According to new data released by the streamer and reported by Deadline, Pluribus, the science-fiction drama created by Vince Gilligan, has officially become the biggest series launch in Apple TV+ history, surpassing all previous originals on the platform in viewership and engagement.
The milestone estabished Pluribus as Apple TV+’s most successful series to date, both in terms of audience reach and impact.
Apple confirmed that Pluribus delivered the largest global audience ever for an Apple TV+ original series within its debut window. The show also drove a noticeable spike in new subscriptions and viewing hours, outperforming past hits such as Severance, The Morning Show, and Slow Horses.
While Apple did not release exact numbers, industry sources describe the performance as “unprecedented” for the platform, marking a major moment in Apple TV+’s original content strategy.
Vince Gilligan’s Return Pays Off
Created by Vince Gilligan, best known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Pluribus marked his first project since concluding the Better Call Saul universe. Expectations were already high, but the series has exceeded them commercially and critically.
The show stars Rhea Seehorn, reuniting her with Gilligan after their acclaimed collaboration on Better Call Saul. Her performance has been widely praised and has already earned major awards recognition during the ongoing awards season.
Beyond its viewership success, Pluribus has emerged as a critical favorite. The series has scored strong reviews for its writing, performances, and thematic depth, with particular attention on Seehorn’s lead role.
The show’s success at major awards ceremonies has further boosted its visibility, helping it cross over from prestige television into mainstream conversation.
Pluribus is a science-fiction drama centered on a world-altering phenomenon that transforms humanity into a shared, collective consciousness. The series explores identity, autonomy, morality, and what it truly means to be human.
Rather than leaning heavily on spectacle, the show focuses on character-driven tension and philosophical questions, a creative choice that has resonated strongly with viewers.
A Defining Moment for Apple TV+
The success of Pluribus represents a significant moment for Apple TV+ as it continues to compete with established streaming giants. Landing its biggest series ever underlines the platform’s growing reputation for premium, creator-driven television.
With a second season already in development, Pluribus is positioned as a long-term flagship series for Apple TV+.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards nominations are officially out, shining a spotlight on the best in film, television, music, literature, and digital content. This year’s list celebrates Black excellence across a variety of creative fields, with fan favorites and rising stars vying for top honors. The ceremony is scheduled for February 28, 2026, airing live on BET with a simulcast on CBS.
Entertainer of the Year
One of the most anticipated categories, Entertainer of the Year, brings together performers who have made significant impact across multiple platforms:
Cynthia Erivo
Doechii
Kendrick Lamar
Michael B. Jordan
Teyana Taylor
Both Kendrick Lamar and Teyana Taylor received six nominations each across different categories, highlighting their dominance in music and film this year.
Television & Streaming
Television continues to shine with shows that blend storytelling, culture, and humor.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Harlem (Prime Video)
Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
The Residence (Netflix)
The Upshaws (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood
David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical
David Oyelowo – Government Cheese
Mike Epps – The Upshaws
Vince Staples – The Vince Staples Show
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Maya Rudolph – Loot
Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Uzo Aduba – The Residence
Outstanding Drama Series
Bel‑Air (Peacock) — leading with seven nominations
Abbott Elementary, Reasonable Doubt, Ruth & Boaz — six nominations each
Forever — five nominations
Motion Picture Categories & Nominees
Outstanding Motion Picture
Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Sarah’s Oil (Amazon MGM Studios)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
André Holland – Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
Denzel Washington – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Nnamdi Asomugha – The Knife (Relatively Media)
