Find out who the filmmakers are vying for the statuette at the 98th edition of the Academy Awards and the details of their works
The race for the 2026 Oscars has reached its decisive moment. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the official list of nominees, bringing a balanced mix between established veterans and contemporary authors who redefine cinematographic language.
This year, the Best Director category stands out for its diversity of genres, ranging from intimate historical drama to stylized horror thriller. With the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026, the race promises to be one of the fiercest in recent years, with Paul Thomas Anderson emerging as the favorite after his victory at the Golden Globes, but facing heavy competition from nominations record holder Ryan Coogler.
Best direction nominees
The final list of five directors reflects the best of cinema released between 2025 and early 2026. Below, the filmmakers seeking maximum industry recognition:
- Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Chloe Zhao – Hamnet
- Joachim Trier – Valor Sentimental
- Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Plot and synopses of competing films
To understand the director’s work, it is essential to know the stories that these filmmakers brought to the screen.
One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)
Set in a volatile contemporary setting, the film follows Bob, a paranoid former guerrilla fighter who must rally former allies for a bloody rescue mission when his daughter is kidnapped by an enemy group. It is described as the most commercial and tense work of Anderson’s career.
Sinners (Ryan Coogler)
A Southern Gothic horror thriller that broke nominations records (16 total). The plot revolves around twin brothers who return to their hometown only to discover that an ancient evil force is consuming the community.
Hamnet (Chloe Zhao)
Based on the best-selling book of the same name, the drama reimagines the lives of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, focusing on the devastating grief over the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, an event that would later inspire the play “Hamlet”.
Valor Sentimental (Joachim Trier)
The Norwegian director returns with a complex family drama about an actress and her sister dealing with their father, an eccentric and absent artist who reappears in their lives asking for one last favor.
Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie)
In his first solo directorial without his brother Benny, Josh Safdie brings the frenetic and stylized biography of Marty Reisman, a table tennis (ping pong) legend who lived in the underworld of New York gambling in the 1950s.
Cast and production highlights
The direction of actors is one of the crucial criteria for the statuette. See who shines under these directors:
- One Battle After Another: Bring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role, delivering a physical and visceral performance, accompanied by Benicio del Toro and the revelation Chase Infiniti.
- Sinners: Michael B. Jordan takes on the challenge of playing double roles (the twins), with Delroy Lindo e Wunmi Mosaku on the support.
- Hamnet: The central couple is played by Paul Mescal (Shakespeare) e Jessie Buckley (Agnes), both praised for their chemistry and emotional depth.
- Valor Sentimental: Bring the director back together with Renate Reinsve (from The Worst Person in the World), acting alongside the veteran Stellan Skarsgård e Elle Fanning.
- Marty Supreme: Timothée Chalamet appears unrecognizable and electric in the title role, with a supporting cast that includes Gwyneth Paltrow (on his return to the screen) and rapper Tyler, the Creator.
Curiosities of the season
The 2026 season brought new facts and some surprises for moviegoers:
- Coogler’s Record: Sinners became the film with the most nominations in Oscar history, surpassing Titanic and La La Land, solidifying Ryan Coogler as an industry titan.
- Brazil at the Oscars: Although Kleber Mendonça Filho did not make the final list for Best Director, his film The Secret Agent guaranteed Brazil’s presence with nominations for Best International Film, Best Actor (Wagner Moura) and in the new category of Best Cast Director.
- Around PTA: Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) arrives with “due” status, having accumulated 11 past nominations without any wins. His Golden Globe win places him as the sentimental and critical favorite.
- Notable Absences: Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein) and Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia) were considered the biggest “snubs” in the directing category, despite their films being up for Best Film.
Where to watch
Film availability varies between theaters and streaming platforms, given the early 2026 release calendar:
- Our Cinemas: Sinners, One Battle After Another and The Secret Agent are still showing in most major Brazilian networks (Cinemark, Kinoplex, Cinépolis).
- Hamnet: It is expected to arrive on premium streaming services (digital rental) at the end of March.
- Marty Supreme: Production by A24, should arrive on streaming (probably Max or Prime Video) shortly after the ceremony.
- Valor Sentimental: Limited distribution in art circuits and street cinemas (such as Petra Belas Artes and Estação Net), with VOD scheduled for April.
The March 15th ceremony will decide whether the Academy will choose to crown the career of an American master like Paul Thomas Anderson or surrender to the pop and technical phenomenon of Ryan Coogler. Regardless of the winner, the 2026 harvest is already considered one of the strongest of the decade.
