The Secret Agent is experiencing a major upswing in Gold Derby’s 2026 Oscars predictions. Credit the Brazilians?
Director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film now places ninth in our Best Picture Oscar odds (up 18 percent), third for Wagner Moura in Best Actor (up 1 percent), fifth in Best Original Screenplay (up 10 percent), and first in Best International Film (up 1 percent). The Secret Agent is coming off major nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, and just received two mentions on the Oscar shortlists.
The plot takes place in 1977 and chronicles the story of a technology expert (Moura) who flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown of Recife in search of peace. He soon realizes that the city is far from being the refuge he seeks. The Secret Agent is Brazil’s official entry for the Academy Awards.
In recent years, the Academy has substantially expanded its membership, including adding a broader demographic of international voting members. That’s why we’ve seen more and more non-English language films — including Parasite, Drive My Car, Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest, Emilia Pérez, and I’m Still Here — recognized in categories beyond just Best International Film.