2025 – Horror grosses $1.3 billion, driven by titles such as Sinners and Weapons, underscoring the genre’s box‑office strength that fuels awards buzz. [8]

Sep 20, 2025 – Studios unveil an expanded Oscars race with 12 frontrunners, spotlighting Hamnet (Toronto People’s Choice winner) and One Battle After Another (Sept 26 UK release) as early best‑picture contenders. [5]

Dec 8, 2025 – The Golden Globes announce nominations, led by One Battle After Another with nine nods and Sinners with seven, positioning both films at the center of the awards conversation. [22]

Jan 5, 2026 – Critics Choice Awards crown One Battle After Another Best Picture and Best Director, while Sinners sweeps Original Screenplay and Casting, cementing its technical momentum ahead of Oscar voting. [21]

Jan 7, 2026 – SAG‑AFTRA Actor Awards reveal a record seven nominations for One Battle After Another, the most ever for a single film, and note Sinners’ five acting nods, signaling strong guild support for both titles. [19]

Jan 7, 2026 – Actor Awards nominations also list Kate Hudson’s surprise Best Actress nod for Song Sung Blue and highlight high‑profile snubs such as Wagner Moura, underscoring the season’s volatility. [13]

Jan 8, 2026 – The Directors Guild announces five feature‑film directing nominees—One Battle After Another, Sinners, Frankenstein, Hamnet and Marty Supreme—mirroring the SAG ensemble slate and serving as a key bellwether for Oscar directing outcomes. [20]

Jan 11, 2026 – The 2026 Golden Globes are set for Jan 11, hosted by Nikki Glaser, providing a live platform for leading contenders to vie for early wins. [22]

Jan 22, 2026 – The Academy releases nominations, with Sinners breaking the all‑time record at 16 nods (surpassing the previous 14‑nomination record held by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land) and One Battle After Another following with 13; a new Casting Directors award inflates totals for both films. [3][16][24]

Jan 22, 2026 – Ryan Coogler tells reporters he wrote Sinners for his late uncle, describing the script as a personal tribute that now fuels his historic nomination run. [17]

Jan 22, 2026 – Leonardo DiCaprio stresses that “the communal theatre experience is central to cinema,” framing his Best Actor campaign for One Battle After Another as a celebration of shared storytelling. [17]

Jan 22, 2026 – Delroy Lindo receives 179 texts after learning of his first Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor, illustrating the emotional impact of the surprise nod. [17]

Jan 22, 2026 – Costume designer Ruth E. Carter notes she becomes the most‑nominated Black woman in Oscar history, highlighting growing recognition of Black talent. [17]

Jan 22, 2026 – Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav calls the studio’s 33 nominations a “golden moment” as the company negotiates a sale to Netflix. [16]

Jan 23, 2026 – Oscars predictions note the Academy’s new Best Casting category and a future Best Stunt Design award slated for 2028, signaling an expanding recognition of behind‑the‑scenes crafts. [4]

Jan 27, 2026 – BAFTA announces its full nominee slate for the Feb 22 ceremony, with One Battle After Another leading, Sinners and Hamnet also represented, and the Borderlines Film Festival scheduled for March across Herefordshire and Shropshire. [1]

Feb 7, 2026 – The DGA plans to announce its directing winners, a historic indicator that the DGA victor often becomes the Oscar Best Director. [20]

Feb 18, 2026 – Industry analysis highlights that horror’s 2025 box‑office strength ($1.3 billion) and the Academy’s diversified voting body—nearly half non‑U.S. members added since 2015—help Sinners achieve a record 16 nominations, though the Best Actress field remains all‑white. [8]

Feb 18, 2026 – Oscar insiders project One Battle After Another to win Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director, while Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme performance could make him the youngest Best Actor winner since Adrien Brody. [7]

Feb 19, 2026 – The Academy confirms that previous year’s acting winners—Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña—will present at the March 15 ceremony, with Conan O’Brien hosting the live ABC broadcast. [14]

Feb 19, 2026 – Cinemark and Regal announce Oscar Movie Week (Mar 9‑15) and a Best Picture showcase (Mar 6‑15), offering festival passes and discounted popcorn to drive theater attendance ahead of the ceremony. [23]

Mar 1, 2026 – SAG‑AFTRA’s Actor Awards stream on Netflix, honor Harrison Ford with a Life Achievement Award, and provide early Oscar indicators through its peer‑voted acting nominations. [11]

Mar 15, 2026 – The 98th Academy Awards air live on ABC/Hulu, hosted by Conan O’Brien; Sinners leads with 16 nominations, One Battle After Another follows with 13, and the ceremony features the inaugural Casting Directors award and presenters from last year’s acting winners. [14][24][26]