The Big Picture

The 2026 Alternative Oscars, a.k.a. the 6th Annual Big Picks! Plus: The Craziest Awards Season in Years.

March 3, 2026

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  • The impending Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. is viewed by the hosts and industry insiders as a long-foretold consolidation move driven by business spreadsheets and synergy goals, despite the negative implications for jobs and creative output. 
  • The 2024 Best Picture race is characterized as a tight, unusual two-horse race between *'One Battle After Another'* and *'Sinners'*, with *'One Battle After Another'* holding a dominant precursor sweep while *'Sinners'* maintains strength via SAG Ensemble and screenplay precursor wins. 
  • The SAG Awards resulted in a major upset with Michael B. Jordan winning Best Actor for *'Sinners'*, a victory the hosts suggest validates director Ryan Coogler's ability to elicit top performances from the actor. 
  • The recent surprise winner at an unnamed awards show (implied to be Robert Aramayo) has thrown the Best Actor race into disarray, making the outcome highly unpredictable until the final voting. 
  • The discussion on the Best Actor race highlights the complex factors influencing votes, including historical context (age/race of past winners) and the perceived whiplash between an actor's box office campaign style and their subsequent awards campaigning. 
  • The hosts officially launched the 6th Annual Big Picks! (Alternative Oscars), maintaining the rule that no actual Academy Award nominees can be represented, and they strongly advocate for the Academy to add a Best First Feature category to replace the current short film categories. 
  • The hosts and Wesley Morris initiated the sixth annual 'Big Picks' Alternative Oscars by awarding *Pillion* for a movie that was emotionally surprising and well-executed, and they celebrated Sizza's performance in *One of Them Days* as a major highlight. 
  • The 'Best Cameo' award went to Bad Bunny for *Happy Gilmore 2*, highlighting his shrewd and funny contributions to the category, while the 'Best Ending' discussion heavily favored the deeply personal and emotional conclusion of *Marty Supreme*. 
  • The panel recognized Emma Stone's exceptional acting range, particularly in *Begonia*, which won Best Actress, and acknowledged the strong slate in the Best Supporting Actress category, ultimately awarding Tanya Maria for *The Secret Agent*. 
  • The discussion, part of the sixth annual Big Picks awards on "The Big Picture," focused heavily on awarding alternative nominees and winners across major categories, culminating in the selection of 'Weapons' for Best Picture. 
  • Kathleen Schalfont for 'Familiar Touch' was favored in the Best Actress category for the Big Picks, despite the film receiving a small release, while Julia Roberts was also noted for her performance in 'After the Hunt'. 
  • The panel selected Cliver Mendoza Filio for 'The Secret Agent' as the winner for Best Director in their alternative awards, citing the difficulty of navigating the film's complex narrative and political landscape. 

Segments

Podcast Sponsorship and Intro
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode of The Big Picture features Wesley Morris and focuses on the 6th Annual Big Picks alongside major industry news.
  • Summary: The episode opens with advertisements for LinkedIn Ads and State Farm. Hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins welcome guest Wesley Morris for the sixth annual ‘Big Picks’ awards. The initial segment promises discussion on a major Hollywood merger and the recent awards race.
Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger Fallout
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(00:04:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. is expected to result in $6 billion in budget cuts and the eventual merger of Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming services.
  • Summary: The merger news broke late Thursday, confirming industry predictions that the Warner Bros. Discovery situation was a ‘built-to-sell’ scenario. The consolidation is anticipated to cause significant job losses in overlapping departments like marketing and business affairs. The hosts express concern over the long-term impact on culture and the ecosystem that supports artistic filmmaking.
Filmmaking Ecosystem Concerns
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(00:10:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The consolidation trend, exemplified by the Paramount/WB deal, threatens the ecosystem that supports art for art’s sake, potentially limiting opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
  • Summary: The discussion pivots to how these massive corporate maneuvers affect the development of culture and the ability for unique, non-franchise films to get made. The hosts note that taking major players like Fox and MGM off the board creates a vacuum, forcing smaller indies like Neon to try and backfill the space. They worry that the priority shifts entirely to franchise IP, making it harder for younger, non-IP-driven filmmakers to find footing.
Awards Show Recap: PGA and ACE
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(00:36:30)
  • Key Takeaway: ‘One Battle After Another’ secured the Producers Guild Award (PGA), giving it the strongest Best Picture precursor package in Oscar history, despite ‘Sinners’ winning the SAG Ensemble Award.
