The 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) race is officially underway. On December 16, 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed its official shortlists in 12 categories, offering an early look at the films most likely to be nominated when the final list drops on January 22, 2026. The ceremony itself will take place on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O’Brien. Wikipedia
This article breaks down the most buzzed-about shortlisted films and tells you exactly where US audiences can watch them — whether on streaming platforms or in theaters.
What Is an Oscar Shortlist?
Before final nominations are announced, Oscar shortlists are released in key categories — such as Original Song, Visual Effects, International Feature Film, Documentary, Sound, and Cinematography — narrowing the field from all eligible films to a smaller group that will be voted on for nominations.
Top Contenders from the 2026 Shortlists
Here are the titles making the biggest waves so far.
Major Hollywood Films with Multiple Shortlist Mentions
These films are strong Oscar contenders, appearing across many categories like score, cinematography, sound, visual effects, casting, or song:
Sinners – A dark, stylized thriller that has appeared on multiple shortlists, signaling broad awards appeal.
Wicked: For Good – The big musical juggernaut has also landed in multiple categories. (AP News)
Frankenstein – Frequently mentioned across technical fields like casting and cinematography.
One Battle After Another – A strong contender in casting and other key categories.
Hamnet – Another critically acclaimed title with shortlist presence.
Marty Supreme – A film poised for attention across technical awards. (screendaily.com)
These titles also factor into Original Score and Original Song shortlists, with tracks by Diane Warren (“Relentless”), Miley Cyrus (“Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash), and others earning recognition. (Pitchfork)
Best International Feature Film Shortlist
The Academy selected 15 films from countries around the world that will compete for a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category. From this list, five films will be chosen as nominees in January.
Here are the international features on the shortlist:
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Argentina: Belén
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Brazil: The Secret Agent
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France: It Was Just an Accident
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Germany: Sound of Falling
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India: Homebound (directed by Neeraj Ghaywan)
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Iraq: The President’s Cake
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Japan: Kokuho
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Jordan: All That’s Left of You
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Norway: Sentimental Value
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Palestine: Palestine 36
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South Korea: No Other Choice
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Spain: Sirât
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Switzerland: Late Shift
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Taiwan: Left-Handed Girl
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Tunisia: The Voice of Hind Rajab (The Economic Times)
Among these, Homebound has already made headlines thanks to its strong global reception and recognition from the Academy. (Hollywood Reporter India)
Where to Watch the Shortlisted Films in the US
1. Sinners
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Streaming: Sinners is **currently streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) in the United States. It premiered on Max on July 4, 2025.
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Digital Purchase/Rental: You can also buy or rent Sinners in 4K or HD on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Vudu, etc.
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Theatrical: Originally released in theaters on April 18, 2025.
Summary: Streaming now on Max + available for digital purchase/rental. Wikipedia
2. Wicked: For Good
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Currently in Theaters: Wicked: For Good continues its theatrical run in late 2025 due to strong box office and awards buzz.
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Streaming Window: A streaming release is expected in early 2026 via Peacock / Universal platforms once its theatrical window concludes (typical for Universal films).
Summary: Best watched right now in theaters; streaming expected early 2026.
3. Frankenstein
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Streaming: Frankenstein is **currently streaming worldwide on Netflix, including in the US, after its global release on November 7, 2025.
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Theatrical: It also had a limited theatrical run in the US beginning October 17, 2025.
Summary: Available now on Netflix US — one of the most accessible Oscar contenders.
4. One Battle After Another
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Streaming: One Battle After Another is **set to begin streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) on December 19, 2025.
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Theatrical: The film premiered theatrically on September 26, 2025 as part of awards season runs.
Summary: Streaming on Max from Dec 19, 2025 (US), with theatrical screenings earlier in fall 2025. IMDb
5. Hamnet & Marty Supreme
These films have not yet been widely released for home streaming as of late 2025. Most are still in festival/theatrical qualifying runs to meet awards criteria.
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Hamnet – Festival and limited theatrical rollout; future streaming dates likely after awards season.
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Marty Supreme – Similar pattern of qualifying theatrical runs; streaming windows expected early 2026.
Summary: Still mainly in theatrical/festival circuits; streaming likely in early 2026.
International Features Streaming & Availability
Among international shortlists:
Homebound (India)
Streaming: Homebound is currently available on Netflix US — making it one of the most accessible Oscar hopefuls for American audiences. (India TV News)
Other International Titles
Many films in this category — like Sirât and Sentimental Value — may be available on international film platforms like MUBI, Criterion Channel, or Kanopy depending on distribution deals. As nominations approach, distribution announcements are likely. (Variety)
Tips for US Viewers: Best Way to Watch Oscar Contenders
Here are ways to catch these films:
Check Major Streaming Services
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Netflix US
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Prime Video US
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Apple TV
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Hulu
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Peacock / Universal platforms
Pro tip: Use tools like JustWatch or Reelgood to track availability across services.
Watch Theatrically When Possible
Many Oscar contenders premiere or qualify for awards via limited theatrical runs — particularly films like Sinners, Frankenstein, and Hamnet. This often means checking local theater listings or platforms like Fandango.
Plan for Post-Awards Streaming
Films often arrive on streaming platforms after their theatrical and awards runs — expect titles like Wicked: For Good and others to hit streaming in early 2026.
Important Dates to Know
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Final Oscar Nominations Announced: January 22, 2026
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98th Academy Awards Ceremony: March 15, 2026 (ABC broadcast, US) Wikipedia
Wrap: What This Means for Movie Lovers
The Oscars 2026 shortlist gives us a preview of the films generating the most buzz this season — from Hollywood blockbusters to foreign gems. For US audiences, many of these films are already accessible via theaters or streaming platforms like Netflix, while others will become more widely available as the awards calendar unfolds.
Whether you’re a cinephile tracking awards buzz or simply want to catch the year’s most acclaimed films, now’s the perfect time to plan your watchlist — and these Oscar shortlists highlight the most exciting titles to stream or screen in 2025–26.
