This Is the Most Surprising Best Picture Nomination of 2026 — Here's Why It Makes Sense

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Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with a substantial amount of experience under his belt. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. Using his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's been able to tackle a wide variety of articles.

The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards are finally in, and there are plenty of surprises to go around, whether it's Sinners snagging a whopping 16 nominations or the newly announced category of Best Casting. The biggest surprise, though, goes to this year's Best Picture nominations. In addition to front-runners like Sinners, Marty Supreme, and One Battle After Another, F1 made the cut. This is a genuine surprise, as F1's straightforward sports-racing narrative doesn't feel targeted toward the Oscars like Sinners' intricate mix of horror and blues, or the way One Battle After Another tackles matters of race and revolution.

F1's surprise entry onto the 2026 Best Picture list mirrors its narrative to a degree, where aging racer Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is tapped by his old friend, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), to help Ruben's F1 team secure victory. People love to root for an underdog, and F1 is definitely this year's underdog — especially when you look at its competition. F1's nomination also underscores the massive changes that have occurred at the Oscars over the years, both innominations and competition.

'F1' is a Reminder That Blockbusters Hit Just as Hard as Prestige Pictures

Brad Pitt looking to the distance at the track in F1.

F1's path to Best Picture nomination has been building up since its release. Not only has it picked up other awards, including landing on the National Board of Review's Top 10 list, but it also continues to top Apple TV's streaming charts and was the number one film at the box office during its opening weekend. Part of that draw is how director Joseph Kosinski stages the racing scenes; the cameras are angled so that when Sonny or his teammate Joshua (Damson Idris) enters their car, the audience is in the thick of the action with them. That means anyone who watches F1 will feel every sharp turn and every crash, providing a level of immersion that very few blockbusters do. Kosinski's no stranger to crafting high-octane thrill rides thanks to his previous work on Tron: Legacy and Top Gun: Maverick, but he takes it to another level with F1, which is probably what caught the eye of Oscar voters.

Another reason why F1 might have nabbed the Best Picture nomination is that it's one of the few blockbusters that mixes deep themes with major thrills. In between the races and competitions, F1 confronts the fear of obscurity through Sonny and Joshua's respective journeys; Joshua seeks more recognition on the racing stage so he can take care of his mother, while Sonny struggles with past injuries that threaten his future as a racer. Other nominees in the 2026 Oscars race have managed to achieve the same fear, including Sinners' mix of bloody vampire battles and musical history, or how KPop Demon Hunters tackles issues of fame and identity. It's proof that independent movies or period pieces aren't the only types of films that can have a deeper meaning.

A soldier running from an explosion in The Hurt Locker

The 'F1' Nomination Cements Apple TV as a Prestige Streamer

F1's nomination for Best Picture isn't just a reminder that blockbusters can be as well-crafted and meaningful as prestige films. It also continues to cement Apple TV as the streaming service that can actually compete in the awards race. Apple TV is the only streamer to actually win Best Picture, taking home the award for CODA at the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony. On the off chance that F1 does win Best Picture at this year's Oscars, it would cement Apple TV as both the premier streaming service — upsetting competitors like Netflix and Prime Video — and prove that it could be a legit contender with established movie studios.

Even if it doesn't win Best Picture, F1's nomination shows that a movie doesn't have to resort to the level of "Oscar bait" to be a stand out. It also proves Apple TV is a force to be reckoned with. Either way, the Best Picture race is going to be an interesting one this year.

The 98th Academy Awards air live on ABC and stream live on Hulu on Sunday, March 15, 2026.