The BAFTA longlist for 2026 is like a cinematic mixtape curated by those who love epics, indie darlings, and the occasional genre-bender that makes critics spill tea. From sweeping historical dramas to absurdist sci-fi, these films are poised to dominate the conversation and your streaming queue.

Whether you crave gothic chills or literary heartbreak, this guide shows where to watch every BAFTA contender, because in awards season, knowing where to stream is almost as important as seeing it.

While the longlist teases prestige and ambition, the question becomes simple: which films deserve the spotlight, and where can they be summoned from the comfort of home?

Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping 70mm epic dominates with sixteen BAFTA longlist mentions. Available to rent or buy on Fandango, alongside other platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV, the film demands attention with grandeur, intricate storytelling, and cinematic bravado.

While ambition fills Anderson’s frames, the next contender proves that literary depth can hit harder than spectacle alone.

Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Shakespearean grief arrives quietly yet profoundly, turning literary loss into a visceral cinematic pulse. In theaters now, Hamnet promises intimate artistry with the expectation of streaming on Peacock or Prime Video by summer 2026.

As grief and emotional intensity resonate, genre experimentation reminds audiences that thrills can coexist with reflective storytelling.

Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller bends genre rules effortlessly. Available on VOD via Apple and Amazon, with Max expected later, Sinners balances tension, social commentary, and cinematic spectacle, proving that awards recognition sometimes favors audacious storytelling over conventional drama.

While thrill and commentary collide, athletic obsession turns everyday competition into visual poetry in the next entry.

Josh Safdie’s ping-pong obsession becomes a kinetic, stylish meditation on ambition. Playing in theaters now, with a digital release on HBO Max, estimated to be around April 2026, the film is as much a performance art piece as it is a sports drama, with Timothée Chalamet shining in the center.

While precision and obsession rule courts, gothic monsters lurk nearby, reminding viewers that darkness has its own cinematic magnetism.

Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited gothic horror masterpiece streams exclusively on Netflix. Every frame drips with meticulous artistry, and monsters bleed more emotion than humans, leaving viewers unsure if they are watching fiction or reality. Long shadows and lush production design make the film a chilling feast for those who worship cinematic craft.

As darkness and horror captivate, absurdist humor and conspiratorial chaos prepare to hijack expectations entirely.

Yorgos Lanthimos’s bizarre sci-fi satire streams on Peacock (US) and is available for digital purchase or rental across platforms. Its absurd conspiracies and surreal humor twist reality into something so funny it almost hurts, proving awards season still has room for delightful chaos.

While the absurd bends reality, delicate storytelling surfaces quietly in smaller venues, proving subtlety can still dominate conversation.

Playing in theaters across the UK and Europe, with a streaming release expected in early 2026 on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home (Vudu), Sentimental Value delivers quiet introspection. Every scene whispers emotion, turning understated drama into arthouse magnetism for those who prefer thoughtfulness over spectacle.

As art-house subtlety lingers, historical gravitas prepares to remind audiences that courtroom drama still has the power to enthrall.

Available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, with eventual streaming expected on Netflix, as Sony distributes it through Sony Pictures Classics, Nuremberg transforms archival history into cinematic tension. Period authenticity and courtroom suspense collide, proving that longlists value precision and weighty storytelling just as much as visual flair or narrative audacity.

While history unfolds with tension, cinematic eccentricity takes the stage, merging absurdity with recognition in a way only James Griffiths could orchestrate.

Currently in select theaters, with Apple TV and Amazon expected for VOD, this film charms with eccentric storytelling and visual flair. Its narrative unpredictability reminds viewers that awards conversations can reward imagination as much as prestige or budget.

While eccentricity entertains, clever acting steals the spotlight next, turning recognition into conversation and debate.

Robert Aramayo shines in a morally tangled story, available to rent or buy digitally in the UK via StudioCanal. The film proves longlists reward subtle performance and moral complexity, even when spectacle or director name recognition is absent.

As subtle brilliance earns attention, the conversation intensifies with one of the most discussed snubs of the season.

Available in the US on NEON Digital VOD and in the UK on MUBI (theatrical February 20, 2026), The Secret Agent becomes infamous for one reason: Wagner Moura did not get longlisted for Best Actor, despite a Golden Globe nomination and multiple award wins.

The film still earned BAFTA recognition for Original Screenplay and International Film, but Moura’s snub has sparked endless debate about what acting excellence really means in awards culture.

Netflix Keeps the Celebration On: BAFTA Bash Finds New Home Post Recent Fire Tragedy at Former Venue

What are your thoughts on these BAFTA longlists, the streaming shuffle, and Wagner Moura’s shocking snub? Let us know in the comments below.