13 Films To Watch Ahead Of The 2027 Oscars

Lights up, future’s calling, and yes – the Oscars buzz is already making noise.

Big stories are lining up, bold performances are warming up, and it all feels like the kind of year people will talk about before the envelopes even open.

Something big is coming, something memorable, and honestly… it already feels like a show worth watching before the show even begins.

1. The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic arrives as one of 2026’s biggest prestige releases. Behind the lens, Christopher Nolan brings serious anticipation with him.

The Odyssey lifts Homer’s legendary poem onto the screen with a scale and emotional depth that promises to impress.

As an event title with major studio backing, it already feels built for awards-season attention.

2. Project Hail Mary

Waking up alone in space with no memory of who you are sounds like the worst Monday imaginable.

Based on Andy Weir’s beloved novel, the film features Ryan Gosling as a scientist tasked with saving Earth from a dying sun.

A blend of hard science and genuine emotional warmth gives the story a tone that feels refreshingly rare. Its blend of large-scale science fiction and character-driven stakes makes it an obvious film to watch in the awards conversation.

3. Dune: Part Three

The spice must flow, and Oscar nominations seem ready to follow for Denis Villeneuve’s striking trilogy closer. Denis Villeneuve’s third Dune film is already one of the most closely watched late-2026 releases.

Each previous entry built Villeneuve’s awards credibility, pushing expectations sky-high for this finale.

Given how strongly the earlier films connected with both critics and the Academy, expectations are already high for the finale.

4. Disclosure Day

Positioned between a political thriller and a cultural reckoning, Disclosure Day arrives with serious weight behind it.

Public materials frame the story around a world-changing revelation about extraterrestrial life. Its Spielberg pedigree, high-profile cast, and large-scale premise have made it one of the more closely watched contenders.

Nonstop breaking news alerts lighting up a phone during the opening scene capture the tension, and that feeling never really lets up.

5. Digger

Something quietly devastating unfolds in a film that makes every shovelful of dirt feel heavy.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger stars Tom Cruise as a powerful figure on a frantic mission tied to a looming disaster.

Late-2026 conversation gets more interesting with a title that brings Iñárritu and Cruise together. Evening calm with a kettle clicking off sets the right atmosphere for it.

Tissues will come in handy.

The Social Reckoning lands like a text message you were not ready to receive. Aaron Sorkin’s film is tied to reporting around Facebook and Frances Haugen, giving it a sharper political and media angle than your current description suggests.

Performances carry a lived-in quality rather than a staged one, aligning closely with what Oscar voters tend to reward.

Every scene feels lifted straight from a trending news story you scrolled past last Tuesday.

7. Wild Horse Nine

Nine wild horses, one stubborn rancher, and a landscape so striking it nearly earns a nomination on its own.

Dark comedy-thriller is the better description for Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine, which centers on CIA agents rather than a land-rights ranch drama. McDonagh’s track record and the cast have kept the film firmly on awards-watch lists.

Socks on cold tile and nowhere else to be makes the viewing feel just right.

8. The Adventures Of Cliff Booth

Return energy alone makes the calendar reminder for this one worth setting weeks in advance.

Cliff Booth returns in a continuation of the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood world, with Brad Pitt back in the role under David Fincher’s direction. Cool-guy nostalgia runs through the film while something genuinely moving slips in beneath all the swagger, giving it the feel of a vintage record that sounds even better on the second spin.

9. The Entertainment System Is Down

Every screen on a transatlantic flight goes dark, and suddenly strangers have to actually talk to each other.

More dark social satire than straightforward drama, Ruben Östlund’s film unfolds on a long-haul flight after the entertainment systems fail.

An ensemble cast brings warmth and sharp comic timing, making the whole thing feel like a gift. Bag by the door and a long journey ahead has never sounded more cinematic.

10. Jack Of Spades

Dark rooms, loaded decks, and a lead performance that reportedly stops people cold in their seats.

Public reporting has described Joel Coen’s Jack of Spades as a gothic mystery set in 1880s Scotland. The film has been compared to classic Hitchcock in its ability to make ordinary moments feel unbearably tense.

Watching it alone with the lights off is either a brilliant idea or a terrible one. Probably both.

11. Being Heumann

Lasting impact defines the story at every turn, and the film makes sure each step of that journey lands with weight.

Being Heumann traces the life of Judy Heumann, pioneering disability rights activist whose path stretched from childhood struggles to major legislative victories. Fierce pride shapes the storytelling, with no effort made to soften the systemic barriers she confronted head-on.

One line from the trailer already stands out as memorable, with courage framed not as the absence of fear but as refusal to stay quiet.

12. Mother Mary

Anne Hathaway takes on one of the most emotionally demanding roles of her career, and early reactions suggest the result is extraordinary.

A24’s Mother Mary follows an iconic pop star who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer on the eve of a comeback performance.

By the time the credits begin, calling someone you love starts to feel inevitable. Keep your phone close.

13. Michael

Very few pop culture stories carry as much electricity and heartbreak as the life of Michael Jackson.

Antoine Fuqua directs a long-awaited biopic, with Jaafar Jackson stepping into the iconic rolein one of the most closely watched performances of the coming season.

How the film handles both Jackson’s artistic legacy and the more contested parts of his public story will likely shape its awards trajectory. Glittery and complicated energy runs through the project, placing it firmly in awards-season conversation.

Cinematic flair elevates every movement, with the moonwalk taking on a whole new presence on screen.

Note: This article highlights films that are publicly announced, scheduled, or actively discussed as potential 2026 awards contenders based on trade reporting, studio materials, and early industry coverage available at the time of writing.

Awards prospects remain speculative until release schedules, critical reception, and campaign momentum become clearer. This content is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes.