The race for the 98th Academy Awards is set, and families doing weekend movie math now have eight titles to work through. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominations on January 22, 2026, with Hamnet, One Battle After Another, F1 and Frankenstein among the best picture nominees, per the BBC's full nominations list. The ceremony follows on March 15, hosted by Conan O'Brien.
The list mixes a Shakespeare-era drama, an action thriller and a Formula One blockbuster — a spread that covers most household tastes. Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, and One Battle After Another, from Paul Thomas Anderson, arrived as front-runners after strong Golden Globes showings on January 11. Both went on to dominate the Globes, per the BBC, January 11.
The best picture nominees
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sentimental Value
- The Secret Agent
In the acting categories, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) and Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You) were nominated for best actress, while Chloé Zhao (Hamnet) and Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) landed best director nods, per the ABC News published nominations list, January 22.
Which nominees can families watch together?
Ratings-wise, the field skews older than a typical animation year. F1, the Apple Original Films racing drama starring Brad Pitt, carries a PG-13 rating in the United States, making it the most straightforward pick for households with teens — high-speed racing, minimal adult content. Hamnet, also PG-13, works for teens interested in history and literature. The remaining nominees are rated R, so parents of younger kids will want to check listings before streaming.
The March 15 ceremony airs on ABC in the United States and ITV in the UK, with red carpet coverage starting at 22:15 GMT and the show at 23:00 GMT, per the BBC's Oscars preview. For families, that means a late night in Britain — many UK viewers will catch highlights the next morning.
One more planning note: several nominees, including F1 and Hamnet, were already available on digital platforms by early March, so an at-home Oscars marathon before the ceremony is doable — with the ratings guide doing the heavy lifting.
For more context, read Golden Globes 2026: Hamnet and One Battle After Another Take Top Prizes.
For more context, read ESRB vs. MPA: How Game and Movie Age Ratings Actually Work.
For more context, read US Box Office Is Boiling Over, Led by Family Films.