Tyriq Withers – HIM (Monkeypaw Productions)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Danielle Deadwyler – 40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
Keke Palmer – One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Kerry Washington – Shadow Force (Lionsgate)
Tessa Thompson – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
A$AP Rocky – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
Damson Idris – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Delroy Lindo – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Jeffrey Wright – Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Janelle James – One Of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Jayme Lawson – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Regina Hall – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
Sinners — Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, et al. (Warner Bros. Pictures)
One Of Them Days — Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Wicked: For Good — Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Coleman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, et al. (Universal Pictures)
A House of Dynamite — Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer‑King, Greta Lee, Jason Clarke (Netflix)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
Love, Brooklyn (Greenwich Entertainment)
Magazine Dreams (Briarcliff Entertainment)
Opus (A24)
Unexpected Christmas (3 Diamonds Entertainment)
Outstanding International Motion Picture
40 Acres (Magnolia Pictures)
My Father’s Shadow (MUBI)
Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber)
The Fisherman (Luu Vision Media)
The Secret Agent (NEON)
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
Sneaks (Briarcliff Entertainment)
The Bad Guys 2 (DreamWorks Animation)
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Outstanding Character Voice‑Over Performance – Motion Picture
Anthony Mackie – Sneaks
Craig Robinson – The Bad Guys 2
Danielle Brooks – The Bad Guys 2
Lil Rel Howery – Dog Man
Quinta Brunson – Zootopia 2
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
ADO (Baylor University)
Before You Let Go (Find Your People Program)
Best Eyes (American Film Institute Conservatory)
Ella (Netflix)
Food for the Soul (P.A. Works)
Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
ASALI: Power of the Pollinators (Upenndo! Productions)
Black Man, Black Man (Chainwheel Productions)
Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II (Cutting Edge Animation)
Full Music & Recording Nominees
Outstanding New Artist
Elmiene – Useless Without You (Def Jam Recordings)
Lee Vasi – Love Me To Life (Capitol CMG/Leeda Music Group)
Madison McFerrin – Scorpio (MadMcFerrin Music LLC)
Monaleo – Who Did the Body? (Columbia Records)
Ravyn Lenae – Bicycle Race (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Bryson Tiller – Solace & The Vices (RCA Records/TrapSoul)
Chris Brown – It Depends feat. Bryson Tiller (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
GIVĒON – Beloved (Epic Records)
Kendrick Lamar – luther (pgLang/Interscope)
Leon Thomas – MUTT Deluxe: Heel (EZMNY/Motown Records)
“Ride (Remix)” – Chance the Rapper feat. Do or Die & Twista
“Typa” – GloRilla
Literature Work Categories
Outstanding Literary Work — Fiction
Can’t Get Enough — Kennedy Ryan
Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic — Harmonia Rosales
Death of the Author — Nnedi Okorafor
Happy Land — Dolen Perkins‑Valdez
Harlem Rhapsody — Victoria Christopher Murray
Outstanding Literary Work — Non‑Fiction
A More Perfect Party… — Juanita Tolliver
Born in Flames — Bench Ansfield
From These Roots — Tamara Lanier
Hidden Hospitality… — Calvin Stovall Jr.
I Am Nobody’s Slave — Lee Hawkins
Outstanding Literary Work — Debut Author
American Soul: The Black History of Food… — Anela Malik
Red Clay — Charles B. Fancher
High Functioning… — Dr. Judith Joseph
A Sky Full of Love — Lorna Lewis
History Lessons — Zoe B. Wallbrook
Outstanding Literary Work — Biography/Autobiography
107 Days — Kamala Harris
The Look — Michelle Obama
Toni at Random — Dana A. Williams
Truly — Lionel Richie
Uncommon Favor… — Dawn Staley
Outstanding Literary Work — Instructional
American Soul… — Anela Malik
Braided Heritage… — Dr. Jessica Harris
We the Pizza… — Muhammad Abdul‑Hadi
Who Better Than You? — Will Packer
Wine Pairing for the People — Cha McCoy
Outstanding Literary Work — Poetry
Death of the First Idea — Rickey Laurentiis
Florida Water — Aja Monet
The Grace of Black Mothers — Martheaus Perkins
The Intentions of Thunder — Patricia Smith
We Look Better Alive — Ali Black
Outstanding Literary Work — Children
Black Boy, Rise — Brynne Barnes
Black Diamond Kings — Charles R. Smith Jr.
