Hidden gems at the 2026 Oscars: 10 nominated films you might not have seen

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This year’s Oscar race for Best Picture is exceptionally strong. Leading contenders like “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” are up against several other excellent films, including “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” and “Marty Supreme.”

Beyond the most popular and well-known films, there are several other excellent movies competing in different categories that you might not have heard of yet. As usual, many of these hidden gems are in the Best International Feature and Best Documentary categories – keep an eye out for films like Sirât and Mr Nobody Against Putin, which are definitely worth watching.

We’ve also noticed some films that received only one nomination—typically for technical awards like makeup and hairstyling—despite being overlooked in major categories. A good example is The Ugly Stepsister.

1. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Nominated for: Best actress – Rose Byrne

Mary Bronstein’s new film is a sharp and funny, yet exhausting, look at the challenges of motherhood. Rose Byrne gives a fantastic performance as Linda, a psychotherapist struggling to balance her career with the demanding needs of her daughter, who requires constant care. The film honestly portrays the feeling of a life falling apart while trying to cope with everything.

Linda’s husband, Charles, a ship captain voiced by Christian Slater, is often away for work, and surprisingly, her therapist (played by Conan O’Brien) doesn’t seem to like her very much. Her life spirals when she has to move herself and her daughter into a motel managed by James (A$AP Rocky), leading to impulsive decisions, and a difficult situation with a client brings up painful memories.

As a movie fan, I was really struck by how Bronstein tackled Linda’s depression – it wasn’t just a straightforward portrayal, but a really inventive and probing one, and he wasn’t afraid to use humor, even really over-the-top moments, to get his point across. And Byrne? Absolutely phenomenal. I’m not surprised she got an Oscar nomination – she completely nailed the balance between the funny and heartbreaking parts of the role, and the film really lets her shine.

Where to watch: In cinemas

2. The Voice of Hind Rajab

Nominated for: Best international feature

Okay, so I just watched this incredibly powerful film, and honestly, it’s stuck with me. It’s a true story about a five-year-old Palestinian girl named Hind, caught in the middle of a conflict in Gaza. The whole thing unfolds inside an emergency center, and what makes it so devastating is they actually use real audio of Hind calling for help. She’s trapped in a car, and it’s heartbreaking to hear her voice as bullets are flying around, knowing her family is… well, it’s just awful. Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix produced it, and it’s a really tough watch, but important, you know?

Volunteer Omar (Motaz Malhees) receives a frantic call from someone needing an ambulance, but struggles to help because of disagreements with his co-worker, Mahdi (Amer Hlehel), who is strictly following procedures. This creates a painfully slow process. Director Kaouther Ben Hania (known for ‘Four Daughters’) has crafted a tense and sometimes upsetting film, capturing the desperate pleas of the frightened child for rescue.

Ben Hania approaches the subject matter with care throughout the film, even when including actual footage of the vehicle. While the use of a genuine distress call might raise ethical concerns for some, the film ultimately delivers a powerfully moving anti-war message. – James Mottram

Where to watch: Available to rent and buy

3. Mr Nobody Against Putin

Nominated for: Best documentary feature

This compelling documentary from Russia follows Pavel Talankin, a school events coordinator and videographer, as he documents the increasing control and militarization in his small town after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Following a new Kremlin policy requiring patriotic education in schools, Talankin is tasked with filming lessons and displays of propaganda as evidence of compliance, turning his everyday work into a record of growing oppression.

For two and a half years, Talankin filmed his daily life, focusing on the world around his school. He worked hard to counter false information and rising nationalism, but the danger of being seen as an opponent became increasingly serious. As co-director and cinematographer, Talankin offers a deeply personal and insightful look at his experiences, filled with humor and compassion.

David Borenstein’s film skillfully uses a wealth of footage shot by Talankin to create a focused and engaging narrative, featuring a diverse group of people. While the film powerfully portrays the emotional impact on young people – including former students of Pasha facing conscription – it’s a history teacher with strong pro-Putin views who truly stands out. This BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated documentary is an important record of a critical moment, demonstrating how global events connect to everyday life. – Calum Baker

Where to watch: BBC iPlayer

4. The Perfect Neighbor

Nominated for: Best documentary feature

This Oscar-nominated documentary tells the tragic story of Ajike Owens, a mother of four who was fatally shot by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, on June 2, 2023. The film uses almost exclusively footage from police body cameras to show what led up to the shooting and its consequences.

The story centers around Lorincz, a 58-year-old white woman, who repeatedly harassed her Black neighbors by calling the police about children playing nearby. She called 911 constantly, and this ultimately led to a shocking and terrible act.

This film examines Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ laws in the wake of a tragic incident, sharply criticizing their shortcomings. With the cooperation of the victim’s family, director Geeta Gandbhir portrays their initial shock and sorrow, as well as the widespread anger that erupted after the shooting. Though emotionally challenging, the documentary is a powerful achievement, skillfully capturing the growing outrage through footage—often deceptively simple—recorded by the very law enforcement officers who didn’t fully understand what had happened. – Jayne Nelson

Where to watch: Netflix

5. Sirât

Nominated for: Best international feature

Named after the Arabic word for a connection between heaven and hell, this gripping thriller by Galician director Oliver Laxe creates intense suspense. It centers on Luis (Sergi López), a Spanish man in his 40s, who travels with his young son and dog to an underground rave in the Moroccan desert, hoping to find his missing daughter.

After the operation is closed down, he tracks a group of revelers – many portrayed by amateur actors – heading toward the border of Mauritania. This leads to a dangerous journey, and as Luis feels more and more lost, the film starts to resemble classics like Heart of Darkness or Mad Max, but with the intense, driving energy of William Friedkin’s Sorcerer.

