The sun has officially set on the 98th Academy Awards, with One Battle After Another reigning supreme as this year’s Best Picture winner, a film that may stand the test of time as one of the decade’s finest.

As with every year, I’m back with my annual year-in-advance predictions for the category. And for the first time, I actually called the eventual Best Picture winner a full year early.

Now… there’s no way that happens again, right?

We’re about to find out.

The road to the 99th Academy Awards begins now, and 2026 already boasts an intriguing slate of potential contenders. Some will rise, others will inevitably fade into oblivion. And as always, there are films we haven’t even heard of yet that will ultimately enter the conversation in a major way.

But for now, these are my predicted 10 films to receive Best Picture nominations at the 99th Academy Awards.

My Top 10 Year-in-Advance Best Picture Predictions (99th Academy Awards)

1. Dune: Part III

2. The Odyssey

3. Digger

4. Project Hail Mary

5. The Entertainment System Is Down

6. Wild Horse Nine

7. Saturn Return

8. Parallel Tales

9. The Social Reckoning

10. Untitled Jesse Eisenberg Musical Comedy

    Other Contenders:

• 1949
• Disclosure Day
• The Invite
• Josephine
• Fjord