Eight unexpected insights from the Oscar nominations

Award commentators were caught off guard by the initial two words uttered during the Oscar nominations on Thursday.

“Elle Fanning, for Sentimental Value,” declared hosts Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman, as they commenced the nominations with the category for best supporting actress.

Fanning’s inclusion marked a thrilling start from the very first moment – while she had garnered acclaim for her role in the Norwegian family drama, a nomination was not widely anticipated.

The opening category established a pattern of notable snubs and surprises, which started rolling in swiftly. Here are eight of the significant takeaways.

Even though Hamnet and One Battle After Another performed well, both had a somewhat muted presence in the acting categories than expected.

Paul Mescal did not secure a supporting actor nomination for Hamnet – a surprising miss, although we believe it won’t significantly affect his co-star Jessie Buckley’s frontrunner position for best actress.

Meanwhile, four prominent actors from One Battle After Another were acknowledged, but its breakout star Chase Infiniti was omitted from best actress despite being a fierce contender.

The competition in that category was genuinely stiff. But at just 25 and with rave reviews for her role in the film, we’re confident this won’t be the last we hear of her.

Other actors who had momentum but ended up missing out include Jesse Plemons for Bugonia and Joel Edgerton for Train Dreams. However, both films made it into best picture – which indicates that the Academy appreciated them overall.

F1, featuring Brad Pitt as a retired racing driver making a comeback, emerged as the most unexpected contender in the best picture category.

It wasn’t precisely an outsider – numerous award experts anticipated it would receive several below-the-line nominations due to its impressive technical merits (viewing it in a theatre or with surround sound is highly recommended).

However, the fact that it had sufficient momentum to elevate it into the best picture category was a notable indicator of strength – especially considering the absence of additional significant nominations in best director or the acting categories.

It demonstrates that the traditionalists within the Academy still value classic, well-crafted films that can be simply enjoyed with a bucket of popcorn.

Sinners achieved an unprecedented 16 nominations, surpassing the previous record holders La La Land, Titanic, and All About Eve, which received 14 nominations each.

Ryan Coogler’s vampire-themed horror film has notably sustained its appeal with voters, given that it premiered last spring.

Nonetheless, it’s the type of film that the Academy would wish to honor. Although vampire narratives may not typically be Oscar contenders, Sinners represents a significant artistic success, merging genre horror with 1930s blues music amid the Mississippi Delta landscape.

Coogler also featured in Hollywood trade news last year for the deal he brokered with Warner Brothers, which will return the film’s ownership rights to him in 25 years.

The first Wicked film amassed 10 Oscar nominations and won two. Thus, it’s a remarkable downturn for its sequel to have received none.

This outcome was largely anticipated, however. Wicked: For Good did not fare as well as its forerunner – a sentiment echoed regarding the original stage musical.

The show’s second act is often deemed weaker than the first, notably due to all the memorable songs being positioned before the intermission.

Yet, it was still believed that Wicked: For Good could land in certain categories, with many speculating about a best original song nomination for The Girl in the Bubble, a piece performed by Ariana Grande which was newly introduced for the film version.

Better news awaited another blockbuster, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which at least garnered a couple of technical nominations for visual effects and costume design.

Some of the most popular films, meanwhile, were found in the animated category. This is where we see the $1.7bn-grossing Zootopia 2 (known as Zootropolis 2 in the UK) and the viral streaming success KPop Demon Hunters.

Sinners not only topped the nomination count, it also delivered the exclusive two Brits nominated in the acting categories.

Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo secured their spots in best supporting actress and actor respectively.

While Mosaku’s nomination was largely anticipated, Lindo’s came as more of a shock, and his nomination may be one of the best indicators of the widespread appreciation for Sinners throughout the Academy.

Lindo narrowly missed a best actor nomination a few years back for Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods. The 73-year-old’s first Oscar nomination feels long overdue.

Three actresses nominated on Thursday ended up being the sole recognition for their films.

Rose Byrne stood as the only representation for the motherhood drama If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, while Kate Hudson carried the weight alone for the poignant musical romance Song Sung Blue.

Additionally, Weapons star Amy Madigan earned a nomination for her portrayal of an eccentric aunt who appears in a US town just before local school kids go missing.

Madigan’s nomination is likely the most notable, considering that jump-scare horror films typically don’t feature at the Oscars.

However, the 75-year-old was a passion choice for various commentators and voters, and her supporters have been vocally advocating for her to gain recognition for her impactful (and somewhat chilling) performance.

The newly implemented casting category coincided with many frontrunners, featuring nominations for Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Sinners, and The Secret Agent.

However, it’s somewhat perplexing that one particular film missed out.

Sentimental Value did not receive a casting nomination despite all four of its lead performers receiving individual nominations – Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning, Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas.

If that impressive quartet warranted individual nominations, one might assume there was a substantial likelihood of recognition for the casting directors who assembled them – Avy Kaufman and Yngvill Kolset Haga.

During last year’s SAG Awards, Timothée Chalamet expressed his ambition to ultimately be regarded as “one of Hollywood’s greats”.

He is significantly closer to that aspiration with the likelihood of winning his first Oscar this year, being the clear frontrunner in best actor for the table tennis drama Marty Supreme.

Although he has only had two nominations previously, Chalamet holds favor with the Academy, having featured in eight films nominated for best picture.

He is also the youngest actor since Marlon Brando to attain three nominations for best leading actor. Brando was 30, the same age as Chalamet, when he received his third in 1954.

Timothée nearly secured a victory last year for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, but we’re optimistic that 2026 will be his year to excel.