We’re looking at Oscar contenders as they release and trying to determine which films have potential and which have wasted it. Let’s look back at the month of March and see what films succeeded and faltered. Then we’ll look forward to May and see what has some potential.

Wesley Lovell’s Thoughts

March Retrospective
Looking back at March, it has to be considered somewhat disappointing. The few Oscar contenders were a mixed bag and nothing I didn’t highlight has even the remotest shot, so I want to take a look at the three films I ultimately wrote up that month.

We’ll start with the flop, The Bride!. Like Wuthering Heights, the divide seemed to be largely along gender lines with women mostly loving the film and men mostly hating it. Outliers were definite but the lack of consensus does make it difficult for the film to progress towards Oscar contention. Some of the design work might be recognized but it’s clear the studio didn’t have a lot of faith with its March release and won’t put much into getting it any kind of recognition at year’s end.

Pixar was somewhat back to the head of the pack with Hoppers, a film that earned decent box office and solid reviews. While the reviews weren’t exactly ecstatic, the combination of positive reviews and decent box office will make it a year-end contender for a nomination in Best Animated Feature though it most certainly isn’t going to win.

Last on our list is the unqualified success that was Project Hail Mary. Excellent reviews, major box office results, and a claim on the zeitgeist have positioned this film as the earliest Best Picture contender so far. It’s a bit early to say how big its nomination tally will be but unless a raft of better reviewed films suddenly steal the spotlight, it should remain in the conversation for the next few months.

May Forecast
For May, there are five films whose chances at Oscar nominations are a mixed bag. Some I feel confident will make a play, others I’m covering my bases on.

We’ll start with the base-covering. Animal Farm is an animated film, which should generally all be reviewed as possible contenders. That said, this adaptation of the Orwell film is done by a Christian publisher so its themes are likely to be glossed over and underwhelming. Considering how much comedy is playing a part, there should be no expectation that what made the book sensational will transfer to a likely warmed-over animated film.

I Love Boosters is a film that looks like a contender for Production Design and Costume Design but it’s such an out-there concept that it will struggle with mainstream voters. If it’s an acclaimed hit, then perhaps it can overcome those issues and pick up those two sole Oscar nominations but it will be a tough hill to climb.

The middle of the pack for May is The Devil Wears Prada 2. It’s not exactly an Oscar kind a film but with Meryl Streep back and the costume design popping, I expect it to contend in both categories. That said, sequels don’t always perform as well as their predecessors and since the first film wasn’t exactly a major contender, both of these selections could be left off next year.

Although I think this is likely the most certain of a nomination, they aren’t in major categories. The Mandalorian and Grogu will almost certainly get into the Visual Effects category and has a decent shot at a Sound nomination and, if the category is weak, Makeup & Hairstyling. Other than that, it doesn’t have much hope.

The last title on this list is a bit iffy but has a lot of promise. Tuner earned some buzz on the festival circuit already and is well positioned to make a play at the Oscars. The intriguing concept and well regarded performances are sure to keep it in the conversation if its release reviews are as good as the buzz has been.

And that’s everything from me for this month.

Pete Patrick’s Thoughts

March Retrospective
The only film released in March, or for the entire first quarter of 2026 for that matter, with Oscar prospects is Project Hail Mary.

May Forecast
There seem to be at least a half dozen films with potential for strong critical reception and/or Oscar nominations, some of which may be major box-office successes as well. They are:

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu – the latest Star Wars movie stars Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver with the voices of Martin Scorsese and Jeremey Allen White.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci in the highly anticipated sequel to the hit film they made 20 years ago.

The animated Animal Farm is the latest version of Geroge Orwell’s satirical novel directed by Andy Serkis with a voice cast that includes Jim Parsons, Seth Rogan, Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Kathleen Turner, and Serkis himself.

Silent Friend is set in a botanical garden in a medieval German university town focusing on the garden’s majestic Ginkgo tree. The international cast is headed by Tony Leung and Léa Seydoux.

Tuner is a crime drama about a piano tuner turned safecracker with Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman in a role that could garner him his first Oscar nomination since 1998’s Wag the Dog.

The Salt Path is based on the memoir of woman about the road trip she takes with her terminally ill husband after they lose their home. The Oscar bait-y movie stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.

Thomas La Tourrette’s Thoughts

March Retrospective
March did not have a lot of releases coming out that could be Oscar possibilities

Considering that The Martian ended up with seven Oscar nominations, Project Hail Mary which comes from the same author has to be considered a contender, at least at this point. It was a big box office hit, so it should at least get a best picture nomination and tech ones and probably one for Ryan Gosling for lead actor.

Pixar can never be counted out when it comes to nominations for animated feature, though Pixar’s Hoppers does not look to be one of their better films though it got very good reviews

The Bride! could be a nominee for makeup and hairstyling, but a March release does not bode well for it and terrible reviews will not have helped its case.

May Forecast
May does not have many possibilities either.

Animal Farm could be a longshot for animated feature.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 managed a nomination for Meryl Streep the first time around, so perhaps some acting Oscars are a possibility, but doubtful.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu could easily pick up noms for visual effects and perhaps sound.