The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its official shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards, and James Gunn’s Superman has landed in the mix.
James Gunn’s DC reboot is shortlisted in two technical categories: Sound and Visual Effects, putting the film one step closer to an Oscar nomination ahead of final voting.
To be clear, Superman has not been nominated for an Oscar at this stage. The film has only been shortlisted, meaning it remains eligible for a nomination and has not won an Academy Award.
Superman Shortlisted for Sound and Visual Effects
Superman appears alongside major studio releases in both categories.
In Sound, the film is listed with titles including Avatar: Fire and Ash, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Wicked: For Good.
In Visual Effects, Superman remains in contention next to heavy VFX-driven projects such as Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Tron: Ares.
Being shortlisted means the film advanced past the initial eligibility phase and will now be considered during nominations voting.
What Happens Next in Oscar Voting
Oscar nominations voting runs from January 12 through January 16, 2026. Final nominees will be announced on January 22, 2026.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will air live on ABC.
Whether Superman advances to final nominations remains to be seen (it wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe), but the shortlist placement gives DC Studios an early technical foothold at the Oscars.
Checkout the full shortlist below.
98th Oscars Shortlists
Animated Short Film
Autokar
Butterfly
Cardboard
Éiru
Forevergreen
The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Hurikán
I Died in Irpin
The Night Boots
Playing God
The Quinta’s Ghost
Retirement Plan
The Shyness of Trees
Snow Bear
The Three Sisters
Casting
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle after Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Sirât
Weapons
Wicked: For Good
Cinematography
Ballad of a Small Player
Bugonia
Die My Love
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Nouvelle Vague
One Battle after Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Sirât
Song Sung Blue
Sound of Falling
Train Dreams
Wicked: For Good
Documentary Feature Film
The Alabama Solution
Apocalypse in the Tropics
Coexistence, My Ass!
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cover-Up
Cutting Through Rocks
Folktales
Holding Liat
Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Mistress Dispeller
My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow
The Perfect Neighbor
Seeds
2000 Meters to Andriivka
Yanuni
Documentary Short Film
All the Empty Rooms
All the Walls Came Down
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
Bad Hostage
Cashing Out
Chasing Time
Children No More: “Were and Are Gone”
Classroom 4
The Devil Is Busy
Heartbeat
Last Days on Lake Trinity
On Healing Land, Birds Perch
Perfectly a Strangeness
Rovina’s Choice
We Were the Scenery
International Feature Film
Argentina: Belén
Brazil: The Secret Agent
France: It Was Just an Accident
Germany: Sound of Falling
India: Homebound
Iraq: The President’s Cake
Japan: Kokuho
Jordan: All That’s Left of You
Norway: Sentimental Value
Palestine: Palestine 36
South Korea: No Other Choice
Spain: Sirât
Switzerland: Late Shift
Taiwan: Left-Handed Girl
Tunisia: The Voice of Hind Rajab
Live Action Short Film
Ado
Amarela
Beyond Silence
The Boy with White Skin
Butcher’s Stain
Butterfly on a Wheel
Dad’s Not Home
Extremist
A Friend of Dorothy
Jane Austen’s Period Drama
Pantyhose
The Pearl Comb
Rock, Paper, Scissors
The Singers
Two People Exchanging Saliva
Makeup and Hairstyling
The Alto Knights
Frankenstein
Kokuho
Marty Supreme
Nuremberg
One Battle after Another
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister
Wicked: For Good
Music (Original Score)
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Bugonia
Captain America: Brave New World
Diane Warren: Relentless
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Hedda
A House of Dynamite
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
Nuremberg
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Sirât
Train Dreams
Tron: Ares
Truth and Treason
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Wicked: For Good
Music (Original Song)
“As Alive As You Need Me To Be” – Tron: Ares
“Dear Me” – Diane Warren: Relentless
“Dream As One” – Avatar: Fire and Ash
“Drive” – F1
“Dying To Live” – Billy Idol Should Be Dead
“The Girl In The Bubble” – Wicked: For Good
“Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters
“Highest 2 Lowest” – Highest 2 Lowest
“I Lied To You” – Sinners
“Last Time (I Seen The Sun)” – Sinners
“No Place Like Home” – Wicked: For Good
“Our Love” – The Ballad of Wallis Island
“Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” – Come See Me in the Good Light
“Sweet Dreams Of Joy” – Viva Verdi!
“Train Dreams” – Train Dreams
Sound
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Sirât
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Superman
Wicked: For Good
Visual Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash
The Electric State
F1
Frankenstein
Jurassic World Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners
Superman
Tron: Ares
Wicked: For Good
