2027 Oscars: Early Contenders and Must-Watch Films

Oscars 2027: Early Contenders, Blockbusters, and Prestige Plays to Watch

The 2026 Oscar season may have just wrapped, but as always, the next race is already taking shape.

Of course, much will change. Films will rise and fall as festival reactions roll in, surprise contenders will emerge, and presumed frontrunners will fade. But on paper, a number of projects already signal strong awards potential, whether through pedigree, positioning, or sheer scale.

Here’s an early look at the films most likely to define the 2027 Oscars conversation.

The Blockbusters

Historically, the Academy nominates around two to four films grossing over $100 million worldwide for Best Picture. This year, that lane looks especially crowded.

Project Hail Mary (dir. Phil Lord & Christopher Miller)
Worldwide Gross: $300M (current)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: With multiple past Oscar winners involved and strong below-the-line potential, this sci-fi adaptation is already shaping up as a tech-category powerhouse. That alone could carry it into Best Picture.
Release Date: March 2026
Studio: Amazon MGM

The Odyssey (dir. Christopher Nolan)
Budget: ~$250M
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: After Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan enters this race as arguably the most dominant filmmaker in the industry. With much of his Oscar-winning team returning and an ensemble led by Matt Damon, who carries a long-standing “overdue” narrative for acting, expectations are sky-high. Another billion-dollar performer feels within reach.
Release Date: July 17, 2026
Studio: Warner Bros.

Dune: Part Three (dir. Denis Villeneuve)
Budget: ~$200M (est.)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: The first two films were major Academy players, particularly in crafts. With returning talent and new additions like cinematographer Linus Sandgren, the film remains a strong contender. While sequels often face diminishing returns with the Academy, there’s still hope for a Return of the King-style coronation, even if that remains a long shot.
Release Date: December 18, 2026
Studio: Warner Bros.

Disclosure Day (dir. Steven Spielberg)
Budget: Unconfirmed (~$100M–$200M est.)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Spielberg alone guarantees attention. Returning to large-scale sci-fi, a genre the Academy has embraced in his hands before, this project is positioned as both a commercial and awards player.
Release Date: June 12, 2026
Studio: Universal Pictures

Digger (dir. Alejandro G. Iñárritu)
Budget: ~$125M
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Iñárritu’s track record (Birdman, The Revenant) makes this an immediate contender. Pair that with Tom Cruise, who appears to be actively chasing an Oscar, and early word of John Goodman as a standout, and this could emerge as a major acting and above-the-line player.
Release Date: October 2026
Studio: Warner Bros.

Netflix Contenders

Netflix typically lands at least one , often two Best Picture nominees, making their slate essential to watch.

Narnia (dir. Greta Gerwig)
Budget: ~$200M
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Gerwig is currently three-for-three in Best Picture nominations. While this skews more family-oriented, her track record demands attention. Whether this becomes her first miss or another crossover success remains to be seen.
Release Date: December 25, 2026
Studio: Netflix

The Adventures of Cliff Booth (dir. David Fincher)
Budget: ~$200M
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: A continuation of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starring Brad Pitt in his Oscar-winning role, written by Quentin Tarantino, and directed by Fincher. On paper, this is one of the most stacked projects of the year.
Release Date: Rumored August 2026
Studio: Netflix

Prestige and Festival Plays

Beyond the blockbusters, this is where the race will likely be decided.

The Social Reckoning (dir. Aaron Sorkin)
Budget: Unknown
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: A spiritual successor to The Social Network, this marks another directorial effort from Sorkin. His projects consistently factor into the awards conversation, and the thematic connection to one of the most acclaimed films of the century gives this immediate relevance.
Release Date: October 9, 2026
Studio: Sony Pictures

Wild Horse Nine (dir. Martin McDonagh)
Budget: ~$20M–$40M (est.)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: McDonagh’s last two films were major Oscar players, and his work consistently resonates with the Academy. With a strong ensemble including John Malkovich and an early trailer signalling awards positioning, this is firmly in the mix.
Release Date: November 7, 2026 (limited)
Studio: Searchlight Pictures

Fatherland (dir. Paweł Pawlikowski)
Budget: ~$30M–$60M (est.)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Pawlikowski’s history with the Academy (Ida, Cold War) makes this an immediate contender. A black-and-white historical drama centered on Thomas Mann, it fits squarely within the Academy’s traditional tastes.
Release Date: TBA
Studio: TBA

Fjord (dir. Cristian Mungiu)
Budget: Not reported (likely ~$10M–$25M range)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Mungiu is a Palme d’Or winner (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) and one of the most respected voices in international cinema. That alone puts Fjord on the radar, especially in International Feature and potentially Director if it breaks through. The film stars Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan, which gives it crossover appeal beyond the international branch. It’s widely expected to premiere at Cannes, which will be key, if it lands there, it immediately becomes a serious contender.
Release Date: Not announced (festival premiere likely)
Studio: Neon

Cry to Heaven (dir. Tom Ford)
Budget: ~$40M–$80M (est.)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Ford’s films have consistently drawn critical acclaim, and this operatic, period-driven story carries clear awards appeal.
Release Date: TBA
Studio: TBA

Untitled Jesse Eisenberg Film (dir. Jesse Eisenberg)
Budget: ~$10M–$25M (est.)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Following the success of A Real Pain, Eisenberg has built significant goodwill. With strong early reactions from test screenings, and Paul Giamatti attached, this could emerge as a quiet but serious contender.
Release Date: TBA
Studio: TBA

The Entertainment System Is Down (dir. Ruben Östlund)
Budget: ~$15M–$30M (est.)
Oscar Buzz / Pedigree: Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness broke into Best Picture, and his latest project combines timely subject matter with an ensemble-driven approach, a formula the Academy has recently embraced.
Release Date: TBA (festival likely)
Studio: TBA

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