Despite some jarring plot points and a somewhat clumsy political setting, the film’s immersive experience and thought-provoking themes ultimately take center stage. Driven by a powerful electronic score and the thumping bass of the rave scene, the movie transforms into a compelling story about how we grapple with destiny and the overwhelming power of life.

Where to watch: In cinemas

6. The Alabama Solution

Nominated for: Best documentary feature

This disturbing documentary shows the harsh realities inside Alabama prisons through secretly recorded cell phone footage taken by the inmates themselves. Over six years, after prisoners contacted a film crew initially hired for a promotional event, the filmmakers captured a shocking and graphic account of abuse, forced labor, and death within the rat-infested facilities.

Despite pressure from the federal government to address the issue, Alabama leaders are determined to handle it independently, insisting on an “Alabama Solution.” The governor’s phrasing is unsettlingly reminiscent of the term “Final Solution.” The documentary is difficult to watch, but incredibly gripping.

Even if you try to approach it skeptically, questioning whether it’s biased or glorifies the prisoners, the documentary’s shocking images ultimately show the inmates as more human than those in power. While it doesn’t present a simple good-versus-evil narrative, it strongly suggests that racism is at the heart of the issue. – Dave Golder

Where to watch: NOW

7. The Smashing Machine

Nominated for: Best make-up and hairstyling

Dwayne Johnson, drawing on his background as a professional wrestler, delivers a strong performance as Mark Kerr, a real-life UFC fighter, in this dramatic sports story. The film, set between 1997 and 2000, focuses on the rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship – a tough mixed martial arts competition – and Kerr’s journey as one of its top stars. However, as Kerr battles a growing opioid addiction and struggles in his relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn (Emily Blunt), his life begins to unravel.

Benny Safdie, the director known for “Uncut Gems,” won best director at the 2025 Venice Film Festival with this film. He focuses on portraying things realistically, rather than celebrating success. The film feels even more genuine because it features real people from the world of UFC, including a standout performance by Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, a friend and trainer to the main character.

Despite fun performances from Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson, the movie’s subtle story doesn’t quite reach its full potential, possibly because the real-life story it’s based on lacks major, exciting moments. Though sometimes a bit obvious in its messaging, it’s still a brave exploration of a sport often overlooked and misunderstood. – James Mottram

Where to watch: Available to rent and buy

8. The Ugly Stepsister

Nominated for: Best make-up and hairstyling

This Norwegian horror film reimagines the Cinderella story with a dark twist. It centers on a sister considered less conventionally beautiful and the disturbing lengths her mother goes to in order to make her marriageable, including subjecting her to extreme and unsettling medical procedures. Lea Myren plays the sister at the heart of this unsettling tale.

Emilie Blichfeldt’s first film playfully mocks the often-brutal nature of classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales. However, at its heart, the story explores themes of peer pressure, how we view bodies and beauty today, and the challenges within families. Dark humor is used to balance out some disturbing scenes—particularly graphic surgeries—making the film more accessible to those who might be easily upset.

Overall, the film mixes traditional folklore with feminist ideas in a way that’s thought-provoking, though it raises many questions without providing clear answers. Despite this, it’s powerfully carried by a captivating and deeply moving performance from Myren, a former child star playing the seemingly unlikable main character. – Terry Staunton

Where to watch: SHUDDER

9. All the Empty Rooms

Nominated for: Best documentary short

This brief documentary follows TV journalist Steve Hartman as he finishes a years-long project: showing the impact of school shootings by filming the bedrooms of children who were killed. It’s a difficult watch, as Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp meet with four families in California, Texas, and Tennessee who have kept their children’s rooms almost exactly as they were – with beds made, toys still out, and artwork on the walls – as a way to remember them.

The film powerfully shows how memories live on through everyday things, like scents and objects. For example, the clothes planned for the next few days still hung in the closet of one of the victims, teenager Gracie Muehlberger. Director Joshua Seftel centers the documentary around four visits with the parents in 2025, giving them a space to remember their children and offering viewers a clear, heartbreaking look at the loss caused by these tragedies.

Throughout the story, the reporter explains why he started the project, adding a touching personal side to the narrative. It shows a journalist, usually known for upbeat stories, deciding to confront a strange and unsettling issue within his community. – Calum Baker

Where to watch: Netflix

10. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Nominated for: Best animated film

This charming animated film shows the world from the perspective of a young toddler. We follow Amélie (voiced by Loïse Charpentier), who lives with her Belgian family in 1960s Japan. Being two and a half, she believes she’s the most important person in the world – maybe even all-powerful! It’s frustrating for her when things don’t go her way, but she forms a close connection with the housekeeper, Nishio-san (Victoria Grosbois). This bond leads to some confusion as Amélie, who primarily speaks French, begins to question whether she’s more Belgian or Japanese.

I was really moved by this film! It’s based on Amélie Nothomb’s life story, specifically her early years up to age three, and the directors, Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, did such a beautiful job bringing it to life. What I loved most was how they used color – starting with really soft, faded watercolors to show her young world, and then gradually introducing brighter colors as she grew and experienced more. It was a really clever way to visually represent her journey!

Similar to the storytelling style of Studio Ghibli, this work emphasizes small, quiet moments to create a particular atmosphere—like someone carefully arranging a pair of shoes. The effect is graceful, heartwarming, and, unexpectedly moving, as it touches on the lingering impact of World War II on the nation. – Jayne Nelson

Where to watch: In cinemas

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TopMob Staff

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2026-03-13 11:07