Oscar nominations 2026 arrive January 22 with One Battle After Another leading, but Paul Thomas Anderson’s 11 snubs finally get resolved

The 98th Academy Awards nominations arrive tomorrow, and One Battle After Another is poised to dominate discussions as Paul Thomas Anderson finally edges toward his first competitive Oscar win. The nominations voting concluded Friday, January 16, setting the stage for the official announcement Thursday, January 22.

One Battle After Another Dominates the 2026 Race

One Battle After Another has emerged as the clear frontrunner for Best Picture and multiple major categories. The Paul Thomas Anderson film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro has swept virtually every major critics’ group award, winning at the Gotham Awards and New York Film Critics Circle in early December. This unprecedented support positions the film as the commanding favorite heading into tomorrow’s nomination announcements.

According to multiple industry predictions from Variety, Gold Derby, and Rotten Tomatoes, the film is projected to receive nominations across cinematography, editing, original score, costume design, and production design. The subversive epic is being characterized as a cultural moment in American cinema, resonating particularly with Academy voters who have shown consistent enthusiasm for Anderson’s ambitious storytelling approach.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Historic Oscar Opportunity

Paul Thomas Anderson enters the 2026 season with an unprecedented career challenge: he is among the most nominated directors in Academy history with 11 Oscar nominations across five writing, three directing, and three best picture categories—yet has never won a single award. This positions him as one of the most celebrated filmmakers in awards history without a competitive Oscar victory.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Anderson’s nominations span from his breakthrough with Boogie Nights through Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, and Inherent Vice. Industry observers note that if One Battle After Another scores the Best Picture nomination and wins the award, it would simultaneously mark Anderson’s first competitive Oscar victory and validate what critics have long argued about his artistic significance. The momentum behind this film appears stronger than ever before in his career.

Competition for Best Picture and Key Categories

Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, represents the strongest competition with robust support across most major categories. Hamnet and Marty Supreme round out the traditional top-tier contenders, though the margin between them and One Battle After Another appears substantial based on voting patterns observed during the awards season so far.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Acting Races

Leonardo DiCaprio is the frontrunner for Best Actor following his performance in One Battle After Another. He earned the National Board of Review award for Best Acting by a Male and has strong support from major critics’ groups. According to Variety and Den of Geek, DiCaprio’s portrayal as Bob—a character described as affected by addiction and loss—represents some of his most nuanced recent work.

However, Sean Penn’s supporting role in the same film is also generating significant buzz, with some observers suggesting his performance may rival or exceed DiCaprio’s. Timothée Chalamet from Marty Supreme and Ethan Hawke from Blue Moon round out the competitive Best Actor field. Supporting actress races feature nominations for Regina Hall and Teyana Taylor from One Battle After Another, adding to the film’s potential multiple nominations across major acting categories.

What Happens When Oscar Nominations Arrive January 22?

Conan O’Brien will announce the official 2026 Oscar nominations Thursday morning, revealing the final list across 24 competitive categories. The announcement marks the culmination of voting that ran from Monday, January 12 through Friday, January 16, 2026. Academy members cast their votes digitally, with results tallied overnight to prepare for the public reveal.

The nominations announcement sets the tone for the final eight weeks before the ceremony on March 15, 2026. With One Battle After Another leading the race and Paul Thomas Anderson finally positioned to achieve what has eluded him through 11 prior nominations, the 2026 Oscars promise to be one of the most historically significant ceremonies in recent memory. The question remains: will this year finally be Anderson’s moment?

Sources

• The Los Angeles Times – Paul Thomas Anderson Oscar history and career overview
• Variety – 2026 Oscar predictions across categories
• Gold Derby – Best Picture projections and nomination forecasts

Jessica Morrison

Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.