Apple TV and the 2026 Oscars: F1 becomes a beacon of hope

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Apple TV is making headlines again at the 2026 Oscars. This time, it's not just about a few technical nominations, but a real surprise: "F1: The Movie" has been nominated for Best Picture. The Academy has now officially announced this.

For Apple TV, this nomination round feels like a liberating breakthrough. This season, no typical "awards" film was submitted – no classic Oscar-bait with a calculated festival and critic profile. That's precisely why the current haul is all the more remarkable, especially compared to last year.

Apple TV and the most important nomination: Best Picture for „F1: The Movie“

The biggest news is the nomination of "F1: The Movie" in the top category, Best Picture. Many hadn't expected this. Beforehand, the majority of award analysts assumed that "F1" would at best appear in the "craftsmanship" categories and had little chance of winning Best Picture.

Further Oscar nominations for „F1“: Sound, Editing and Visual Effects

In addition to "Best Picture", the blockbuster has received further nominations, namely in three technical categories:

Best sound
Best cut
Best visual effects

This means that „F1“ is not only positioned as a major cinematic event, but also visibly strong on the production side.

Documentary film nomination: „Come See Me in the Good Light“

Apple TV is represented at the 2026 Oscars not only by "F1." The documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light" has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature. This adds a completely different genre to the nominations for the blockbuster, broadening the overall picture.

„The Lost Bus“ also received an award for visual effects

Furthermore, "The Lost Bus" was also recognized in the visual effects category. This means that Apple TV has landed in a technically prestigious category beyond just "F1".

Why these nominations are considered a success for Apple TV

Apple is likely very pleased with the result, especially since the campaign didn't focus on a traditional awards title. This is reminiscent of last season: While no typical "awards" film was featured then either, it ended without a single nomination. The fact that there are several nominations this time is therefore considered a clear success.

The box office success of "F1" as a decisive factor

One point stands out in particular: The resounding box office success of "F1" seems to have clearly resonated with Academy voters. This also explains why this particular film made it into the Best Picture category, even though many predictions had only anticipated technical nominations.

Oscar date 2026: Decision on March 15th

The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 15th. Only then will it become clear whether Apple TV can translate its nominations into actual profits.

The favorite for "Best Picture" comes from Warner Bros.

Despite the attention focused on Apple TV, another title is considered the favorite this year: the Warner Bros. drama "One Battle After Another" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. "F1" is therefore not the only film in the running for the top prize.

Apple TV remains historically special: „CODA“ and the streaming milestone

Regardless of the outcome in 2026, one fact remains: Apple is still the only streaming provider to have won the Oscar for Best Picture. This was achieved with "CODA" in 2022. What's particularly remarkable is that this victory came less than three years after the launch of Apple TV as a streaming service.

Oscars 2026: Apple TV surprisingly broadly nominated

Apple TV is entering the 2026 Oscars with a mix of surprises and substance: "F1: The Movie" is not only nominated in multiple technical categories, but is also on the shortlist for Best Picture. In addition, there's the documentary nomination for "Come See Me in the Good Light" and recognition for "The Lost Bus" in the visual effects category. On March 15, 2026, we'll find out if these successes translate into Oscar wins. One thing is already certain: compared to last year's nomination-free year, this year's Oscars look like a significant comeback for Apple TV. (Image: Apple)