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The 98th Academy Awards race is heating up, and this lineup of Best Picture nominees showcases the boldest, most unforgettable films of the year. From Ryan Coogler's genre-shattering horror epic Sinners, which has shattered records with its sweeping ambition, to Yorgos Lanthimos's wickedly clever Bugonia, Paul Thomas Anderson's explosive One Battle After Another, and intimate gems like Hamnet and Sentimental Value, these ten movies represent everything cinema can achieve: heart-pounding spectacle, sharp social commentary, profound emotion, and pure visual poetry. It's a season bursting with innovation and storytelling that has already captivated audiences and critics alike.
Ready to dive in and see what all the excitement is about? We've got you covered. Look for the handy "Where to Watch" links right next to each film's description below. Whether you're streaming on Netflix, HBO Max (now Max), Peacock, Apple TV+, Hulu, Prime Video, or grabbing a digital rental, these titles are easier than ever to access from your couch. No matter your preferred service, now's the perfect time to experience why these films are dominating the conversation heading into March 15.
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AFI Awards: Top 10 Films
European Film Awards: Best Makeup and Hairstyling
About the Movie:
Yorgos Lanthimos delivers a razor-sharp, off-kilter satire that skewers conspiracy culture and modern paranoia with unflinching absurdity. Its bold stylistic choices and pitch-black humor create a world that's both unsettling and impossible to look away from, making it a daring statement on how fear shapes reality. This is the kind of film that lingers, provoking laughter and discomfort in equal measure.
- Actors: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, Alicia Silverstone
- Released: 2025
- Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Best Picture Worthy?- Photo:
Golden Globe Awards: Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement; Best Score
BAFTA: Best Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler); Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku); Best Original Score
SAG/Actor Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (ensemble); Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Michael B. Jordan)
NAACP Image Awards: 13 wins, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Director, Writing, Actor (Jordan), Supporting Actor (Lindo), Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku), and Breakthrough Performance (Miles Caton)
Critics' Choice Awards: Best Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler); Best Casting; Best Ensemble; Best Score (Ludwig Göransson); Best Young Actor/Actress (Miles Caton)
Grammy Awards: Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media; Best Score Soundtrack Album for Visual Media
About the Movie:
Ryan Coogler fuses historical horror, blues music, and social commentary into a bold, genre-defying epic set in 1930s Mississippi. Michael B. Jordan's dual performance anchors a story that confronts racism, legacy, and supernatural terror with gripping intensity and rhythmic vitality. This is visionary filmmaking that entertains, terrifies, and provokes in equal measure.
- Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku
- Released: 2025
- Directed by: Ryan Coogler
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Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy; Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson); Best Screenplay; Best Supporting Actress
Critics' Choice Awards: Best Picture; Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson); Best Adapted Screenplay (Paul Thomas Anderson)
BAFTA: Best Film; Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson); Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Supporting Actor; Best Cinematography; Best Editing; Best Casting
DGA Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film (Paul Thomas Anderson)
PGA Awards: Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Picture
About the Movie:
Paul Thomas Anderson unleashes a wildly ambitious blend of action, comedy, and political satire in an epic tale of ex-revolutionaries facing their past. Leonardo DiCaprio leads a powerhouse ensemble through thrilling set pieces and razor-sharp dialogue that speak urgently to our fractured times. It's chaotic, exhilarating, and deeply thoughtful; a cinematic whirlwind that demands attention.
- Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor
- Released: 2025
- Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Picture Worthy?- Photo:
- Train Dreams
AFI Awards: Top 10 Films
Critics' Choice Awards: Best Cinematography
About the Movie:
Clint Bentley's sweeping yet intimate American epic follows a logger across decades, capturing the vast beauty of the early 20th-century West and the quiet tragedy of progress. Joel Edgerton's restrained performance anchors a film that's visually stunning and emotionally delicate, meditating on obsolescence and resilience. Its mythic scope and tender heart make it unforgettable.
- Actors: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins, Alfred Hsing, John Patrick Lowrie
- Released: 2025
- Directed by: Clint Bentley
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- Frankenstein
BAFTA: Best Makeup & Hair Styling, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
Critics' Choice Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Jacob Elordi); Best Production Design; Best Costume Design; Best Hair and Makeup
AFI: Top 10 Films
About the Movie:
Guillermo del Toro reimagines Mary Shelley's classic with gothic grandeur and profound empathy, exploring creation, monstrosity, and the human condition through breathtaking visuals and haunting atmosphere. The film's lush production design and emotional core elevate it beyond horror, offering a timeless meditation on loneliness and responsibility. Prepare to be moved by its beauty and terror in ways that feel achingly relevant.
- Actors: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer
- Released: 2025
- Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
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Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama; Best Actress – Drama (Jessie Buckley).
BAFTA: Best Actress (Jessie Buckley); Outstanding British Film.
SAG/Actor Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Jessie Buckley)
Critics' Choice Awards: Best Actress (Jessie Buckley)
AFI: Top 10 Films
About the Movie:
Chloé Zhao crafts an intimate, heartbreaking portrait of love, loss, and artistic inspiration drawn from the life of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes. Jessie Buckley's luminous performance anchors a story that transforms personal grief into something transcendent, blending quiet naturalism with profound emotional truth. It's a gentle yet devastating reminder of how tragedy can fuel greatness.
- Actors: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe
- Released: 2025
- Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Best Picture Worthy?
