In Part 2 of our 2026 Oscars coverage, the hosts return after watching the nominated films to break down the race for the 98th Academy Awards. With the viewing complete, the conversation shifts from speculation to evaluation: which films truly deserve the praise, which nominations feel misplaced, and which contenders have the strongest path to the statue.

We debate likely winners, potential upsets, and our own preferred picks across the major categories, while also questioning the nominations themselves—where the Academy got it right, where it played it safe, and where key films or performances may have been overlooked. Along the way, we consider how industry momentum, campaigning, and broader trends in contemporary cinema might shape the final outcome.

Host(s) Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, Dave Sabal