Oscars 2026: 'Sinners' Makes History with Record-Breaking 16 Nominations
The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards have been unveiled, with Ryan Coogler's blues-infused vampire drama Sinners dominating the field with an unprecedented 16 nominations. This achievement sets a new benchmark in Oscar history, surpassing the previous record of 14 nominations held by cinematic classics All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.
A Groundbreaking Achievement in Film
Until Thursday morning's announcement, no film had ever received more than 14 Oscar nominations in a single year. Sinners has now rewritten that record, establishing itself as a formidable contender across multiple categories. The film's success highlights the creative vision of director Ryan Coogler and the powerful performances of its cast.
In addition to securing a nomination for Best Picture, Coogler earned nods for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Star Michael B. Jordan received his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, playing dual roles as twins named Smoke and Stack. The film also garnered nominations for supporting actors Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo, as well as recognition in the newly created category for Best Casting.
Behind the Scenes of 'Sinners'
In interviews prior to the film's release last spring, Coogler shared that he aimed to create a project that honored his family's deep appreciation for blues music while blending it with his passion for vampire mythology. "A big element of blues songs was this idea of selling your soul to the devil and making a deal," Jordan explained. "Vampires were seen as one of those creatures that made deals with folks. How he tied it all together with family and music and the supernatural element of it all was great."
Jordan described the film as a "real genre fluid film," showcasing its unique blend of musical and horror elements. The critical and commercial success of Sinners demonstrates the audience's appetite for innovative storytelling that pushes traditional boundaries.
Competitive Field of Nominees
Paul Thomas Anderson's political thriller One Battle After Another, which recently won Best Picture at the Golden Globes, followed closely with 13 nominations. Its stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn all received acting nominations, setting up intense competition in their respective categories.
The remaining Best Picture nominees include a diverse range of films:
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Train Dreams
Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value each earned nine nominations, highlighting the strength of this year's cinematic offerings.
Key Acting Categories to Watch
In the Best Actor category, Michael B. Jordan faces stiff competition from Golden Globe winner Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. Chalamet, who also serves as a producer on Marty Supreme, could potentially win multiple awards if his film performs well in the Best Picture race.
The Best Actress category features two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone, who earned her sixth acting nomination for Bugonia. She competes against Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, and Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value.
Supporting actor nominations include Delroy Lindo and Benicio del Toro from Sinners and One Battle After Another respectively, alongside Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, Sean Penn for One Battle After Another, and Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value.
In the supporting actress field, Wunmi Mosaku and Teyana Taylor are joined by Amy Madigan for Weapons, and Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value.
Directorial Excellence and Animated Contenders
The Best Director category features Ryan Coogler, Paul Thomas Anderson, Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value. This lineup represents some of the most visionary filmmakers working today, each bringing distinct artistic perspectives to their projects.
Streaming sensation KPop Demon Hunters, which has accumulated over half a billion views on Netflix, received nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. This recognition underscores the growing influence of streaming platforms in the awards landscape.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, broadcast live on ABC. With Sinners leading the nominations, this year's Oscars promise to be a celebration of cinematic achievement and boundary-pushing creativity.
