The dust has settled on the 2026 Oscar season, and the winners (One Battle After Another and Sinners, mostly) have been crowned. But before we close this chapter of Oscar history, Little Gold Men is taking stock of how everything went and handing out a few superlatives.

We take a closer look at the year’s various months-long Oscar campaigns, breaking down which ones worked and which ones didn’t. Sinners director Ryan Coogler was a particular standout. As a filmmaker, he’s mostly shied away from press and the spotlight in the past—but this year, he really put himself out there in a way that still rang true to his own sensibilities, such as the viral video of him explaining different types of film stock.

Coogler came away a winner, nabbing the award for best original screenplay—but you didn’t have to actually win an Oscar to come out on top this season. Jacob Elordi ran a flawless campaign for his role in Frankenstein, landing his first Oscar nomination (for supporting actor) and, perhaps more importantly, shifting his own narrative as a performer. Through interviews this season—like this one on Little Gold Men!—the Euphoria star proved that he’s a true cinephile, one who’s interested in a long-lasting career working with auteurs. Kate Hudson also didn’t come away with any trophies this year, but she did remind everyone of the movie star that she is, charming each room she entered this season.

On the other side of the coin, the Little Gold Men team also took a close look at the campaigns that struggled this year. Timothée Chalamet’s eventual loss for best actor was one of the most dramatic twists of the season, and he lost in part because of his unusual approach to campaigning—featuring more stunts and social media hits than glad-handing in Hollywood ballrooms. But it wasn’t just Chalamet’s actions that led to his loss: It was Michael B. Jordan’s rise toward the end of the season, and his win at the Actor Awards that came just as Oscar voting was getting underway.

Other campaigns that were over before they even began included Jay Kelly and The Testament of Ann Lee, two films that seemed made for Academy love. What happened there? Listen below to find out.