Three upcoming movies could make up for Uncut Gems getting snubbed at the 2020 Oscars. Uncut Gems is a chaotic thriller that stars Adam Sandler as a jeweler who makes a high-stakes bet that could completely change his life. In addition to Sandler, the cast includes Julia Fox, LaKeith Stanfield, and pro basketball player Kevin Garnett.
Upon its release in 2019, reviews for Uncut Gems were incredible. The movie, which was co-directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, has an amazing score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and is generally regarded as one of Sandler’s best movies. The actor was praised for his performance, and the overall tense atmosphere of the film was a high point for many. Despite this, it received zero Oscar nominations.
Now that all the major summer blockbusters have been released, it’s time to start looking towards awards season. It’s still difficult to predict exactly what movies will be nominated at the 2026 Oscars, but it’s very possible that The Smashing Machine, Marty Supreme, and Jay Kelly will redeem Uncut Gems‘ snubs.
Three 2025 Movies Could Be Major Awards Contenders 6 Years After Uncut Gems Was Snubbed
Uncut Gems could have, and arguably should have, been nominated for major Oscars such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, Sandler’s amazing performance should have earned him a Best Actor nomination. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case, but several of these creatives have promising movies on the horizon.
In the past, Josh and Benny Safdie have co-directed all their movies. However, after Uncut Gems, the brothers decided to go their separate ways. They both have movies coming out this year, and it will be interesting to see how they fare. Interestingly, both of their movies are sports biopics.
While there have been rumors of a feud between the Safdie brothers, Benny has told Variety that the split is simply “a natural progression of what we each want to explore.“
Firstly, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine will release in theaters on October 3 and tell the story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr during the rise of the UFC. The A24 film will star Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Based on the trailer, it looks like it could potentially be the best movie of Johnson’s career, and it’s possible that he will be nominated for Best Actor.
Secondly, Marty Supreme will be directed by Josh Safdie and arrive in theaters on Christmas Day. The film will star Timothée Chalamet and is inspired by the life of Marty Reisman, who competed as a table tennis champion in the mid-1900s. Marty Surpreme also has the awards-friendly backing of A24, and Chalamet has been an Academy favorite in recent years.
Finally, writer-director Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly will see Sandler in a supporting role. The movie will center on the relationship between an actor and his manager, played by George Clooney and Sandler respectively, as they travel through Europe and reflect on their lives. Ahead of Jay Kelly‘s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, there’s hope that Sandler could be in the running for Best Supporting Actor.
How Will The Smashing Machine, Marty Supreme, & Jay Kelly Fare During Awards Season?
Since none of these movies have had their official premieres yet, it’s hard to predict whether they truly can nab any major nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards. However, they are definitely three highly anticipated films that seem positioned to be award contenders.
With that being said, the 2026 awards season will be filled with plenty of incredible movies. тιтles such as Hamnet, Bugonia, and Sentimental Value already have just as much buzz as the aforementioned movies do. Additionally, there’s a chance that blockbusters like Sinners, Wicked: For Good, and Avatar: Fire and Ash will take up Best Picture slots as well.
This doesn’t mean that The Smashing Machine, Marty Supreme, and Jay Kelly can’t also stand out during awards season. Pitting the Safdie brothers against each other would make for a great awards season storyline, but it’s worth the reminder that The Smashing Machine and Marty Supreme are both A24 projects. The company may need to favor one over the other when campaigning.
The Smashing Machine and Jay Kelly are both in compeтιтion at the Venice Film Festival, which commences at the end of August. Meanwhile, Marty Supreme‘s Christmas release date is a prime campaign spot that has worked for many films in the past, including Chalamet’s 2024 movie A Complete Unknown.
We’ll have some early reviews for The Smashing Machine and Jay Kelly soon, but because of its late-in-the-year release date, it’s going to be a longer wait to see how critics respond to Marty Supreme. Therefore, we’ll likely have to wait a few more months to learn which of these three movies, if any, will truly thrive at the 2026 Academy Awards.
Regardless, it’s incredibly exciting that the Safdie brothers and Sandler, three of the main contributors to Uncut Gems, all have a sH๏τ at being nominated for, and potentially winning, an Academy Award. Uncut Gems is definitely one of the most noteworthy snubs in recent years, so I would be thrilled if any of these movies find success at the 2026 Oscars.
