The 2026 Golden Globe nominations are typically seen as a key stepping stone to an Oscar nomination, but these five films are hoping to buck that trend. The cinematic nominations at the Golden Globes cemented many of the award season narratives that have been brewing, cementing Hamnet, Sinners, and One Battle After Another as frontrunners.
Plenty of other big films, like Matry Supreme, Sentimental Value, and Jay Kelly, also got some love from the Golden Globes. These five films didn’t, however, and were among the biggest surprises and snubs of this year’s Golden Globe nominees. Still, there’s a path forward for all five of them to reach the Academy Awards.
Superman (2025)
Superman is one of the most surprising Golden Globe omissions, but it has a better chance of earning recognition from the Oscars. Superman was a genuine delight, with audiences responding well to the latest riff on the Man of Steel. The film did great with critics and very well with audiences, earning $616.7 million at the box office.
However, the largely domestic pull of that film might explain why the more internationally minded Golden Globes were less receptive to it. This is probably the best explanation for why Superman didn’t net a nomination for the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award at the Golden Globes compared to other more global successes like F1.
Luckily for James Gunn and DC, the Oscars seem likely to give the film a nod for its colorful special effects if nothing else, with expected nominations for Best Visual Effects. The snub hasn’t done anything to wear off the appeal of the modern DC Universe, either, with Supergirl‘s trailer hinting that Gunn’s tone will continue to define the franchise.
House Of Dynamite
House of Dynamite seemed like a genuine frontrunner for award season. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Noah Oppenheim, the raves from critics positioned it as a strong contender. Plus, the timely nature of the narrative seemingly connected with voters, with early predictors calling the film a shoo-in for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture.
However, the shifts and changes of award season have pushed House of Dynamite out of the limelight. The more mixed reception of the general public to the ambiguous ending likely didn’t help, either. Ultimately, the film earned no nominations at the Golden Globes. That doesn’t rule the film out of the Oscars race, however.
The editing on the film might still score some nominations, and the strength of Noah Oppenheim’s script could keep it alive in the Screenplay competition. Unfortunately for Bigelow, the director’s field is too tight this year to expect an upset, but she’s at least already earned an Oscar for Best Director.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Wake Up Dead Man was one of the most shocking Golden Globe omissions, especially after how positively the previous two Rian Johnson/Daniel Craig mysteries performed. The film boasts strong performances and has arguably the best script in the trilogy, along with a more emotionally resonant core.
Before the nominations, this made Wake Up Dead Man seem like a likely contender for Golden Globe nominations in the lead Musical or Comedy performance categories or Supporting Performance. That’s on top of a potential Best Screenplay nomination for Johnson that never materialized.
Wake Up Dead Man being shut out at the Golden Globes seems like a case of strong competition overshadowing a late-year film. The strength of Rian Johnson’s script might keep it in the Best Adapted Screenplay race, even if One Battle After Another and Hamnet remain the frontrunners to win.
Christy (2025)
Sydney Sweeney’s boxing film Christy initially seemed like a ready-made contender for Best Actress at the Oscars, with Christy reinventing the actress and taking her into the boxing ring for the movie’s fights. Even when the film overall stumbled with critics, Sweeney was commended on her performance.
However, whatever momentum Sweeney might have had has been undercut by a lack of nominations in other award ceremonies, with the Golden Globes being the biggest knock against her Oscar odds. That doesn’t mean she’s fully out of the running, though, especially as the final slots in Best Actress seem to still be wide open.
While the odds are increasingly stacked against her, especially as Rose Byrne picks up more nominations and awards for her career-best performance on If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Sweeney still has a chance to pull off a surprise. After all, the Oscars do love a good underdog story.
Is This Thing On?
One of the more intriguing award season contenders, Is This Thing On? has plenty of elements that make it an easy film to root for at the Oscars, including a vulnerable dramatic performance from Will Arnett and strong direction by Bradley Cooper. However, the film notably screened for critics after the cutoff for many of the early award season races.
This meant that it was shut out of those competitions almost by default, apparently including the Golden Globes. The film’s late release might do it some favors, though, giving it a certain level of decency bias in the minds of voters. It helps that the reviews for the film that have come out paint it as a very good dramedy.
Cooper’s prior successes with getting Oscar nominations at least keep him in the conversation. The film could also benefit from the Casting category. If the film is well-received enough by critics and audiences when it hits wide release, Is This Thing On? could become this year’s major surprise contender at the Oscars.
8/10
- Location
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Los Angeles, CA
- Dates
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March 15, 2026
- Website
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https://www.oscars.org/
