Professional Fangirl- Katelyn Benschoter
On Sunday, March 15th, 2026, the 98th Oscars took place. This is when the creatives behind and in the films that were deemed “the best” from the past year gather to be celebrated. Every year is exciting, and I love to guess what films I think are most likely to win. This year was unique in who got a seat at the table. Horror is a genre that is very rarely nominated, let alone a winner, but this year, it is safe to say that horror films dominated the Oscars this year. From Ryan Coogler’s Sinners that received 16 nominations to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein that received six nominations, it was a historic year for horror films at the Oscars.
While horror films have always been a fan favorite and a notable genre for quite some time, they have always taken a back seat during award season. Horror films have seemingly not been taken seriously in the same way that dramas or action films have. This could be for a plethora of reasons, from the more elaborate makeup and costumes or the special effects needed being deemed silly, or that because of the horror elements, these films were not for everyone.
That being said, very notable films have previously been snubbed by the Oscars because they fall into the horror genre. For example, Anthony Perkins, who played Norman Bates in Psycho, did not receive any nominations, and Psycho is a notable film still taught in film courses today. Horror films have a lot of themes and ideas to take away. They are much more than just silly makeup and monsters, so I am personally very excited that horror films are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
This year, the Oscars were overflowing with horror films featuring Sinners, Frankenstein, and Weapons all taking home awards. The last time that a horror or thriller film dominated the award season was when The Silence of the Lambs was nominated in 1992. But this time, it was multiple films.
Starting with Sinners, I saw this film back in theaters right when it came out, and I have not stopped thinking about it. The film explores race in a supernatural setting when twins return to their hometown to find a new evil: vampires. I think Sinners is a great example of films that the academy previously would not have nominated or taken seriously. The film has blood and gore, hence the presence of vampires, but the film is quite powerful. It is not silly or just a film of running from vampires; it is complex and has a lot to say historically about the U.S. and race. Therefore, I appreciate this film being nominated in all the categories it qualifies for. The film, while receiving 16 nominations, only took home four wins, but managed to still make history. Autumn Durald Arkapaw (cinematographer of Sinners) is the first woman to win the best cinematography award ever. Hopefully, these historic wins help move along history and create a new normal at the Oscars.
Next up is the film Weapons. This is a horror film where children go missing at the same time, the subsequent plotlines portrayed from a shifting perspective. The film deals with themes of grief and trauma. When the film came out, it was being talked about and praised all over social media. Though the film only received one Oscar nomination, it took home the Oscar. Amy Madigan won for best supporting actress in her role as Aunt Gladys, the villain. While this film airs on more of the campy horror side, previously, it may not have been nominated at all. Additionally, Amy Madigan, at age 75, is one of the oldest winners of the category. Once again, making history with this Oscar win.
Lastly, a story that is a personal favorite of mine, Frankenstein, was nominated for nine Oscars and ultimately took home three awards. This film was obviously adapted from the classic Gothic novel by Mary Shelly, but it was a massive undertaking of a film. There have been several previous Frankenstein adaptations, which are heavily reliant on makeup and special effects. This is not a perfect adaptation, but I did really like it. I was unsure if the academy would feel the same way. Interestingly enough, the three awards the film did take home were all technical in nature. The film won for best costume design, best makeup and hairstyling, and best production design. While none of these awards may actually be historic, I think the awards won reflect the progress that has been made in the academy. One of the biggest reasons horror films have not been taken seriously is the over-the-top makeup and use of monsters. So, for a film that circles around a “monster” and a lot of makeup work, this was a big moment.
Horror films are finally getting the recognition they deserve, and it was amazing to watch the sweep of this year’s Oscars. Despite the sheer number of horror films nominated, none of them won the coveted Best Picture award. The Silence of the Lambs is the only other horror film to have previously taken home the award. And in a year of standout horror films, I thought one of them was going to take it home. But Hollywood stuck to what it knows with One Battle After Another. An intense drama and action film took home the prize again. Who is to say what films will dominate the next year’s award season. But after this historic year for the horror genre, I hope the trend continues.