The film awards season of 2026 is in the home stretch, concluding with the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15. Going by what’s already selected by other groups, Jessie Buckley is a heavy favorite to win a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet as Agnes Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). According to the home-video press release:
Buy HamnetBased on Maggie O’Farrell’s New York Times bestselling novel, Hamnet tells the untold story behind one of Shakespeare’s most memorable works, Hamlet. It is an inspiring journey of love and the creative brilliance that shaped a legacy and became Shakespeare’s greatest masterpiece.
Although my trepidation over the subject matter of dealing with the loss of a loved has put off my seeing it, being a fan of Buckley’s work for a while has me curious to see it, which is why I am making it my Pick of the week.
Also out this week that looks interesting:
The Running Man 2-Movie Collection (1987-2025): Paramount is releasing Edgar Wright’s remake of Paul Michael Glaser’s adaptation of Richard Bachman’s (Stephen King) novel, The Running Man. While I thought it was all right, I am intrigued in watching together as part of this Walmart Exclusive SteelBook Bundle on Blu-ray and 4K UHD.
Kung Fu Panda 4-Movie Collection (2008-2024): Universal is releasing a 4K UHD box set of the animated quadrilogy featuring the adventures of Po Ping (Jack Black), a panda who is the prophesied Dragon Warrior, set in a fantasy version of Ancient China where anthropomorphic animals live.
Ella McCay: There was a time when a James L. Brooks film was an event, but his relevance has faded. Not sure if it’s a shift in the industry, audiences, or Brooks, but I am willing to see if he can strike gold one more time with the political comedy as the titular character gets foisted into the role of governor and has to juggle the drama of politics and her family.
Cobra Kai: The Complete Series: I have friends who enjoyed this return to the Karate Kid universe that offers a different perspective on the characters. Now that it’s come to an end, it might be time to see what all the fuss is about.
The Swordsman Trilogy: I don’t know a thing about this series, but I have enjoyed what I have seen from Shout Factory’s Hong Kong Cinema Classics line, so I am willing to take a gamble on them. I hope audiences enjoying the films are what led to a trilogy and not producers looking to take advantage of an IP .
