The 98th Academy Awards ceremony hits the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 15, 2026 — and if you haven’t seen the films everyone will be talking about on Oscar night, this weekend is your last chance. From Brad Pitt roaring back onto the race track to Guillermo del Toro’s haunting monster vision, here’s your essential pre-Oscars watchlist — ranked, broken down, and ready to binge.
Table of Contents
The 5 Oscar Films to Watch This Weekend
| Sl No. | Film | Director | Lead Actor | Release | Nominated For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Marty Supreme | Josh Safdie | Timothée Chalamet | December 2025 | Best Actor, Best Director |
| 4 | F1 | Joseph Kosinski | Brad Pitt | June 2025 | Best Film Editing, Sound |
| 3 | Train Dreams | Clint Bentley | Joel Edgerton | November 2025 | Best Actor, Adapted Screenplay |
| 2 | Sinners | Ryan Coogler | Michael B. Jordan | April 2025 | Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director |
| 1 | Frankenstein | Guillermo del Toro | Jacob Elordi | November 2025 | Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor |
5. Marty Supreme (December 2025)
The most discussed film of the season — for all the right and wrong reasons. Directed by Josh Safdie in his first solo feature without brother Benny, Marty Supreme follows Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a restless hustler who becomes consumed by an obsession with competitive table tennis. Inspired by real-life ping-pong legend Marty Reisman, Safdie turns what sounds like a quirky premise into a deeply compelling portrait of ambition, ego, and the irrational hunger for recognition. Chalamet delivers arguably the best performance of his career — raw, edgy, and completely unvarnished. Despite the pre-Oscars controversy, this is essential cinema that fully justifies his nomination.
Why watch now: Best Actor frontrunner controversy aside, it’s a genuinely brilliant film. You’ll understand why it dominated the conversation.
4. F1 (June 2025)
Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) brings Formula 1 onto the big screen with breathtaking production scale. Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a once-promising driver whose career ended in a devastating crash — now pulled back into the sport years later, navigating both a younger generation’s talent and his own unresolved past. The racing sequences are visually stunning, the emotional beats surprisingly earned, and Pitt brings a weathered grace to the role. Pure, high-octane cinema that holds up magnificently on a second watch.
Why watch now: Best Film Editing is practically written all over this one.
3. Train Dreams (November 2025)
The quietest film on this list and perhaps the most underrated. Based on Denis Johnson’s acclaimed novella, director Clint Bentley follows Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a labourer working in America’s Pacific Northwest forests and railroad camps in the early twentieth century. There are no explosions, no climactic speeches — just a man’s life, shaped by brutal work, profound loss, and the quiet dignity of endurance. Edgerton is extraordinary. This is the kind of film that lingers for days.
Why watch now: Joel Edgerton deserves to be in the Best Actor conversation, and this film proves it definitively.
2. Sinners (April 2025)
Ryan Coogler returns to original filmmaking with his most ambitious project yet. Set in 1932 Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, Sinners follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack — both played by Michael B. Jordan in a dual performance that is simply stunning — who return home hoping to rebuild their lives, only to face a vampire siege that forces a fight for survival and redemption simultaneously. It’s a genre film with enormous social depth, anchored by Jordan’s career-best work. The film has dominated late-season momentum and has every credential to challenge for Best Picture.
Why watch now: Michael B. Jordan is Chalamet’s biggest rival for Best Actor. See both films and decide for yourself.
1. Frankenstein (November 2025)
The year’s most technically breathtaking film — and the one most likely to sweep technical categories. Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water) revisits Mary Shelley’s immortal tale with a darker, more emotionally devastating lens. Jacob Elordi leads as the creature in a performance of remarkable physical and emotional range — simultaneously terrifying and heartbreaking. Every frame reflects del Toro’s obsessive craftsmanship, and the production design is year-defining. This is the film that reminds you what cinema is capable of when artistic vision meets extraordinary talent.
Why watch now: It’s a serious Best Picture and Best Director contender, and Jacob Elordi’s work could launch him into the Best Actor race conversation permanently.
For all live Oscar winner updates, celebrity coverage, and the biggest Hollywood moments on March 15, check out our complete Oscars 2026 coverage on TechnoSports and our guide to the best movies and performances to watch in 2026.
FAQs
Q: When are the 2026 Oscars and where can I watch them?
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony takes place on March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, broadcast live on ABC in the US and various international broadcasters worldwide.
Q: Which film is considered the frontrunner for Best Picture at the 2026 Oscars?
Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro) and Sinners (Ryan Coogler) are the strongest Best Picture contenders heading into Oscar night, with Sinners gaining significant momentum in the final stretch of awards season.