My Quiet Place — Monica Mikai
The History of We — Nikkolas Smith
Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark — Allen R. Wells (ill. DeAndra Hodge)
Outstanding Literary Work — Youth/Teens
(S)Kin — Ibi Zoboi
Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi — Angie Thomas
The Scammer — Tiffany D. Jackson
The Story of My Anger — Jasminne Mendez
Through Our Teeth — Pamela N. Harris
Outstanding Literary Work — Graphic Novel
Creaky Acres — Calista Bril
Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls — Rob Edwards
One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel — Rita Williams‑Garcia
Parable of the Talents (Graphic Novel) — Octavia E. Butler (adapted)
They Choose Violence — Sheldon Allen
Outstanding Literary Work — Journalism(New Category)
As Black New Yorkers Move Out, N.Y.C. Politics May Be Reshaped — Maya King
Audra McDonald Took The Stage and Rewrote The Rules — Adam Davenport
Black joy and boots: How line dancing is fanning cultural connection — Lisa Respers France
HBCUs Reel as Trump Cuts Black‑Focused Grants — Jasper Smith
On Borrowed Time — Anissa Durham
Digital Content Creator Categories
These categories honor creators across platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube:
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Art/Comedy
Darren Watkins Jr. (@IShowSpeed)
Jordan Howlett (@jordan_the_stallion8)
Joshua Neal (@joshuadneal)
Lou Young (@Louuuyoung)
Tee Sanders (@teesanderscomedy)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Political/Culture
Elizabeth Booker Houston (@bookersquared)
Garrison Hayes (@garrisonh)
George Lee Jr. (@theconsciouslee)
Joshua Doss (@doss.discourse)
Lynae Vanee (@lynaevanee)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Fashion/Beauty
Allyiah Gainer (@allyiahsface)
De’arra Taylor (@dearra)
Eni Popoola (@enigivensunday)
Jackie Asamoah (@jackieaina)
Wisdom Kaye (@wisdm)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Gaming/Tech
Berlin Edmonds (@Berleezy)
Cory Kenshin (@CoryxKenshin)
Gerard Williams (@Hiphopgamer)
Jay Ann Lopez (@blackgirlgamers)
Khleo Thomas (@khleothomas)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator — Fitness/Wellness/Food
Alex Hill (@justaddhotsauce)
Jeanette Jenkins (@msjeanettejenkins)
Keith Lee (@Keith_Lee125)
Kimberly Villalobos (@KimmysKreations.1)
Massy Arias (@Massy.arias)
Public Voting & Ceremony
Fans can vote in select categories through February 7, 2026 at NAACPImageAwards.net. Winners will be announced during the live ceremony on February 28, 2026.
The 2026 NAACP Image Awards showcase the best in Black creativity and culture. From Sinners dominating film categories to TV hits like Bel‑Air, and music legends Kendrick Lamar and Teyana Taylor leading the recording scene, this year’s nominations reflect cultural impact, artistic excellence, and creative innovation across all entertainment fields.
Nigerian filmmaker Funke Akindele has officially become Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker of all time, following the record-breaking box office performance of her latest film, Behind The Scenes.
According to figures released by distributors, the film has now crossed the ₦2+ billion mark in cinema revenue, making it the highest-grossing film in Nigerian and West African cinema history. The milestone places Akindele at the top of Africa’s box office rankings, ahead of all other filmmakers on the continent.
Behind The Scenes, released in December 2025, opened to strong audience turnout across Nigerian cinemas and select international markets. Within weeks of release, the film recorded multiple box office milestones, including:
One of the largest opening weekends in Nollywood history
Fastest Nollywood film to cross several revenue benchmarks
First Nigerian film to officially exceed ₦2 billion in total box office earnings
The figures were confirmed by FilmOne Entertainment and other industry tracking platforms monitoring cinema revenue in Nigeria.
This achievement builds on Akindele’s growing reputation as Nollywood’s most commercially successful filmmaker. In recent years, her projects have consistently dominated the box office, including:
A Tribe Called Judah, which became one of Nollywood’s earliest billion-naira films
Everybody Loves Jenifa, which previously held the record as Nigeria’s highest-grossing local film
With Behind The Scenes surpassing all previous records, Akindele now holds the top three highest-earning Nollywood films in cinema history.
Akindele’s achievement is also being viewed as a major milestone for African cinema, demonstrating that locally produced African films can achieve large-scale commercial success without relying on foreign studios.
By becoming Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker, Funke Akindele has further established her status as one of the most influential figures in the Nigerian film industry.
Electronic Arts has officially shut down the servers for Anthem, bringing the troubled BioWare title to a permanent end. As of today, January 12, 2026, the game is no longer playable in any form.
