‘Wild Horse Nine’ Reaction Hints at Major 2026 Oscar Contender

A few days ago, we had over 3,500 readers vote for their most anticipated movie of the fall movie season — here are the results:

• ‘Cliff Booth’ (David Fincher) — 1130 votes

• “Dune: Part Three” (Denis Villeneuve) — 672

• “Digger” (Alejandro G. Inarritu) — 202

• “I Play Rocky” (Peter Farrelly) — 139

• “Wildwood” (Travis Knight) — 130

• “Possible Love” (Lee Chang-dong) — 127

• “Primetime” (Lance Oppenheim) — 127

• “Werwulf” (Robert Eggers) — 123

• “Wild Horse Nine” (Martin McDonagh) — 113

• “Animals” (Ben Affleck) — 77

• “Resident Evil” (Zach Cregger) — 76

In ninth place is Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine,” which is set for theatrical release on November 6, 2026. Much like his last two directorial efforts, McDonagh will premiere “Wild Horse Nine” at the Venice Film Festival in September before expanding to other fall festivals, including Telluride and TIFF.

McDonagh’s last film was ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’ released in 2022, which received nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. His other works include “In Bruges,” “Seven Psychopaths,” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

Now, I had previously mentioned that the film tested very well in the spring, but it’s now starting to be screened for members of the press. On the AwardsWatch podcast, Erik Anderson shares his enthusiasm for the film, noting that it will be a major player in the upcoming awards season.

He believes the Academy will connect with the film because, despite its specific setting during a 1973 government overthrow in Chile and on Easter Island, it remains highly topical and “about here today.”

Regarding the film’s acting, he highlights Sam Rockwell’s performance as “massive,” suggesting that he effectively functions as a “co-lead” alongside John Malkovich’s “fantastic performance.” Meanwhile, Steve Buscemi appears in only “five scenes,” but makes enough of an impact that he could contend for his first Oscar nomination.

Finally, the women seem to have smaller roles: Mariana Di Girolamo has a “really small part,” while Parker Posey’s appearance is limited to “just two scenes” that are “very frantic and erratic, very funny, but very, very brief.”

“Wild Horse Nine” was previously described as a dark comedy set against the politically charged backdrop of the 1970s, just before Chile’s military coup. The film follows two CIA agents, played by John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, as they embark on a mission that tests their complicated bond and draws them into a series of historical U.S. interventions, including the JFK assassination. At the center of the story is Malkovich’s Chris, a veteran agent struggling with declining health, guilt, and a desire to write his memoir, while Rockwell’s Lee serves as his devoted but equally complex protégé.

According to a person who saw the film a few months ago, the film stands out visually, with cinematographer Ben Davis capturing the stark, almost mystical landscapes of Easter Island and Monument Valley. McDonagh has made an homage to classic spy cinema and a meditation on memory, legacy, and the consequences of one’s actions in history’s shadow. Call it his ‘Secret Agent.’