  • Summary: The ACE Eddie Awards split their film prizes between ‘Sinners’ (Drama) and ‘One Battle After Another’ (Comedy), which the hosts dismiss as uninformative. ‘One Battle After Another’ won the PGA, marking a dominant run of precursor wins, including the DGA and BAFTA. Conversely, ‘Sinners’ has not won a major Best Picture precursor but secured the SAG Ensemble award, a historical data point that suggests a potential path to victory.
Best Actor Race Analysis
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(00:51:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael B. Jordan’s surprise win for Best Actor at the SAG Awards for ‘Sinners’ significantly impacts the race, suggesting voters recognized his performance, which the hosts attribute to director Ryan Coogler’s understanding of his talent.
  • Summary: Michael B. Jordan’s SAG win was the biggest surprise of the night, potentially causing Timothy Chalamet’s odds to plummet, as no actor has won SAG two years in a row. The hosts noted Jordan’s genuine speech thanking Coogler, comparing their collaborative dynamic to Scorsese and De Niro. The possibility of Jordan winning the Oscar is now on the table, despite the hosts’ previous assessment of his range.
Best Actor Precursors Confusion
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(00:58:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Wagner Moura’s confusing awards trajectory (Cannes/Globe wins followed by BAFTA/SAG snubs) exemplifies the unpredictable nature of the current awards season.
  • Summary: Wagner Moura’s performance showed a lack of consistent momentum across precursor awards, highlighting confusion in the race. The subsequent surprise winner at an awards show (implied to be Robert Aramayo) further destabilized expectations. This unpredictability makes the final Oscar outcome highly uncertain, with voting open until Friday.
Awards Show Broadcast Critique
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(00:58:41)
  • Key Takeaway: The recent awards broadcast was marred by technical issues, including poor camera angles that accentuated tailoring flaws like excessive pant breaks on male attendees.
  • Summary: The broadcast featured strange camera angles, specifically an upward angle from below the stage, which negatively impacted the presentation of the actors’ attire. This angle exacerbated issues with men’s tailoring, particularly the double breaks in wide-legged trousers. The hosts noted that this technical failure created new challenges for stylists.
Best Actor Race Analysis
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(03:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael B. Jordan’s potential Best Actor win carries significant historical weight, as he would become only the fourth Black man to achieve this specific Oscar.
  • Summary: The precursors show a fragmented Best Actor race involving Wagner Moura, Timothée Chalamet, and Michael B. Jordan (MBJ). MBJ’s potential win is framed within the historical context of previous Black Best Actor winners, noting they all won around age 35, which Jordan is currently near. Resistance to Chalamet’s performance stems from the perceived whiplash between his box office promotion and his current awards campaigning.
Best Supporting Actor Precursors
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(01:12:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Sean Penn’s absence from the SAG Awards, despite winning there previously, suggests he is deliberately avoiding campaigning, yet his BAFTA win confirms him as a major threat to Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd.
  • Summary: The Best Supporting Actor race is complicated by Sean Penn’s non-attendance at SAG, which followed his BAFTA win, suggesting a strategy of minimal campaigning. Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd is considered the favorite by some, but Delroy Lindo’s late-night speech at the SAG Awards could signal a surprise Academy win. If Delroy Lindo wins, it would be a significant indicator of strength for Sinners.
Best Supporting Actress Race
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(01:16:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Amy Madigan’s SAG win for playing a memorable villain in The Holdovers makes her a dark horse contender, potentially achieving the rare feat of winning Best Supporting Actress as her film’s sole nomination.
  • Summary: Amy Madigan delivered a charming and memorable speech after winning the SAG Award, highlighting her long career and union commitment. Her role as a villain in The Holdovers is a strong factor in supporting category wins. If she wins the Oscar, she would be the ninth person to win Best Supporting Actress when their film received only one nomination.
Harrison Ford Lifetime Achievement
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(01:22:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Harrison Ford’s emotional Lifetime Achievement Award speech underscored his mastery of performance through deliberate silence and gravitas, contrasting with the fast-paced dialogue of his blockbuster roles.
  • Summary: Harrison Ford received the Lifetime Achievement Award, delivered after a lighthearted introduction by Woody Harrelson. Ford’s speech was surprisingly emotional, reflecting on his career and the meaning of acting. The hosts noted that Ford, like Michael B. Jordan, is a smart manager of his roles, often utilizing silence effectively, a trait seen in his Star Wars sequel performances.
