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After a Fall Festival circuit that launched the campaigns forHamnet,Bugonia,Frankenstein,The Smashing Machine,The Testament of Ann Lee,The Secret Agent, and more, we were off to the races. ButSinnersemerged as the year's first true Oscar contender in April, both a box office and critical success. From the Cannes Film Festival,Sentimental Valueemerged as a favorite, and it continued to build momentum during the fall. And then there was this summer's surprise hit,Weapons. Then cameOne Battle After AnotherandMarty Supreme.
The 2026 Oscars race has given us no shortage of topics to analyze, and the acting categories have been more in flux than in past years — we've been breaking it all down onThe Awardistpodcast. Plus, stars and directors of this year's contenders have joined me to discuss their films and look back on their careers, includingKPop Demon Huntersvoice stars Arden Cho and May Hong;Weaponsstar Amy Madigan;Frankenstein's Creature,Jacob Elordi;Sinnerswriter-directorRyan Cooglerand starMichael B. Jordan;Wicked: For GoodstarCynthia Erivo, andOne Battle After Anotherstars Chase Infiniti andRegina Hall.
Below, you can listen to each episode of the 2026 Oscars season ofThe Awardistpodcast. And be sure to check back as new episodes go live every Thursday.Check out more from EW'sThe Awardist, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's best in TV, movies, and more.
Sizing upOne Battle After Another,Hamnet, and other early 2026 Oscar frontrunners — and canKPop Demon Huntersget a Best Picture nomination?
A new season ofThe Awardistkicks off with host Gerrad Hall, EW Sr. Writer Joey Nolfi, and Sr. Editor Joyce Eng breaking down all of the early action on the road to the 2026 Oscars. We're talking about early frontrunners — includingPaul Thomas Anderson'sOne Battle After Another, led byLeonardo DiCaprio, to Chloé Zhao'sHamnetstarring the one-to-beat Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal — the movies that gained the most out of the fall festival circuit, the big contenders still to come, and who might be a dark horse, includingKPop Demon Hunters.
The Lost Busstar America Ferrera, Timothée Chalamet's big boost forMarty Supreme
Timothée Chalamet'sMarty Supremehas a surprise world premiere this week at the New York Film Festival — is the reaction what he needed to boost his lead in the Best Actor race?Awardisthost Gerrad Hall, EW Sr. Writer Joey Nolfi, and Sr. Editor Joyce Eng break down early chatter about his performance and what it'll mean for his chances. Plus, thoughts onOne Battle After Anotherstar Chase Infiniti leaping into the Best Actress category, and we dive into the Golden Globes' short list for Best Podcast, which includes some controversial political voices. And Gerrad chats withThe Lost BusstarAmerica Ferreraabout the harrowing true story, about the bus driver and teacher who were trapped with 22 students during California's devastating 2018 Camp Fire.
KPop Demon Huntersstars Arden Cho & May Hong, and remembering Diane Keaton
After becoming the biggest pop culture phenomenon of the year, breaking records on Netflix, and taking the Billboard charts by storm with the soundtrack, including the No. 1 hit "Golden,"KPop Demon Huntersstars Arden Cho ('Rumi') and May Hong ('Mira') are looking back on their very first auditions for the movie, how they related to their demon-hunting/KPop girl-group characters, the movie's enormous success, what they hope to see from a sequel, and more. Plus,Awardisthost Gerrad Hall and EW. Sr. Editor Joyce Eng chat about the shift in categories forOne Battle After Anotherstar Chase Infiniti, and we're celebrating the legacy of Hollywood legendDiane Keaton.
Weaponsstar Amy Madigan on bringing Aunt Gladys to life, Miley Cyrus gets in the Oscar race
Could Amy Madigan go back to the Oscars 40 years after her first nomination, this time for playing the mysterious and kooky Aunt Gladys in the horror mysteryWeapons? It's very possible! The actress joinsAwardisthost Gerrad Hall to look back on her experience in Zach Cregger's latest thriller and her career. Plus, Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng chat about the Best Song race, including new contenderMiley Cyrus, who has co-written and will perform the end credits song forAvatar: Fire and Ash.
FirstWicked: For Goodreactions,If I Had Legs I'd Kick Youstar Rose Byrne
Rose Byrneplays a mother on the verge of a breakdown inIf I Had Legs I'd Kick You— she breaks down her performance in the psychological dramedy, which is already picking up a lot of honors this awards season. Plus,Awardisthost Gerrad Hall and EW senior editor Joyce Eng break down the Gotham Awards nominations, whereOne Battle After Anotherleads all nominees with six; we also analyze that movie's switch to the comedy/musical category at the Golden Globes and what it means for movies includingWicked: For Good. And Gerrad shares his reaction to that movie and whether stars Cynthia Erivo andAriana Grandecan go the distance at the Oscars.
