Oscar 2026: How to watch this year’s award-winning films, from Hamnet to Marty Supreme.

Hollywood stars are preparing to attend one ceremony after another as the film awards season gets underway.

Marty Supreme, Hamnet and Wicked: For Good are some of the favorites in what is shaping up to be a competitive year for the Oscar race.

The Golden Globe nominations, possibly the first major milestone of awards season, will give a sense of which films have momentum when they are announced on December 8.

The competition continues with the Bafta Film Awards and the newly renamed Actor Awards (formerly SAG), before the season concludes with the Oscars on March 15.

Most of the favorites premiered at film festivals like Cannes, Venice and Telluride, but one or two remaining contenders, like Avatar: Fire and Ash, have yet to open before the end of the year.

Here are 25 of the top contenders and how you can watch them.

A missile heads toward Chicago, sparking a riot as the U.S. government and security forces rush to intervene. A thriller told from three different perspectives, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson.

On Netflix now.

A promising college student accuses one of her professors of rape, leaving another professor caught in the middle. A psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield, and directed by Luca Guadagnino.

On Amazon Prime Video now.

The Na’vi encounter an aggressive new tribe in the third installment of James Cameron’s hit sci-fi series, starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña.

In UK cinemas from December 19.

Ethan Hawke plays lyricist Lorenz Hart, who struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues before the premiere of the musical Oklahoma!, in one of two films in this year’s awards race directed by Richard Linklater.

In UK cinemas now.

Two young conspiracy theorists kidnap and hold captive the CEO of a giant pharmaceutical company, whom they believe is an alien. Director Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with actors Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone.

In UK cinemas now and available to rent digitally from December 1st.

The true story of boxer Christy Martin’s rise to fame in the 1990s and her husband’s attempt to murder her in 2010. Directed by David Michôd, starring Sydney Sweeney.

In UK cinemas now.

A young couple moves to a secluded country house and has a baby, but the mother’s mental health is affected by the pressure of domestic life. Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson star in Lynne Ramsay’s film.

In UK cinemas now.

Several technical nominations are expected for this film about a former racing driver who returns to the track 30 years after an accident nearly ended his career. Starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski.

On Apple TV+ starting December 12.

A mad scientist brings a creature to life from corpse parts, only to be rejected by his creation and abandon it. Guillermo del Toro directs a new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi.

On Netflix now.

Set in 1596 and adapted from the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, a mother is devastated after the death of her 11-year-old son Hamnet. Meanwhile, the boy’s father, William Shakespeare, writes a play to confront his own grief. Directed by Chloé Zhao, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

In UK cinemas on January 9, 2026.

A husband and father performs stand-up comedy while going through his divorce. Will Arnett and Laura Dern star in Bradley Cooper’s film, inspired by the life story of British comedian John Bishop.

In UK cinemas January 30, 2026.

A man recognizes the former Iranian intelligence officer who tortured him in prison after a chance encounter in a garage, prompting him to take drastic measures to exact revenge. Directed by Jafar Panahi, the film won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Released in UK cinemas from December 5th.

A popular actor in his 60s deals with the family life he missed due to his career. He puts down his tools and heads to Europe to spend time with his daughters. Starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, directed by Noah Baumbach.

On Netflix starting December 15.

A popular girl group juggles their music careers while protecting their fans from a rival boy band, whose members are secretly demons. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans.

On Netflix now.

In 1950s New York City, table tennis player Marty Reisman begins to make a name for himself as he pursues a dream that few people around him respect. Directed by Josh Safdie and starring Timothée Chalamet.

In UK cinemas from January 1, 2026.

A father reunites with his old group of revolutionaries after the kidnapping of his daughter. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti.

In UK cinemas and available for digital rental now.

A tech expert fleeing Brazil’s military dictatorship in 1977 seeks refuge in his hometown of Recife, but hired hitmen are hot on his heels. Starring Wagner Moura and directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho.

In UK cinemas February 20, 2026.

After the death of their mother, two sisters reunite with their distant father, a famous Swedish director who is working on his comeback film. Directed by Joachim Trier and starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning.

In UK cinemas from December 26, 2026.

Twin brothers return to their home in the Mississippi Delta in 1932 to start over, unaware that an evil force awaits them. A vampire drama directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo.

Available for digital rental now.

Fighter Mark Kerr makes a name for himself in the 1990s heyday of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), amid a strained relationship with partner Dawn Staples. Directed by Bennie Safdie, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.

In UK cinemas now.

Two artists posing as famous musicians form a Neil Diamond tribute band and fall in love, but a devastating accident threatens their relationship and their dreams. Directed by Craig Brewer, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.

In UK cinemas from January 1, 2026.

A young Bruce Springsteen puts aside the probable hits he has written in favor of the simpler, more introverted songs that will become his 1982 album, Nebraska. Directed by Scott Cooper and starring Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong.

In UK cinemas now.

An American railroad worker lives a lonely life until he marries and has a daughter, but tragedy soon strikes on one of his long trips away from home. Directed by Clint Bentley and starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones.

On Netflix now.

When all but one of the children in the same class mysteriously disappear on the same night, a community wonders who or what is behind their disappearance. Directed by Zach Cregger and starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner and Amy Madigan.

Available for digital rental now.

Following the events of 2024’s Wicked, Elphaba now lives in exile, while Glinda enjoys her newfound fame and popularity in Oz. Directed by Jon M Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

In UK cinemas now.