Kickoff of The Big Picks
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(01:30:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The rules for the 6th Annual Big Picks! confirm that no actual Oscar nominees are eligible for these alternative awards, aiming to celebrate overlooked achievements.
  • Summary: The hosts established the primary rule for the Big Picks: any individual nominated for an Academy Award is excluded from these alternative categories. They noted that the Academy recently added Best Casting, validating one of their previous alternative categories, and they predict the Academy will soon add Best Stunt. The goal is to balance celebrating movies that never had a chance with those that were close but missed the official nominations.
Best First Feature Advocacy
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(01:41:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts strongly advocate for the Academy to institute a Best First Feature award, arguing it better represents emerging filmmakers than the current short film categories.
  • Summary: The segment opened the Big Picks! by championing Best First Feature, which the hosts believe should replace the shorts categories entirely. They criticized the current short film system as being too reliant on commercial packaging, noting that many nominated shorts are inaccessible outside of specific venues or streaming deals. Awarding a first feature would provide a more meaningful recognition of emerging directorial talent.
Best First Feature Nominees
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(01:45:58)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts favor Pillion for Best First Feature, despite one host expressing reservations about Sorry Baby due to the performance of Lucas Hedges.
  • Summary: The nominees for Best First Feature included One of Them Days and Pillion. One host strongly supported One of Them Days, but the other expressed reservations about Sorry Baby, specifically citing Lucas Hedges’s characterization. Pillion was ultimately favored as a ‘marvelous contraption’ that was surprisingly well-written, directed, and acted, despite initial resistance.
Pillion Movie Praise
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(01:50:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The film Pillion is lauded as a surprising, well-written, and emotionally effective movie featuring exceptional choreography and performances, particularly from Harry Belafonte and SkarsgÃ¥rd.
  • Summary: The speakers unanimously endorse Pillion, noting its surprising emotional depth and high quality across writing, direction, and acting. They specifically highlight the complex choreography in the sex scenes and the nuanced performances, including Harry Belafonte’s tender work and SkarsgÃ¥rd’s ability to shift performance registers. The film originated from Cannes, not Sundance.
Breakthrough Performance Category
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(01:51:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Erin Kellyman receives praise for her gifted performance in the ‘baggy and messy’ film Eleanor the Great, despite the film’s overall shortcomings.
  • Summary: The ‘Breakthrough Performance’ category nominees included Sizza (One of Them Days), Guillaume Marbeck (Nouvelle Vogue), and Erin Kellyman (Eleanor the Great). The speakers noted the difficulty of defining ‘breakthrough’ performance in the context of the Academy Awards. Guillaume Marbeck’s win at the French Cesars for Nouvelle Vogue is noted as an interesting international parallel.
Best Cameo Award
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(01:55:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Bradley Cooper’s cameo as Jor-El in Superman is recognized for its shrewdness, placing him in the lineage of actors who embrace self-aware, funny cameos.
  • Summary: The Best Cameo nominees included Bad Bunny (Happy Gilmore 2), Bradley Cooper (Superman), and Tramel Tillman (Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning). Bradley Cooper’s cameo is praised for being clever and demonstrating a smart approach to franchise appearances, similar to how Matt Damon handles his cameos. Bad Bunny ultimately wins this category for his performance in Happy Gilmore 2.
Best Kid Performance
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(02:00:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Carrie Christopher’s unaffected performance as the young boy in Weapons is considered a frontrunner due to its immediacy and the difficulty of portraying fear convincingly.
  • Summary: The Best Kid Performance nominees included Everett Blunk (The Plague) and Carrie Christopher (Weapons). The speakers noted that Jacoby Jupe (Ham) would likely win a real Oscar but was excluded from their list. Christopher’s performance is lauded for its unaffected quality, especially in scenes requiring the portrayal of fear opposite a large performance from Madigan.
Best Stunts Action Sequence
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(02:03:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The biplane finale of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning is deemed an all-time great action sequence, despite the film’s narrative flaws.
  • Summary: The nominees for Best Stunts Action Sequence included the Mission Impossible biplane finale and the opening sequence of F1. The Mission Impossible sequence, featuring Tom Cruise versus Esai Morales, is considered among the best ever filmed, even though the speakers criticized the film’s AI plot. K-pop Demon Hunters’ intro is also highlighted as an inspired, fun opener.
Best Ending Discussion
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(02:07:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The ending of Marty Supreme is celebrated for its raw, realistic depiction of new fatherhood, focusing on the immediate, unglamorous reality rather than idealized sentiment.