Originally released on February 22, 2019, Anthem was designed as an always-online live-service game, meaning all gameplay systems, missions, and progression were hosted on EA’s servers. With those servers now offline, the game has effectively ceased to exist.
Unlike traditional single-player games, Anthem never offered an offline mode. Even solo missions required a constant internet connection and server authentication. As a result, once EA pulled the plug, players lost access to all content, including the main story, co-op missions, and endgame activities.
EA had already removed Anthem from digital storefronts and EA Play months before the shutdown, while in-game purchases were disabled well in advance.
Developed by BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, Anthem launched with high expectations. Its iron-man-style flight mechanics, cooperative gameplay, and shared open world were praised early on.
In 2021, EA officially cancelled Anthem NEXT, a planned overhaul that was meant to revive the game. From that point on, Anthem was kept online in a maintenance-only state until today’s shutdown.
The closure has once again sparked discussions around digital ownership and live-service games, where access to a purchased title depends entirely on publisher-controlled servers.
Seven years after its release, Anthem exits quietly not with a final update or farewell event, but with servers simply going dark.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards officially kicked off the 2026 awards season on January 11, celebrating the most outstanding achievements in film, television, and podcasts from 2025.
Held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills and hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the ceremony delivered a night of major wins, emotional speeches, and early Oscar momentum for several projects. By the end of the night, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, The Pitt, The Studio, and Adolescence emerged as the biggest winners.
Here’s a full breakdown of the night’s highlights and winners.
Film Categories:
Hamnet and One Battle After Another Lead
Best Motion Picture
Best Motion Picture – Drama: Hamnet
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: One Battle After Another
Hamnet secured the night’s most prestigious drama prize, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the comedy/musical side, setting itself up as a strong awards-season contender.
Acting Winners – Film
Best Actor – Drama: Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
Best Actress – Drama: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Actor – Musical or Comedy: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
Best Actress – Musical or Comedy: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
Best Supporting Actor: Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)
Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)
Jessie Buckley’s win for Hamnet was one of the night’s most celebrated moments, while Timothée Chalamet’s victory further strengthened his position in the awards race.
Creative Awards – Film
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)
Best Original Song: “Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters
Paul Thomas Anderson walked away with multiple wins, making One Battle After Another the most decorated film of the night.
Other Film Honors
Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
Best Non-English Language Film: The Secret Agent
Cinematic & Box Office Achievement: Sinners
Television Categories:
The Pitt, The Studio and Adolescence Shine
Best TV Series
Best Drama Series: The Pitt
Best Musical or Comedy Series: The Studio
Best Limited Series / Anthology / TV Movie: Adolescence
Acting Winners – Television
Best Actor – TV Drama: Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
Best Actress – TV Drama: Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)
Best Actor – TV Musical or Comedy: Seth Rogen (The Studio)
Best Actress – TV Musical or Comedy: Jean Smart (Hacks)
Best Actor – Limited Series / TV Movie: Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
Best Actress – Limited Series / TV Movie: Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex)
Best Supporting Actor – TV: Owen Cooper (Adolescence)
Best Supporting Actress – TV: Erin Doherty (Adolescence)
Adolescence was the standout in limited series categories, earning multiple acting awards and cementing its critical acclaim.
Podcast and Stand-Up Comedy
Best Podcast: Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Best Stand-Up Comedy Performance: Ricky Gervais (Mortality)
Special Honors
Cecil B. DeMille Award (Lifetime Achievement): Helen Mirren
Carol Burnett Award: Sarah Jessica Parker
The 2026 Golden Globes offered a clear picture of the projects likely to dominate the rest of awards season. One Battle After Another emerged as the night’s biggest film winner, while Hamnet proved its emotional and critical strength in the drama category.
On television, The Pitt, The Studio, and Adolescence separated themselves from the pack, with Adolescence especially sweeping multiple performance awards.
As Hollywood moves closer to the Oscars, SAG Awards, and Emmys, the Golden Globes have once again set the tone for what stories and performances will define the year.
Zoe Saldaña has officially made box office history.
As of January 2026, the Hollywood star has become the highest-grossing actor of all time worldwide, overtaking Scarlett Johansson after the massive global success of Avatar: Fire and Ash.
