The Visual Effects branch giveth and the Visual Effects branch taketh away. As expected, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “Tron: Ares,” and “Superman” made the shortlist for the 2026 Visual Effects Oscar. What was not expected were “The Lost Bus” or “The Electric State.” Nor omissions for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Predator: Badlands,” or
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”
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Other films that made the list include “Frankenstein,” “Sinners,” “Wicked: For Good,” and “F1.”
It should be noted that the Visual Effects branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. Academy members will be invited to view excerpts and interviews with the artists from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 10. All Visual Effects branch members will vote to determine the nominees.
The complete list of shortlisted films is as follows:
“Avatar: Fire and Ash”
“The Electric State”
“F1”
“Frankenstein”
“Jurassic World Rebirth”
“The Lost Bus”
“Sinners”
“Superman”
“Tron: Ares”
“Wicked: For Good”
Additionally the Sound Branch listed 10 films for the Sound Oscar shortlist. They are as follows:
“Avatar: Fire and Ash”
“F1”
“Frankenstein”
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”
“One Battle after Another”
“Sinners”
“Sirât”
“Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere”
“Superman”
“Wicked: For Good”
Notable omissions include “The Testament of Ann Lee,” “Marty Supreme,” “The Smashing Machine,” “Warfare,” “Bugonia,” “Song Sung Blue,” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
The 2026 Academy Award nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22.
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