The 98th Academy Awards Surprises and Snubbs

The (98th) Academy Awards announced their nominees. Here’s a comprehensive look at the 2026 Oscar nominations and the biggest snubs and surprises from this year’s list.

Vampire thriller 'Sinners' makes Oscars history with record 16 nominations

Record-breaking leader- Sinners

Ryan Coogler’s vampire-tinged drama Sinners earned 16 total nominations, the most in Oscars history, surpassing films like Titanic and La La Land. It’s a frontrunner in major categories including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan.

One Battle After Another received 13 nominations, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Bugonia, and several others also scored multiple nods.

Emma Stone became the youngest woman to reach seven Oscar nominations at age 37 with Bugonia.

Timothée Chalamet became the youngest actor since Marlon Brando to be nominated three times for Best Actor.

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter set a record as the most-nominated Black woman in Academy history with her work on Sinners.

Best Picture nod

The Apple TV+ Formula 1 drama F1 scored a Best Picture nomination despite relatively few precursor nominations — a surprise to many pundits.

Delroy Lindo (Best Supporting Actor – Sinners)

Lindo’s nomination was a feel-good surprise; many didn’t expect him to break through this awards season.

Kate Hudson (Best Actress – Song Sung Blue)

Hudson’s nomination marked a comeback in the lead-actress race, her first in decades.

Ethan Hawke (Best Actor – Blue Moon)

Hawke’s inclusion among top actors for a smaller, character-driven film was another surprise.

Surprising Omissions

Ariana Grande and Wicked: For Good

The sequel to Wicked was completely shut out of nominations, and Grande missed a supporting-actress nod many expected.

Paul Mescal (Best Supporting Actor – Hamnet)

Mescal was widely predicted to be nominated but was passed over this year.

Chase Infiniti (Best Actress – One Battle After Another)

Infiniti’s breakout turn didn’t translate to a nomination, possibly because Hudson’s inclusion squeezed the field.

Guillermo del Toro (Best Director – Frankenstein)

Del Toro’s omission from the Best Director race for his passion project Frankenstein surprised many awards observers. Amanda Seyfried (Best Actress – The Testament of Ann Lee) Another perceived miss, given her acclaim from critics and earlier season buzz.

Other notable snubs. Jonathan Bailey and Cynthia Erivo from Wicked: For Good

Odessa A’zion (Supporting Actress – Marty Supreme)

Jesse Plemons (Best Actor – Bugonia) and even some well-liked international films didn’t make the top categories.

This year’s nominations leaned into diversity of genres, from big mainstream titles to intimate character pieces.

Some beloved films and performances fizzled with voters, underlining how unpredictable Oscar nomination voting can be. Record-setting performances and historical nods indicate that the Academy is recognizing a mix of legacy careers and fresh takes