How To Watch The Biggest 2026 BAFTA Winners

One Battle After Another wins big at the BAFTAs as best film, Paul Thomas Anderson for best director, cinematography, and adapted screenplay. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and more, the film is gritty, gruesome, and surprisingly hilarious, but it's certainly not for every type of viewer.

It's a slow start for those who might not tolerate violence as well, but the film carries a plethora of depth in each frame, making it something that's worth checking out at least once if you want something that's jam-packed. Surprisingly, despite his many films, Anderson doesn't have an Oscar, so whether this will be the year, time will tell, but the BAFTAs are a great place to recognize his work.

Rarely does an animated sequel do the same numbers as the original, perhaps even topping it in terms of narrative quality, too. But like Toy Story 2 (1999), Zootopia 2 is the kind of hit that could perhaps kickstart a number of films, making it a worthy franchise to invest in. Narratively and from an animation standpoint, Zootopia 2 is an absolute joy from start to finish and fun for the whole family.

It's profoundly moving, genuinely thoughtful in its themes that reflect current times, and effective in its messaging to evoke empathy and understanding of the human world through animals. In every area, this win is not only fully earned, but it feels right considering what a sensational hit it's been since the initial release and how it'll continue to be when it's available on streaming.

Sentimental Value takes the BAFTA award for Film Not in the English Language, making it another win for the movie that's surprising everyone this season. Between The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value, there are two extraordinary features to choose from for Best Picture contenders, and Sentimental Value is excellent as a story about healing, loss, and the connections we make with people through our art.

In line with Hamnet with this theme, the movie might be a bit heavy for some audience members, but its authenticity and the honest portrayal of deeply human emotions are worth watching for anyone who wants an intimate family story to dive into. The performances are all exceptional, too, and while it doesn't take home anything else for the BAFTA awards, we may still get some surprises with the others.

Recommending Hamnet to people almost feels wrong because the movie is so deeply heavy and potentially triggering that it's completely understandable if there are still people who haven't seen it and don't want to. The idea of a child dying is an ache that many people can't stomach, so it's among the more challenging films to praise, but still, it's a masterpiece in more ways than one.

Jessie Buckley also takes home the BAFTA award for best leading actress, which is undoubtedly earned because, while it's been months since I first watched the movie, I'm still haunted by her performance throughout. It's gripping, heartbreaking, and simultaneously a beautiful reminder of how grief and love live among art, making it the kind of movie that's ultimately significant as an account for healing.

Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.