The milestone was sealed following the film’s extraordinary theatrical run, which has now grossed over $1.2 billion globally since its release in late 2025. With that performance added to her résumé, Saldaña’s cumulative box office total now stands at over $15.4 billion, narrowly surpassing Johansson’s long-held record.
A Career Built on Blockbuster Franchises
Saldaña’s box office dominance is the result of one of the most strategically powerful filmographies in modern cinema. She is the only actor to star in multiple billion-dollar franchises simultaneously, playing key roles in:
Avatar franchise (Neytiri)
Avengers and the wider MCU (Gamora)
Guardians of the Galaxy
Star Trek reboot series
With Avatar: Fire and Ash marking another billion-dollar chapter in James Cameron’s sci-fi universe, Saldaña’s position at the top of the global box office rankings is now firmly cemented.
Scarlett Johansson previously held the record with an estimated $15.4 billion in global box office earnings, driven largely by her run as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Saldaña’s achievement is particularly notable given that her success spans multiple franchises across different studios, rather than being tied to a single cinematic universe.
Beyond the numbers, Saldaña’s record reflects a broader shift in Hollywood, where long-running franchises and global audiences now define box office power. Her ability to anchor some of the biggest films ever made has placed her in a league of her own.
With future Avatar installments already planned, industry analysts believe her lead at the top could continue to grow.
Africa’s biggest night in film and television is officially underway.
The 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has opened submissions, inviting filmmakers and TV creators across the continent to submit eligible projects released in 2025. If your work made waves on cinema screens, television, or streaming platforms last year, this is your moment to step forward.
From breakout performances to technical brilliance and bold storytelling, the AMVCA remains the most influential platform celebrating African screen excellence and the race for 2026 has begun.
Submission Timeline
Entries Open: 11 January 2026
Entries Close: 15 February 2026
Eligibility Period: Projects must have been publicly screened or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2025
Official Portal: www.africamagic.tv/amvca
Now in its 12th edition, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards has grown beyond an awards show into a cultural institution. Powered by Africa Magic and MultiChoice, the AMVCA has helped shape careers, spotlight emerging talent, and push African film and television into global conversations.
This year’s edition continues its commitment to inclusivity, with expanded Indigenous Language categories that now fully accommodate works from North and Central Africa, reinforcing the AMVCA’s pan-African vision.
Eligible entries include:
Feature films
Television series
Made-for-TV movies
Select documentary projects
After submissions close on 15 February 2026, entries will be reviewed by the AMVCA jury panel, followed by public voting in selected categories. Nominees will be announced ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 AMVCA ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, where Africa’s finest screen talents will take centre stage.
James Gunn’s Superman has officially entered the 2026 Academy Awards conversation.
According to a newly released list published by Variety, Superman is among 201 films that are eligible for nomination in the Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards. While eligibility does not guarantee a nomination, the film’s inclusion confirms that it has met all of the Academy’s strict Best Picture qualification requirements for the 2025 awards year.
The Academy’s Best Picture eligibility rules go beyond a standard Oscar qualification. For Superman to appear on this list, it had to satisfy multiple layers of criteria, not just its release date.
1. Release Within the 2025 Awards Year
Superman was released in July 2025, placing it firmly within the Academy’s eligibility window of January 1 to December 31, 2025.
2. Required Theatrical Qualification
The film completed the Academy’s mandatory paid theatrical run, which includes:
A minimum one-week run in a qualifying U.S. market
A feature-length runtime (over 40 minutes)
This is the baseline requirement for Oscar consideration.
3. Expanded Theatrical Run for Best Picture
Best Picture contenders face stricter rules than other categories. Eligible films must play:
At least seven days
In 10 of the top 50 U.S. theatrical markets
Within 45 days of their initial release
Superman meeting this threshold confirms it had a sufficiently wide theatrical footprint, not just a limited awards run.
4. Compliance With the Academy’s Representation and Inclusion Standards
Since recent award cycles, Best Picture eligibility also requires films to:
Submit the Academy’s RAISE (Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry) form
Meet at least two of four inclusion standards, covering areas such as:
On-screen representation
Creative leadership and crew composition
Industry access and opportunities
Marketing and distribution teams
Films that do not submit or meet these standards are excluded from Best Picture consideration, even if they qualify theatrically.
