Ahead of the 2026 Oscars, the race for the best film becomes extremely fierce when both works are considered bright candidates for the prestigious golden statue.
Among this year's nominations, two works One Battle After Another and Sinners are predicted to be top candidates for the prestigious award, thanks to receiving many compliments from critics as well as achieving outstanding achievements at pre-Oscar awards.
Among the 10 films nominated this year, One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio is receiving many positive reviews.
The work directed by Paul Thomas Anderson has won many important awards such as Best Picture at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA Awards. In addition, the film was also ranked by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review as one of the best films of 2025.
Meanwhile, Sinners directed by Ryan Coogler, made a mark with a prominent number of nominations and critical response. The work attracted attention thanks to the performance of Michael B. Jordan, who plays twin brothers with a criminal past and facing supernatural forces after returning to their homeland.
Despite receiving many important nominations at pre-Oscar awards, Sinners' chances of winning are rated slightly lower than their opponents. However, this gap is not too large and many critics believe that the final result may still change.
According to the Independent, critic Adam White commented that One Battle After Another can be considered the most outstanding film of 2025 and deserves the Best Picture award. However, he also said it would not be too surprising if Sinners became the name honored at this year's awards ceremony.
In addition, Michael B. Jordan's victory at the Screen Actors Guild Awards makes many experts believe that the movie Sinners may be gaining an advantage in the final stage of the awards season.
According to the Hollywood Reporter film magazine, results at the SAG Awards are often seen as a noteworthy sign for acting categories at the Oscars, a stepping stone to help Sinners increase their advantage in the race, even though these two awards are voted by different voter groups.
According to international box office data at Box Office Mojo, the film Sinners grossed over 369 million USD worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling films of 2025. Many newspapers such as Entertainment Weekly and San Francisco Chronicle commented that Ryan Coogler's film achieved success both commercially and in criticism.
Meanwhile, despite far behind in revenue with an opening with about 22.4 million USD in North America (according to Forbes economic magazine), One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson is still highly appreciated by critics and won many awards in the season, marking Anderson's biggest debut in his career.
