Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

2026 Oscar-Nominated Short Films - Live Action

Play trailer 0:50 Poster for 2026 Oscar-Nominated Short Films - Live Action Feb 2026 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 6 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Roadside Attractions will distribute the 98th Oscar® Nominated Shorts, presented by acclaimed filmmaker, writer, and actor Taika Waititi, exclusively in theaters in the U.S. and Canada on February 20, 2026. The program features three feature-length theatrical presentations, one for each Academy Award® Short Film category--Animated, Documentary, and Live Action--showcasing outstanding short films from around the world. Oscar® Nominated Shorts Program offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience these celebrated works on the big screen ahead of the Oscars®. Honoring short films as a distinct art form, Roadside Attractions will support the program as a must-see theatrical event, uniting film lovers and the global filmmaking community in a shared cinematic experience. The 98th Oscar® Nominated Shorts is presented by Roadside Attractions and is not a release presented by, sponsored by or endorsed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy has licensed Roadside Attractions the right to use the Oscar® trade name in connection with such release.

Critics Reviews

View More
Patrick McDonald HollywoodChicago.com Mar 15
4/5
the nominees are BUTCHER'S STAIN, A FRIEND OF DOROTHY, JANE AUSTEN'S PERIOD DRAMA, THE SINGERS and TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA ... FRIEND OF seems to belong to the 1990s, Best is BUTCHER'S STAIN. Go to Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Feb 19
3.5/4
An interesting batch with only one disappointment. Go to Full Review Al Alexander Movies Thru the Spectrum Feb 19
B+
The nominees range from the cheeky "Jane Austen Period Drama" to the savage wages of a dystopian future featured in the intriguing "Two People Exchanging Saliva." But all are consistently good, a rarity in this category over the years. Go to Full Review Jared Mobarak The Film Stage Feb 18
Ahead of the Academy Awards, we’ve reviewed every short film in each category. Go to Full Review Tom Santilli Movie Show Plus Feb 17
A
...essential viewing. Go to Full Review Laura Clifford Reeling Reviews Feb 14
B
...two amusing modernizations of literature from previous centuries, a well worn narrative elevated by its actors, an Israeli indictment of Palestinian oppression and France's second short in a row about an aversion to kissing. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
David H @DavidQHarris Mar 14 There have definitely been better years. Singers was OK but nothing to write home about. The French film about exchanging saliva was way too long, and it seemed like it was trying to compete with David Lynch for bizarre and incomprehensible. The Austen Period Drama was just silly. The better films were Friends of Dorothy, a British short about a gay youngster who is befriended by an old woman, and Butcher Stain, about a Palestinian butcher who is accused of disrespecting the Gaza hostages. See more O B @Horuss Mar 7 Like the other categories of Oscar nominated shorts, this year's live action nominees are well worth seeing. The viewing experience has a very serious overall feel given the subject matter of several of the nominees but it's not all intense dramatic stuff. Frankly, while I think all of the selections are tremendous short films in their own way, two stood out for me as the best of the lot. A Friend of Dorothy was just an excellent story, very well told. It's pretty straightforward and it's sentimental for sure but there's nothing at all wrong with loving sentimentality as far as I'm concerned. It's a beautifully shot short movie with a beautiful message about humanity. The other standout and probably my very favorite is Jane Austen's Period Movie. Brilliant, lighthearted and creative. The film doesn't take itself too seriously but it respects the intelligence of the modern audience and our appreciation of a good spoof. All of them are Oscar caliber but I'm rooting for my faves, See more Michael K @kennedyland Mar 4 My vote goes to "Singers". While the others are good, this one is poetry. See more Read all reviews
2026 Oscar-Nominated Short Films - Live Action

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Taika Waititi

Host
View All

2026 Oscar-Nominated Short Films - Live Action

2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Official Trailer 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Official Trailer 0:50 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Teaser Trailer 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Teaser Trailer 0:33 View more videos
View All

2026 Oscar-Nominated Short Films - Live Action

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Roadside Attractions will distribute the 98th Oscar® Nominated Shorts, presented by acclaimed filmmaker, writer, and actor Taika Waititi, exclusively in theaters in the U.S. and Canada on February 20, 2026. The program features three feature-length theatrical presentations, one for each Academy Award® Short Film category--Animated, Documentary, and Live Action--showcasing outstanding short films from around the world. Oscar® Nominated Shorts Program offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience these celebrated works on the big screen ahead of the Oscars®. Honoring short films as a distinct art form, Roadside Attractions will support the program as a must-see theatrical event, uniting film lovers and the global filmmaking community in a shared cinematic experience. The 98th Oscar® Nominated Shorts is presented by Roadside Attractions and is not a release presented by, sponsored by or endorsed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy has licensed Roadside Attractions the right to use the Oscar® trade name in connection with such release.
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 20, 2026, Limited