The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced shortlists Tuesday in 12 categories for the 98th Academy Awards, with James Gunn’s Superman reboot earning double recognition in both the sound and visual effects categories alongside some of the year’s biggest blockbusters.
The DC Studios film, which marks Gunn’s ambitious reinvention of the iconic superhero franchise, will compete in two highly competitive technical categories. The dual shortlist placement represents the first major awards recognition for the highly anticipated reboot, which seeks to launch a new era for DC’s cinematic universe.
‘Superman’ faces stiff competition
“Superman” joins a competitive field that includes James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the latest installment in the groundbreaking science fiction franchise known for its technical innovation. The shortlist also features “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” the concluding chapter of Tom Cruise’s long-running action series, and “Wicked: For Good,” the sequel to the musical phenomenon that has dominated box office conversations.
Other films competing in the sound category include F1, Frankenstein, One Battle after Another, Sirât, Sinners and Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, the Bruce Springsteen biographical film.
Academy members will be invited to view excerpts from each of the shortlisted films beginning Saturday, January 10, 2025, in the San Francisco Bay area, London and New York, followed by Los Angeles on Sunday, January 11, 2026. All eligible members of the Sound Branch will vote to determine the final five nominees.
Technical recognition across categories
While “Superman’s” shortlist appearance is limited to sound, several films earned recognition across multiple technical categories. “Wicked: For Good” leads the shortlist mentions with appearances in eight categories, including casting, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, original score, original song with two entries, sound and visual effects.
“Frankenstein” and “Sinners” each earned shortlist spots in seven categories, while One Battle after Another appeared in six categories including casting, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, original score and sound.
Avatar: Fire and Ash secured shortlist positions in four categories: original score, original song, sound and visual effects. F1, the Formula One racing drama, also earned four shortlist mentions across cinematography, original score, sound and visual effects.
Double recognition for the Man of Steel
Superman’s achievement extends beyond sound, as the film also earned a spot on the visual effects shortlist. The superhero reboot joins “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “The Electric State,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “The Lost Bus,” “Sinners,” “Tron: Ares” and “Wicked: For Good” in the competitive visual effects category.
The Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist, and Academy members will view excerpts and interviews with the artists from each shortlisted film on Saturday, January 10, 2026, before Visual Effects Branch members vote to determine the nominees.
Path to nomination
The shortlist announcement represents the penultimate step before final nominations are revealed. Nominations voting begins Monday, January 12, 2026, and concludes Friday, January 16, 2026. The Academy will announce nominations for the 98th Oscars on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Each category will have five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10. Best picture nominations are determined by eligible members from all 19 Academy branches. All rounds of Oscars voting are conducted by secret online ballot, tabulated by the independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The shortlist announcements also highlighted strong international representation across categories. The international feature film category advanced 15 films from countries including Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Palestine, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan and Tunisia from an eligible field of 86 countries or regions.
Documentary categories also saw robust competition, with 15 films advancing in documentary feature from 201 eligible entries and 15 films progressing in documentary short from 117 qualified entries.
The 98th Oscars will be held Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide. The ceremony will recognize achievement across 24 categories.
For Superman, the dual shortlist recognition in sound and visual effects represents an important milestone as James Gunn’s vision for the Man of Steel prepares to compete on one of cinema’s biggest stages. Whether the film advances to the final five nominees in either category will be determined when the Academy announces its official nominations next month.
