2026 performances – Halfway through 2026, five standout performances—Emily Blunt in “Disclosure Day,” Penélope Cruz in “The Invite,” Colman Domingo in “Michael,” Ryan Gosling in “Project Hail Mary,” and Inde Navarette in “Obsession”—are already drawing the kind of attention that
When Oscar season still feels like it’s a few months away, the conversation is usually quiet. Then a performance lands in front of regular audiences—at the cineplex, not just in whispers—and suddenly the awards talk starts forming on its own.
This year’s early spark comes from five roles in films people could already have seen. The logic is simple: performances that stand out, come with campaign-ready energy, and come from studios with the know-how to push them into the spotlight tend to have the best shot.
And while the list below is meant to be alphabetical, it also reflects how nominations can look, from least to most likely—based on what the performances do, how hard they can be pushed, and whether the surrounding film ecosystem is built for an Oscar run.
Emily Blunt, Best Actress for “Disclosure Day”
In “Disclosure Day,” English actress Emily Blunt leads Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi adventure. The film may not have been a box-office standout—at least not yet—but her performance is still the kind that can keep awards momentum alive.
Blunt is known for moving between styles: the fast talk of her breakout in “The Devil Wears Prada. ” the heart-racing pace of “A Quiet Place. ” and the way she’s balanced charm with intensity. She has also earned an Academy marker already. receiving her first Oscar nomination for her role in “Oppenheimer.” Still. the pitch for Oscar attention here is straightforward: this is a modern take on an “inspired heroine. ” and it arguably offers a clearer stage for her range than playing a wife in a Christopher Nolan film.
Penélope Cruz, Best Supporting Actress for “The Invite”
Penélope Cruz has long lived in Oscar territory. She earned two Best Actress nominations for collaborations with Pedro Almodóvar, and she previously earned a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for “Nine.” Her Oscar win came for Maria Elena in Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
In Olivia Wilde’s latest film, “The Invite,” Cruz is part of a cast that includes characters written into the story through Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. The campaign case centers on her character Piña—and what Piña represents inside the chaos.
Piña is “the chaos agent” in spirit, but the performance plays against that expectation. As the film’s sex therapist. she becomes a conduit for the relationship knot “The Invite” is trying to untie. turning her steadier presence into the most useful instrument in a story full of emotional weather. Another nomination could be on the table for Cruz, especially if Cannes standout “La Bola Negra” also breaks through.
Colman Domingo, Best Supporting Actor for “Michael”
Colman Domingo’s turn in Lionsgate’s “Michael” points to a different kind of strength: transformation. The debate over what potential Jafaar Jackson may have for a Best Actor nomination continues. along with lingering questions about what “Michael Jackson would allegedly become shortly after when the film wraps.” Even so. “Michael” has not really had to deal with accusations of pulling punches about the portrayal of the Jackson family patriarch Joe.
The role puts Domingo “against type. ” and it comes with a visible transformation that leaves the actor “unrecognizable as the unrepentant stage parent.” His previously recognized film work in “Rustin” and “Sing Sing” is described as more soulful and heroic. which makes this shift feel built for awards attention.
It’s also the kind of supporting performance that has historically translated into wins. The article places Domingo in a company that includes Mo’Nique in “Precious,” J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash. ” and Allison Janney in “I. Tonya.” The argument for Domingo’s shot now is that. unlike many supporting contenders. he doesn’t just have a role—he has a presence. He’s been framed as an “effortless” talk show guest and a “permanent fixture on Best Dressed lists throughout the year.”.
Ryan Gosling, Best Actor for “Project Hail Mary”
Ryan Gosling’s Oscar story is a rollercoaster of its own. He earned his first Best Actor nod in 2007 for “Half Nelson,” a micro-budget indie. After that, he appeared in acclaimed films—from “Blue Valentine” to “The Big Short”—including projects that landed Oscar recognition. Then came the next Best Actor nomination a decade later for “La La Land. ” a film designed to resonate with Academy voters. His most recent Oscar nomination arrived through a supporting role as Ken in “Barbie,” which became a box-office smash.
So the case for “Project Hail Mary” leans on experience with range—and the timing of awards awareness. The performance is described as Gosling carrying “what became this year’s thinking man’s blockbuster,” with the plot built around an unlikely astronaut “tasked with saving Earth.”
The only stated drag on momentum is the release schedule: the Amazon MGM Studios project’s release date is much earlier than when Oscars voting is top of mind. The workaround suggested is simple—interest could return with a re-release around Thanksgiving time. given that the Phil Lord and Chris Miller film is framed as enjoyable for the whole family.
Inde Navarette, Best Actress for “Obsession”
For years. the Academy’s relationship with horror has often been discussed as a bias—horror performances receiving nominations have been described as only a handful. That makes it harder for people to believe Inde Navarette’s breakout can translate into serious awards attention. especially when they point to examples like Toni Collette’s Oscar-nominated performance in “Hereditary” and Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar win for “Us. ” both of which reportedly did not receive major awards attention.
But the pushback offered here is that those examples came before theaters were in crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. when horror was viewed as a foundational piece of what kept theater-going alive. The Academy. the argument goes. has since shown it can consider a box office hit regardless of genre—especially if the film is built on an original script.
In “Obsession,” the facts supporting the pitch are tied to momentum. The film is said to have nearly surpassed “Sinners” as the highest-grossing original film of the decade so far. Academy members. the piece suggests. are “only human. ” and if the country is effectively pointing them toward a performance. curiosity follows.
Navarette is contrasted with other names on voters’ radar, including Amy Madigan from “Weapons” and Michael B. Jordan from “Sinners,” both of whom were “long been on voters’ radars” before winning Oscars for horror work. Still. Navarette’s performance is described as having the same stickiness: she plays a young woman trapped in her own body. with her true self creeping in “ever so slightly” throughout writer/director Curry Barker’s crowd-pleasing debut.
There’s also the studio advantage. “Obsession” is released by Focus Features. and Focus is cited for taking three of five Best Actress slots at the most recent Oscars. where the winner was Jessie Buckley for “Hamnet.” With the Oscars not arriving until March 2027. there is framed as “enough of a runway” for Focus Features to build a campaign that puts the 25-year-old actress into serious contention for an Academy Award nomination.
The lineup already has the feel of a season shaping itself early—five performances that are either too distinctive to ignore or too well-positioned to dismiss. If Oscar momentum is built on visibility. campaign timing. and memorable work that audiences actually respond to. these roles are positioned to keep getting louder between now and March 2027.
MISRYOUM Oscar potential 2026 performances Emily Blunt Disclosure Day Penélope Cruz The Invite Colman Domingo Michael Ryan Gosling Project Hail Mary Inde Navarette Obsession