Tonight’s The Night That Oscar Shines Bright!
After a tumultuous 2025, we can all take a night off from the chaos and celebrate the films that comforted us, challenged us, and entertained us last year…
It was a great year for film – and tonight, we will celebrate them all! I created the E! Red Carpet Pre-Show back in the day, attended several Oscar ceremonies, and hav always loved the ceremony – even when they get it wrong!
I wish all of the nominees the best of luck, but I also wanted to offer up where the night seems to be headed.
Here are 9 predictions for Oscars 2026:
Best Animated Picture: “KPop Demon Hunters”
This South Korean animated musical action film became a global phenomenon, following a K-pop girl group who secretly battle demons. How can you go against the tide? A category that used to be a lock for Pixar is no longer – you can also look for this film to win best original song.
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, Weapons
While many have chosen Tayana Taylor for her powerful performance in “One Battle After Another”, there has been a groundswell behind-the-scenes for Amy Madigan. She has had a long and critically-acclaimed career, topped off in 2025 by this unbelievable transformation for the terrific horror film “Weapons.” It blew me away!
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
Stellan Skarsgård may indeed win for “Sentimental Value”, but Penn’s over the top performance as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, a ruthless, hardline military zealot and immigration detention center oversee has gotten a groundswell of support right as the voters were sending in their ballots.
Best Original Screenplay: Sinners
Director Ryan Coogler made the film with the most Oscar nominations this year, and he will get his reward for his audacious screenplay set in 1930s Mississippi, starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers attempting to escape their violent mob past. They return home to start a juke joint, only to confront vampiric forces—often representing white supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan—on opening night.
What a great film!
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
Anderson has amassed 14 Oscar nominations in his career, and this will be his first win. The Director loosely adapted Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel *Vineland*. The movie, which credits itself as “inspired by” the book rather than a direct adaptation, uses Pynchon’s story of a father searching for his daughter in a dystopian California as a basis for a new action-thriller set in the 2020s.
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
The Director will also take home this prize – the film is brilliantly made, with incredible performances – and seems to be torn from today’s headlines.
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
“Hamnet” received 8 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Director, but this is the major award the film will take home. Buckley’s performance is mesmerizing, and the scene at the end – which I will not give away – is one of the most powerful this year.
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
They only give out one Oscar, but the Actor is incredible – he plays BOTH BROTHERS, which is not only an incredible technical achievement, but Jordan creates two distinct characters…his upset win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards cemented his win here, as it’s the same voters in large part.
Finally, here is the big award of the night – and this is where an upset could happen!
Best Picture: “One Battle After Another”
This was my favorite film of the year. Leonardo DiCaprio is mesmerizing, the story is powerful and torn from today’s headlines – and it has been the frontrunner since awards season began…BUT:
“Sinners” shocked Hollywood two weeks ago when it won the SAG Award for Best Ensemble…something that “CODA” did a few years ago, which led to that film winning Best Picture. So this is very very close – and honestly, I’d be happy with either taking home the prize…what an exciting way to end the night!
Now that the awards are put to bed, time to eat!
These Oscar statue salmon bites topped with caviar are just one of the special dishes served at the post Oscar Governors Ball…see the entire menu for tonight here!
I applaud all of this year’s nominees, but also had some films that were my favorites – and two that I loathed.
See my list here:
And the next time you head to Hollywood, make a reservation to eat at Hollywood’s oldest and most famous restaurant!
Musso & Frank is over a hundred years old, and even has its own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame! And they make this!
Click here to see why they have the best Martini is the city!
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Here’s to getting out and seeing some great cinema in a movie theater, and for exploring classic Hollywood as well – if you enjoyed this, please share on social media – thanks!
Categories: Academy Awards, Action Films, Art, Awards, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Horror films, Independent Cinema, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
I mentioned in my blog on Friday that I haven’t seen many of this year’s nominee, but I hope to catch some of the show tonight. I’ll have to make my own martini for the occasion. Love the speeches. Interesting seeing who the winners thank and how they handle that crazy moment. I’ll have your blog open John to see how close you come to predicting the winners!!! I wasn’t as in love with One Battle After Another as you. I didn’t know anything about the movie. I wasn’t ready for the torn-from-the-headlines nature of the movie. Yes, sometimes I feel like I live under a rock. Saying that, I think Sean Penn deserves to win. Found him to be scary as heck! You’ve got me wanting to see Sinners, Hamnet, and Sentimental Value. Finally, I’ve got to ask: The E! Red Carpet Pre-Show was how long? Three or four hours? How much prep time went into getting ready for those three hours? Ha, ha. Months, right? I love that! And look what it’s become. Wow.
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I agree with your predictions and will be totally disappointed if Sinners wins best picture. It would have been the award winner had they not included vampires. I laughed out loud when they appeared on the doorstep!
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It’s a big “all over the place” but it has fans! I think they will win quite a few but not Best Picture…thanks for your note – cheers!
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