Conan O’Brien Faces a Comedic Conundrum with “Train Dreams” Ahead of the 2026 Oscars
As the countdown to the 2026 Academy Awards intensifies, seasoned late-night host Conan O’Brien, 62, gears up for his second consecutive year at the helm of Hollywood’s biggest night. In anticipation of the prestigious ceremony, O’Brien recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to offer a peek into his hosting preparations. He revealed that his usual routine of testing new material at various Los Angeles comedy clubs has encountered an unexpected roadblock: a film so seemingly unjokable that even his acclaimed writing team has struggled to find humour in it.
“There are certain areas we cannot crack,” O’Brien admitted, singling out the critically acclaimed film Train Dreams as a particular challenge. Despite his and his writers’ best efforts, the movie has proven resistant to comedic dissection.
Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, is a poignant depiction of Robert Grainier (Edgerton), a railroad worker and logger who carves out a solitary existence in the rugged forests of the Pacific Northwest. The film is set against the backdrop of immense societal and technological shifts in early 20th-century America, portraying a life of quiet resilience amidst profound change. O’Brien described it as “a beautiful movie, but it’s just no joke sticks to it.”
The comedian elaborated on the perplexing situation, sharing that his writers have churned out an astonishing 5,000 jokes about Train Dreams. “Not one of them is any good! And these are very good writers,” he insisted, playfully shifting blame to the film itself. “So I blame Train Dreams. I think it’s the movie.”
To illustrate the difficulty, O’Brien shared what he considers the “best Train Dreams joke out of 5,000,” prefacing it with a disclaimer about its quality. Reading from a card, he delivered the line: ” Train Dreams was nominated for Best Picture. Finally, a movie that proves being a Pacific Northwest lumberjack in the early 1900s wasn’t as fun as it sounds.”
The studio audience offered a mixture of polite laughter and sympathetic applause, a reaction O’Brien immediately recognised and dismissed. “No! Pity applause doesn’t work!” he exclaimed. “You waited, you were sad as I was. That’s why you’re not going to see this.” His playful critique highlighted the film’s serious and perhaps melancholic tone, which seems to defy easy comedic interpretation.
Directed by Clint Bentley, Train Dreams is not only vying for the coveted Best Picture award but is also recognised in other significant categories. The film has earned nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Original Song, and Best Adapted Screenplay, underscoring its artistic merit beyond its perceived comedic unsuitability.
A Stellar Lineup for Best Picture
The Best Picture category at the 2026 Oscars features a formidable array of cinematic achievements, making Train Dreams‘s nomination all the more notable. O’Brien’s comedic struggles aside, the competition is fierce, with a diverse range of genres and storytelling approaches represented. Among the other contenders are:
- Sinners: Ryan Coogler’s innovative vampire thriller, promising suspense and genre-bending creativity.
- One Battle After Another: A caper from the acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson, likely to be filled with his signature character studies and intricate plotting.
- Marty Supreme: Josh Safdie’s entry into the drama genre, focusing on the intense world of table tennis.
- Hamnet: Chloé Zhao’s exploration of Shakespearean themes, bringing her distinctive directorial vision to a period piece.
- Frankenstein: Guillermo del Toro’s anticipated reimagining of the classic monster tale, expected to be visually stunning and thematically rich.
- F1: A blockbuster from Brad Pitt, presumably centred on the high-octane world of Formula 1 racing.
- Bugonia: Yorgos Lanthimos’s foray into alien science fiction, hinting at his characteristic surrealism and dark humour.
- The Secret Agent: A Brazilian political thriller, offering a look at international intrigue and suspense.
- Sentimental Value: Joachim Trier’s contribution to the drama category, likely a deeply personal and character-driven story.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to broadcast live on Sunday, with proceedings commencing at 7pm ET/4pm PT on ABC. As Conan O’Brien prepares to navigate the evening, the enduring mystery of Train Dreams and its resistance to humour serves as a quirky footnote to the grand spectacle of Hollywood’s most celebrated night. Whether the film’s serious undertones will translate into Oscar gold remains to be seen, but its ability to stump even a master comedian like O’Brien certainly adds an intriguing layer to the awards season.