Frankensteinstar Jacob Elordi, sizing up the Supporting Actor race
He's unrecognizable inFrankenstein, covered in prosthetics to play the Creature, but Jacob Elordi steals the show with his heartbreaking performance. He joinsAwardisthost Gerrad Hall to discuss what he considers his most personal work yet, teasesEuphoriaseason 3, and looks back on theKissing Boothmovies andSaltburn. Plus, Gerrad shares a portion of his Q&A withFrankensteinstarOscar Isaacat the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Elsewhere, Gerrad, EW Sr. Writer Joey Nolfi, and Sr. Editor Joyce Eng analyze the Supporting Actor category.
Die My Lovestars Jennifer Lawrence & Robert Pattinson, why Sydney Sweeney'sChristyflopped
After starring in their own huge franchises —The Hunger GamesandTwilight—Jennifer LawrenceandRobert Pattinsonnow join forces to play a couple in the dramaDie My Love. The two chat withAwardisthost Gerrad Hall about the movie's love story and dark elements, and look back on those early blockbusters. Plus, Gerrad, EW Sr. Writer Joey Nolfi, and Sr. Editor Joyce Eng break down the poor box office performance ofSydney Sweeney'sChristy, and discussTom Cruise's career and potential future Oscar chances ahead of receiving an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards.
The Smashing Machinestars Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt, inside the Governors Awards
Dwayne JohnsonandEmily Bluntdo a deep dive withAwardisthost Gerrad Hall on their new drama,The Smashing Machine, from his transformation into UFC pioneer Mark Kerr and his concerns about still being seen as the Rock to his character realizing he needed to go to rehab for his drug addiction and the personal place Johnson went for that scene, and Blunt's character Dawn trying to escape torment and their toxic relationship. The lively conversation also includes a look back at their first movie together,Jungle Cruise, Johnson revealing who he wanted to play inThe Devil Wears Prada 2, and more. Plus, Gerrad, EW Sr. Writer Joey Nolfi, and Sr. Editor Joyce Eng discuss the new name for the SAG Awards, the Actor Awards, and Gerrad debriefs on the Governors Awards.
Bugoniastar Jesse Plemons and director Yorgos Lanthimos,Wicked: For Gooddominates box office
BugoniastarJesse Plemonsdoes a deep dive on his conspiracy-theorist character and going toe-to-toe withEmma Stone, and directorYorgos Lanthimosexplains what made this movie more complicated than his other recent projects. Plus,Awardisthost Gerrad Hall and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng break down the huge opening weekend forWicked: For Goodand discuss the career of Eddie Murphy, who will be AFI's latest Life Achievement Award winner.
Sinnersstar Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler, first reaction toAvatar: Fire and Ash
It was the first Oscar hopeful to debut in 2025 —Sinnersis still a favorite and a strong contender for Best Picture, Director, and Actor nominations. Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan joinAwardisthost Gerrad Hall to chat about their fifth movie together, how Jordan playing twins complicated their process, what Coogler discovered about the movie by filming the end-credits scene on day one, and more. Plus, Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng break down all of the latest awards action, from the Gothams and National Board of Review winners to the Spirit Award nominations. Plus, they reveal their thoughts onAvatar: Fire and Ash, and Miley Cyrus shares insight into how she wrote her original song for the movie.
One Battle After Anotherstars Chase Infiniti & Regina Hall, Golden Globes snubs and surprises
Golden Globes voters have spoken — and now, so are we, breaking down the top film nominations, and especially the biggest snubs and surprises, fromWicked: For Goodto Jacob Elordi. Plus,One Battle After Anotherstar Chase Infiniti joinsAwardisthost Gerrad Hall to discuss her long audition process and having to shave Leonardo DiCaprio to help win the role, that scene withSean Penn, and more, and then Gerrad chats with her costar Regina Hall about her incredible career and role in Paul Thomas Anderson's latest movie.
Wicked: For Goodstar Cynthia Erivo, Oscar shortlists, remembering Rob Reiner
Golden Globe nominee Cynthia Erivo joinsAwardisthost Gerrad Hall to chat about herWicked: For Goodjourney, whether she was really prepared for everything required of her physically for the role, filming the number "For Good" last-minute with Ariana Grande, the 'sex cardigan,' and more. Plus, Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng analyze some of the Oscar shortlists, and we remember filmmaker and actorRob Reiner, who died tragically over the weekend.
Marty Supremestar Gwyneth Paltrow, thoughts on Oscars moving to YouTube
Gwyneth Paltrowhasn't made a movie in seven years, but she's back on the big screen inMarty Supreme— she tellsAwardisthost Gerrad Hall about how "petrified" she was, about building her character's backstory, what she loved about working with Timothée Chalamet, and more. Plus, we look back on her Oscar win forShakespeare in Loveand why it took her 25 years to come to terms with it, as well asGlee, and what she thinks Pepper Potts has been up to. And Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng share their thoughts on the Academy's decision to move the Oscars from broadcast TV to YouTube starting in 2029, as well as Harrison Ford being announced as SAG-AFTRA's next Life Achievement Honoree.
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