 2026 Best Picture Nominees
The Academy Awards broadcast, every movie fan’s Super Bowl, is coming up this Sunday, March 15! As of last week, I have seen every Best Picture nominee, as well as a large number of movies across all the other categories this year. Check out my rankings of films nominated for Best Picture below, along with my favorites in some of the other categories.
Sinners
It should come as no surprise that Sinners is my pick for Best Picture of 2025. I’m thrilled to see a horror movie receiving the love and recognition it deserves, especially one that is so richly explores themes of race, culture and music. Check out The Drive Home’s full review from last April here.
2. Frankenstein
While I ranked Frankenstein just above Sinners on my “Favorite Movies of 2025” list, the latter has made a much larger cultural impact and certainly has more on its mind than Guillermo del Toro’s monster romp. Even so, Frankenstein ranks high among the Best Picture nominees for me because it is epic, gorgeous, grotesque, and proves that a classic story never loses its luster. Read my full review here.
3. F1
F1 may have been a surprise Best Picture nomination for many, but not for me! This movie is a perfectly made, crowd-pleasing blockbuster that 100% deserves accolades. On top of that, it’s probably the most technically impressive (hello sound!) movie of 2025.
I wish “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver and Doja Cat had been nominated for Best Original Song! The way that record reverberated throughout the auditorium and amplified the electric energy of F1 racing was a sonic highlight for me last year.
4. Bugonia
What I wrote about Bugonia in my Fall 2025 rewind still holds true:
“Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone have done it again! Bugonia is a total 180 from their previous collaboration Poor Things, but I actually found their latest to be a stronger, better paced movie.
Bugonia taps into the zeitgeist around conspiracy theories, corporate greed, and environmentalism to deliver a tense thriller that keeps you guessing until the last five minutes.
Emma Stone is phenomenal as a high-powered CEO, but it’s Jesse Plemons as a radical conspiracy theorist who steals the show.
I can’t wait to give Bugonia another watch!”
Since then, I have rewatched Bugonia and it holds up just as great upon second viewing.
5. Hamnet
While Hamnet’s pacing is a bit slow in parts, Chloe Zhao’s beautiful direction and Jesse Buckley’s emotional performance won me over during the final act. When Buckley’s character Agnes discovers how art, specifically her husband’s playwriting, can help process grief, the waterworks started. Of the “emotional dramas” nominated for Best Picture this year (the others being Train Dreams and Sentimental Value), Hamnet takes the cake in my opinion.
6. One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson movies don’t always resonate with me, but One Battle After Another was a winner! Check out The Drive Home’s full review from October here.
7. Train Dreams
With breathtaking cinematography, a revelatory performance from Joel Edgerton, and a touching story about a simple (but never easy) life, Train Dreams rightfully earns its place at this year’s Academy Awards. This one had me thinking about it for days after - what really is each of our life’s purpose?
8. Marty Supreme
While I enjoyed Marty Supreme and think Timothee Chalamet gives a strong performance, I feel that the movie has been a little overhyped. It’s classic Safdie brothers - raises anxiety levels and gets your heart pumping thanks to its chaotic central character. However, the story meanders quite a bit, and I wanted to feel more resolution after 2.5 hours with these characters.
9. Sentimental Value
Sentimental Value features some of the best acting you’ll see this decade. Stellan Skarsgaard, Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning elevate this drama about family, mental health, and the power of cinema, but the pacing is languid.
10. The Secret Agent
This was the only Best Picture nominee that I did not enjoy. After last year’s excellent nominee from Brazil, I’m Still Here, I was looking forward to The Secret Agent. Unfortunately, its interesting subject matter is squandered by an extremely bloated runtime with too much filler.
As for the other categories, here are my favorite nominees (not necessarily who I think is going to win):
Directing: Sinners
Original Screenplay: Sinners
Adapted Screenplay: Hamnet
Actor: Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
Actress: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another)
Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)