Oscar nominations for the 2026 ceremony are expected to be announced later this month.
James Gunn’s Superman has officially advanced to the BAFTA 2026 Special Visual Effects longlist, marking a major early recognition for the film ahead of the upcoming awards season.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) confirmed that Superman is one of 10 films selected from a total of 71 submissions in the Special Visual Effects category. The longlist was determined by members of BAFTA’s SVFX chapter, made up of industry professionals working across visual effects and post-production.
Full BAFTA Special Visual Effects Longlist (2026)
The films advancing to the longlist are:
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
How to Train Your Dragon
Jurassic World Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Mickey 17
Superman
Tron: Ares
Wicked: For Good
Making the BAFTA VFX longlist is a significant milestone. The selection indicates that Superman’s visual effects work has already been evaluated and endorsed by professionals within the VFX industry, rather than general voters or critics.
Unlike popularity based awards or fan-driven recognition, BAFTA’s VFX category is assessed primarily on technical execution, innovation, and craft. For Superman, this places the film in early contention among some of the most visually ambitious studio projects of the year.
The longlist places Superman alongside major franchise and effects-driven films, including:
Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest installment in James Cameron’s visually groundbreaking series
Tron: Ares, a film built around digital environments and stylized effects
Jurassic World Rebirth, continuing the effects-heavy dinosaur franchise
Wicked: For Good, a large-scale musical adaptation with extensive CGI requirements
BAFTA’s Voting Process Explained
According to BAFTA, the process unfolds in stages:
SVFX chapter members vote to determine the longlist and subsequent nominations.
From the longlist, a smaller group of films will be selected as official nominees.
In the final round, all film-voting BAFTA members vote to determine the category winner.
Historically, most films that secure nominations emerge from the longlist, making this step a crucial gateway rather than a symbolic mention.
Superman is the first major theatrical release under the new DC Studios leadership, with James Gunn also serving as co-head of the studio. While plot details and audience reception remain unknown, the BAFTA recognition suggests that the film’s technical and visual foundations are already being taken seriously within the industry.
While BAFTA recognition does not guarantee success at other awards ceremonies, the BAFTA VFX longlist often overlaps with later Oscar consideration in the Best Visual Effects category. Films that perform well at BAFTA frequently remain in the broader awards conversation as the season progresses.
Advancing to BAFTA’s Special Visual Effects longlist is a notable early achievement for Superman. In a field narrowed down from 71 submissions to just 10 films, the selection reflects industry-level confidence in the film’s visual work and technical ambition.
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has officially announced the nominees for the 78th Annual DGA Awards, spotlighting the most outstanding directing achievements in theatrical feature films released in 2025.
Often regarded as one of the strongest indicators of the Academy Awards’ Best Director race, the DGA nominations once again bring together a mix of industry veterans and bold new voices shaping contemporary cinema.
The winners will be revealed on February 7, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
Below is the complete nominees list for the theatrical feature film categories.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film — 2026 DGA Awards
This category honors directors for exceptional achievement in feature-length films intended for theatrical release.
Nominees:
Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
Ryan Coogler — Sinners
Guillermo del Toro — Frankenstein
Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme
Chloé Zhao — Hamnet
The lineup reflects a wide creative spectrum from literary adaptations and gothic reimaginings to character driven dramas and auteur-led visions. Multiple nominees are previous DGA and Academy Award winners, further heightening the prestige of this year’s race.
Michael Apted Award for First-Time Theatrical Feature Film Director
Named in honor of the late director Michael Apted, this category recognizes exceptional debut feature film directors making their first major impact in cinema.
Nominees:
Hasan Hadi — The President’s Cake
Harry Lighton — Pillion
Charlie Polinger — The Plague
Alex Russell — Lurker
Eva Victor — Sorry, Baby
This category continues the DGA’s tradition of highlighting emerging filmmakers whose first works demonstrate strong artistic voice, originality, and narrative ambition.
The DGA Awards are widely considered one of the most reliable predictors of the Oscar Best Director winner. Historically, DGA winners have gone on to secure Academy Awards in the same category in a majority of cases.
When Are the Winners Announced?
Event: 78th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards
