Oscars 2027: A Too-Early Look at Potential Winners
While first-time winners Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley have just been crowned at the Oscars 2026 ceremony, the race for next year's awards is already sparking speculation. Sunday's event proved that predicting Oscar contenders far in advance remains a challenging game, with horror films like Sinners and Weapons and the KPop phenomenon Demon Hunters defying early expectations. International films continue to surprise, making this annual forecast increasingly difficult. Here, we present some absurdly early picks for the Oscars 2027, highlighting key contenders and their upcoming projects.
Aaron Sorkin: The Social Reckoning
It's never wise to bet against Aaron Sorkin, the acclaimed writer who won an Oscar for The Social Network screenplay. His new film, The Social Reckoning, is an unconventional semi-sequel focusing on the 2021 leak from whistleblower Frances Haugen. Starring last year's best actress winner Mikey Madison and The Apprentice nominee Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg, this project tackles the darker side of Facebook. Despite Sorkin's recent hit-and-miss biopic Being the Ricardos, the Academy's love for his work, as seen with The Trial of the Chicago 7, suggests this timely takedown could resonate with voters.
Sandra Hüller: Rising Star in Hollywood
German actor Sandra Hüller, who led Anatomy of a Fall to five Oscar nominations, is capitalizing on her breakout success. She stars opposite Ryan Gosling in the $200 million sci-fi adventure Project Hail Mary and will co-lead in Paweł Pawlikowski's cold war drama 1949. Additionally, she has a supporting role in Alejandro González Iñárritu's black comedy Digger, positioning her for potential awards recognition. Hüller's versatility and critical acclaim make her a strong contender for future Oscars.
Charles Melton: From Riverdale to Awards Glory
Charles Melton, once a high school heart-throb on Riverdale, nearly secured an Oscar nod for his role in May December. This year, he appears in two festival-primed projects: Nicolas Winding Refn's thriller Her Private Hell and Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley's romantic drama Saturn Returns. With Netflix and Brad Pitt's Plan B backing the latter, Melton's sweeping performance as college sweethearts transitioning into adulthood could capture the Academy's attention, building on the directors' previous seven nominations.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi: International Contender
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who made history with Drive My Car as the first Japanese film nominated for best picture, returns with a new emotional drama. Set to premiere at Cannes, this French-Japanese film explores the relationship between a nursing home director and a terminally ill playwright. Inspired by a real-life dynamic that deeply moved him, and backed by Neon, the company behind Parasite and Anora, Hamaguchi's project aligns with the Academy's growing appreciation for foreign-language films.
Ruth Madeley: Making History
In Being Heumann, writer-director Sian Heder casts British actor Ruth Madeley as pioneering disability rights activist Judith Heumann. With support from Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo and Dylan O'Brien, this biopic aims to offer meaningful representation on the Oscar stage. If nominated, Madeley would make history as one of the most prominent wheelchair-using stars in film, following her roles in Doctor Who and Years and Years.
Sebastian Stan: Transitioning from MCU
Sebastian Stan, mostly freed from MCU roles, scored his first Oscar nomination for The Apprentice. This summer, he stars in Cristian Mungiu's drama Fjord, a semi-English language project with Romanian and Norwegian elements. The film, about two families torn apart by abuse accusations, features Stan in a transformative role that could appeal to the Academy's international skew.
Octavia Spencer: Leading the Best Actress Race
Director Chinonye Chukwu brings a new adaptation of Death of a Salesman to the screen, with help from Tony Kushner. Starring Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright, Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, and others, this cast is primed for awards consideration. Spencer, a two-time Oscar nominee, could lead the best actress category if the film is ready in time, given the Academy's affection for her performances.
Jack O'Connell: Comeback with Ink
Jack O'Connell, who recently shone in villain roles, leads Danny Boyle's adaptation of the play Ink, portraying tabloid editor Larry Lamb. Boyle's fact-based workplace drama Steve Jobs brought nominations before, and O'Connell's performance in this 60s-set Fleet Street story could earn him deserved recognition after his recent career resurgence.
Parker Posey: McDonagh's Latest
Parker Posey, long loved within the industry, stars in Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine, a CIA drama set in the 1970s. McDonagh's last two films scored 17 Oscar nominations, and Posey's supporting role, though unclear, fits his darkly funny dialogue, positioning her for potential awards buzz.
Andrew Garfield: AI and Historical Dramas
Andrew Garfield plays OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Artificial, a film about his 2023 firing and rehiring. With anti-AI sentiment at the Oscars, this project could attract voters. Garfield also leads Paul Greengrass's The Uprising, about the 1381 peasants' revolt, a timely topic given current wealth inequality, which might pierce through to awards consideration.
