The Oscars 2026 are rapidly approaching, and after the big fall festivals kick-started conversations with most major categories, today is the real start of the Best Actor race. That's not to say that there haven't already been a number of films with incredible male lead performances that deserve to get nominated.

Michael B. Jordan ( Sinners ), Leonardo DiCaprio ( One Battle After Another ), and Denzel Washington ( Highest 2 Lowest ) stand out as some of the best male performances in movies that have already been released. Any of them could possibly find their names listed among the nominees when the Academy unveils them on January 22, 2026.

But, there are plenty of other performances in movies that have still yet to get a wide release that are expected to factor heavily into th

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