  • Summary: The Best Ending category featured Eddington and Final Destination Bloodlines, but the most detailed discussion centered on Marty Supreme. The ending is praised for its sound design and the baby’s reaction, which grounds the protagonist’s realization that his previous struggles are insignificant compared to his new reality. This moment is described as Marty’s true coming-of-age.
Best Screenplay Award
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(02:24:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The screenplay for Weapons is considered a ‘slam dunk’ for original screenplay, despite its surprising absence from the actual Academy nominations.
  • Summary: The Best Screenplay nominees included If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You and Weapons. The speakers strongly advocate for Weapons, noting its personal undercurrents related to addiction and recovery. They felt the film’s structure, which reveals character importance gradually, was a strong element of the script.
Best Supporting Actor Analysis
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(02:29:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Austin Abrams is recognized for his dialed-in performance in Weapons, marking him as the latest in a string of successful actors emerging from the Euphoria cast.
  • Summary: The Best Supporting Actor category included Adam Sandler (J. Kelly) and William H. Macy (Train Dreams). Austin Abrams’ performance in Weapons is highlighted for his ability to command attention when his character’s subplot comes to the forefront. The speakers noted Abrams is the sixth Euphoria cast member to achieve significant movie stardom recently.
Best Actor and Actress Winners
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(02:39:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Lee Byung-hun wins Best Actor for his funny yet stressful performance in No Other Choice, while Emma Stone wins Best Actress for Begonia, solidifying her status as the best working actor.
  • Summary: Lee Byung-hun’s performance in No Other Choice is praised for balancing humor and stress while portraying a character who commits extreme acts. Emma Stone’s win for Begonia is supported by the argument that she is currently the best screen actor, capable of handling complex material like the film’s alien reveal. The discussion also noted Ben Whishaw’s surprisingly confident performance in Peter Hoosier’s Day.
Best Actress Nominee Analysis
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(02:42:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Kathleen Schalfont’s performance in ‘Familiar Touch’ was highly praised, winning the National Society of Film Critics award despite the film’s limited release.
  • Summary: The panel listed several Best Actress nominees for the Big Picks, including Julia Roberts for ‘After the Hunt’ and Kathleen Schalfont for ‘Familiar Touch.’ Amanda Seyfried’s performance in ‘The Housemaid’ was deemed amusing, while her work in ‘The Testament of Anne Lee’ was considered a major, physically demanding performance that earned her the Horizonte Award at Venice. Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in ‘Die My Love’ was heavily criticized as embarrassing and indicative of poor direction.
The Testament of Anne Lee Debate
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(02:47:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The film ‘The Testament of Anne Lee’ was appreciated by some for its fascinating, non-judgmental portrayal of Ann Lee’s life and its reinvention of the musical format.
  • Summary: One host found ‘The Testament of Anne Lee’ moving and fascinating, particularly appreciating its non-judgmental approach to Ann Lee’s life, contrasting it with their experience of suburban Catholic church. Another host felt alienated by the film, perceiving it as trying too hard to be ’the other Shaker movie’ and disliked the casting of recognizable actors who had little to do. The film’s musical elements, including singing and choreography related to traumatic birthing scenes, were noted as highly physical and central to the lead performance.
Best Director Nominee Discussion
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(02:52:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Cliver Mendoza Filio won the Big Picks Best Director award for ‘The Secret Agent’ due to the difficulty of operating within its moral and political swamp.
  • Summary: The panel listed directors including Mona Fastvold, Steven Soderbergh, and Jafar Panahi for ‘It Was Just an Accident.’ An honorary case was made for Panahi, noting his film’s timeless applicability despite being overlooked. Mendoza Filio was ultimately chosen because his film was deemed the most difficult to pull off narratively and politically. Kelly Reichard’s ‘The Mastermind’ was praised for having the single best movie ending of the year.
Best Picture Winner Selection
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(02:57:49)
  • Key Takeaway: ‘Weapons’ was selected as the Best Picture winner for the Big Picks because it is a film that would never win the actual Academy Award.
  • Summary: The final category discussed was Best Picture, with nominees including ‘Blackbag,’ ‘The Mastermind,’ and Park Chan Wook’s ‘No Other Choice.’ While ‘No Other Choice’ was a strong contender for some, ‘Weapons’ ultimately won as the consensus choice that defies typical Academy preferences. The discussion concluded with a reflection on the Academy’s historical lack of nominations for films from the Middle East or Africa, suggesting this might be the next area for expansion.