Our first look at the new Oscars category could give us a glimpse of the other nominations

For years, the Oscars showed little interest in evolving. Since the voting body expanded over the past decade, eventually incorporating more female and international members, our perception of Oscar-worthy films has changed dramatically, as evidenced by unorthodox winners like Moonlight And Anorasmall independent films about pressing contemporary issues that big studios often ignore. Along with the recent announcement that the ceremony would begin streaming on YouTube in 2029, the Oscars have made changes to adapt to the times and the cinematic sensibilities of their die-hard viewers, and the Inaugural Best Cast category on this year’s upcoming TV show highlights a revitalization of the medium’s celebration.

The release of the annual Oscar shortlist, which narrows the list of contenders to a handful of categories, has given us a glimpse of what shape the new casting award will take. The shortlist nominees, including heavyweights like One battle after another And Sinners and surprise breakthroughs like The secret agent And Cryprove that this category could be the ultimate precursor to Best Picture.

The Oscars revealed their first look at a new category

While awards season seems to get longer each year, Oscar watchers are hardly surprised by the outcome of the highly anticipated telecast thanks to the extensive coverage of precursor ceremonies such as the SAG and PGA Awards. The shortlist announcement in 12 categories more or less confirms the awards analysts’ presumed results, with Sinners And Villain: for good leading eight nominations. Other good results in the preliminary round of voting include expected candidates One battle after another, FrankensteinAnd Marty Supreme.

What got the most attention was the Best Cast shortlist, not only because of its novelty, but also because it foreshadowed what the Best Picture lineup might look like. The 10 nominees on the shortlist for the new branch of casting directors include Frankenstein, HamnetMarty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental valueSinner, cry, Weapons, And Villain: For good.

What’s even more telling is the series of films, once considered Oscar favorites, that have been nearly snubbed across the board. Jay Kelly, A House of DynamiteAnd Wake up dead man each received a single nomination for top rating, while Bugonia was only recognized in the fields of score and cinematography. These films, which feature casts of A-list stars and beloved actors, This seemed to be automatic for shortlisting, but their snobbery suggests a lack of enthusiasm on the part of Academy members. Jay Kellya showbiz drama starring George Clooneyis the kind of film that would have been cleaned up decades ago but now seems pastiche.

What the Best Casting List Says About the Best Picture Lineup

Since the shortlist doesn’t include the major categories, Best Cast is our closest approximation to Best Picture, mainly because the 10 nominated films seem to have the most momentum in their favor. After all, many filmmakers will tell you that casting is the most important element in creating a good film. so it’s only fitting that the best castings represent the highest quality of filmmaking. the woman, Sinners, HamnetAnd Sentimental value come immediately to mind when talking about major contenders and seem like locks for Best Picture nods. Since casting directors appeal to the industry and its talents, what they placed on their shortlist indicates that the buzz for The secret agent, Cryand the populist hit Weapons is genuine and not just wishful thinking. The second chapter of Wicked The saga left critics and even audiences disappointed, but the Academy’s respect for the source material, its old Hollywood craftsmanship, and its sentiments has not wavered.

The shortlist gives Oscar prognosticators a glimpse into how overlooked films become surprise Best Picture nominees. Few people had their eyes on Cry as an awards player due to most of the international fanfare that goes to It was just an accident And No other choicebut now the Spanish film of Olivier Laxe was exposed to a whole new audience. People crave genre pictures that will appeal to everyone, like Weaponswhich puts Zach Cregger on the map as a serious filmmaker, to garner substantial Oscar buzz, which is within the realm of possibility thanks to this surprising shortlist spot.

Based on early results, the Academy is not wasting this exciting new category. Each of the 10 films nominated for the shortlist is an extraordinary feat in bringing together established names, stars and even non-professional actors, in the case of One Battle After Another, Sinners and Marty Supreme. The most famous films of 2025 share a sense of cinematic euphoria created by their respective unique worlds, Since Paul Thomas Andersonthe infusion of Thomas Pynchonpolitics these days for Ryan CooglerThe fantastical treatment of Prohibition-era Southern Gothic. The cast of Jacob Elord like Frankenstein’s monster and Amy Madigan as a witch-like antagonist in Weapons were brilliant yet unconventional choices that were key ingredients of the respective film. The list of Best Cast finalists may have shown the Academy’s hand, but at least their tastes seem inspiring.

Sinners is now available to stream on HBO Max in the US