Oscar nominations 2026: Amy Madigan makes history, breaks 55-year-old record

When the Oscar nominations 2026 were announced, one name immediately stood out and not just because it came from a horror film. Amy Madigan’s nomination for Weapons quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the Academy Awards and for good reason.

Back when Weapons premiered last August, awards buzz around Madigan felt hopeful but uncertain. Horror performances rarely survive the long awards season grind. Still, momentum built. Critics circled her work. A major precursor win followed and then, quietly but decisively, the Oscar nominations 2026 sealed it.

Amy Madigan is officially a Best Supporting Actress nominee for Weapons, making this one of the most satisfying surprises of the Oscar nominations 2026. It also marks a rare year when the Academy didn’t turn its back on horror, something longtime observers noticed immediately.

This is not Amy Madigan’s first brush with Oscar attention, but the timing is historic. Her previous nomination came four decades ago. Forty years. No actress in Academy history has ever waited that long between nominations. The Oscar nominations 2026 now place Amy Madigan alone in the record books, surpassing a mark that had stood untouched for 55 years.

Helen Hayes previously held the record with a 39-year gap, and for decades it seemed unbreakable. The Oscar nominations 2026 finally changed that. Amy Madigan didn’t just edge past it, she redefined what a long career arc can look like in Hollywood.

What makes this moment land even harder is Weapons itself. This wasn’t a legacy nomination or a career “thank you.”

It was a sharp, demanding performance in Weapons that forced voters to pay attention. Amy Madigan gave the film its emotional weight, and the Oscar nominations 2026 recognized that.

Now, with the Oscar nominations 2026 locked in, Amy Madigan also has a chance to make history again if she wins. Age records are suddenly in play. Perspective shifts. Careers look different.

For now, though, the headline stands: Oscar nominations 2026 belong to Amy Madigan — and Weapons made it happen.