**Excerpt**: The 98th Academy Awards nominations revealed surprising omissions, including major stars like Ariana Grande and George Clooney, while others broke records.
Key Points
– George Clooney, Ariana Grande, and Paul Mescal were among the notable stars snubbed in this year’s nominations.
– “Sinners” set a record with 16 nominations, while “Wicked: For Good” received none.
– Timothée Chalamet became the youngest male actor with three best actor nominations.
– The best director category featured nominees excluding Guillermo del Toro despite “Frankenstein” earning eight nominations.
– The 98th Academy Awards will be hosted by Conan O’Brien on March 15.
Overview of the 2026 Oscar Nominations
The 98th Academy Awards nominations were announced, showcasing a mix of expected contenders and surprising omissions. Major stars such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Paul Mescal failed to secure nominations in the acting categories.
Major Omissions
Both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who were nominated last year for “Wicked,” did not receive nominations for the sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” which was entirely shut out. In contrast, “Sinners” achieved a historic 16 nominations, including in the newly introduced category for best casting, while “One Battle After Another” followed with 13 nominations.
Best Actor Category
Despite his performance in “Jay Kelly,” Clooney was excluded from the best actor nominations, along with other prominent actors like Jesse Plemons and Joaquin Phoenix. The nominees for best actor included:
– Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
– Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
– Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
– Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
– Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”
Timothée Chalamet made history as the youngest male actor to receive three best actor nominations.
Best Actress Category
The best actress category was notably competitive, with several high-profile performances overlooked. Notable omissions included:
– Amanda Seyfried, “The Testament of Ann Lee”
– Julia Roberts, “After the Hunt”
– Jennifer Lawrence, “Die, My Love”
The nominees were:
– Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
– Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
– Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue”
– Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
– Emma Stone, “Bugonia”
Supporting Categories
In the best supporting actor category, Paul Mescal and Adam Sandler were left out, while newcomers like Delroy Lindo and Jacob Elordi received their first nominations. The nominees included:
– Benicio Del Toro, “One Battle After Another”
– Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
– Delroy Lindo, “Sinners”
– Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
– Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”
Similarly, the best supporting actress category saw notable absences, including Rebecca Ferguson and Emily Blunt. The nominees were:
– Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value”
– Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value”
– Amy Madigan, “Weapons”
– Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
– Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”
Best Picture and Director
Among the surprises, the acclaimed film “It Was Just an Accident,” a winner at the Cannes Film Festival, was not nominated for best picture. Conversely, “F1,” which garnered nominations primarily in technical categories, was included. The nominees for best picture were:
– “Bugonia”
– “F1”
– “Hamnet”
– “Frankenstein”
– “One Battle After Another”
– “Marty Supreme”
– “The Secret Agent”
– “Sentimental Value”
– “Sinners”
– “Train Dreams”
In the best director category, Guillermo del Toro was notably absent despite his film “Frankenstein” receiving eight nominations. The nominees included:
– Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
– Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”
– Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”
– Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value”
– Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet”
Conclusion
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood, hosted by Conan O’Brien. This year’s nominations have sparked discussions about the Academy’s selection process and highlight the competitive landscape of contemporary cinema.
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