Firstpost Oscar 2026 Prediction: Netflix’s ‘Frankestein’ or Sinners or is it F1 | The WINNER takes it all!

From gripping dramas and high-octane spectacles to character-driven stories, this year’s nominated lineup showcases the incredible range of cinema. Several of them are available on the digital platforms like Netflix, Prime Video & JioHotstar, Apple TV+. Here is a list of Firstpost’s selection.

Sinners (Prime Video & JioHotstar)

After a break of 3 years, filmmaker Ryan Coogler returned to directing with one of 2025’s most daring genre films. Set in 1930s Mississippi, Sinners follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), World War I veterans who return to their hometown hoping to start afresh by opening a juke joint for the local Black community. Their plans take a terrifying turn when a group of vampires arrives, drawn by the extraordinary musical talent of their young cousin, Sammie. What unfolds is a genre-bending thriller that blends horror, history, and music while examining how Black art and culture have been celebrated yet exploited for generations. Coogler’s atmospheric direction and Jordan’s double role helped make the film one of the most talked-about Oscar nominees of the year.

Frankestein (Netflix)

The film is hugely relevant in today’s time. It is indeed an interesting theme that needs to be watched. The story highlights the moral obligation which Victor Frankenstein fails at and how he gets inhuman and tries to control his own creation. He refuses to help him guide him in the right direction. Oscar Isaac plays the role of Victor Frankenstein with accuracy and brilliance. He is indeed a man who knows his craft well and has got into the skin of the character. Mia Goth who is known for her performance in Pearl and Infinity Pool, plays a vital role, alongside Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.

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Marty Supreme (Prime Video & Apple TV+)

It ‘chaotic and exhausting’ but captivating experience, highlighting Timothée Chalamet’s ‘riveting’ performance as a narcissistic, driven, and often unlikable table tennis player. While praising the 1950s setting, intense energy, and strong supporting cast (including Gwyneth Paltrow), though overstretched and, at times, losing its direction. But you never know it can just make it.

Sentimental Value (Prime Video & Mubi)

Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier delivered one of the most emotionally layered dramas of the year with Sentimental Value. The story revolves around two sisters, Nora and Agnes, who reunite with their estranged father, Gustav, a once-celebrated film director. After the death of their mother, Gustav attempts to reconnect with his family by casting Nora—an actress—in what he hopes to be his comeback film after years of creative silence. When she refuses, the decision opens old wounds and unresolved grief tied to their late mother. Trier masterfully explores grief, memory, and complicated family ties, crafting a film about the strange ways artists mine their own lives for inspiration.

One Battle After Another (Prime Video & JioHotstar)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this political thriller boasts Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead as Bob, a former revolutionary living off the grid with his daughter while grappling with paranoia and the ghosts of his radical past. But when unfinished conflicts come back to haunt him, Bob finds himself pulled into a relentless chase that forces him to fight through his past mistakes to protect his daughter. Mixing tension, dark humour, and social commentary, the film blends suspense with biting commentary on activism, identity, and the cost of living outside the system.

F1 (Prime Video & Apple TV+)

This film is indeed a technical masterpiece and a visual spectacle. Few films delivered spectacle quite like F1 last year. The film is a high-octane racing drama starring Brad Pitt as a veteran Formula One driver who returns to the sport years after a career-ending accident. Joining a struggling team alongside a young rookie driver, he seeks redemption on some of the most demanding racetracks in the world. Filmed during real Formula One race weekends with unprecedented access to the sport, the film combines breathtaking racing sequences with an inspiring story about mentorship, rivalry, and the relentless pursuit of victory against all odds.