'Sinners' Breaks Record with 2026 Oscar Nominations

‘Sinners’ Shatters Oscar Record with 16 Nominations

Ryan Coogler’s period vampire horror film “Sinners” has made Academy Awards history. The film earned a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations for the 2026 ceremony. This surpasses the previous record of 14 nominations held by “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land.” The nominations were announced Thursday by Lewis Pullman and Danielle Brooks. Consequently, “Sinners” is the overwhelming favorite heading into Hollywood’s biggest night. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Its stars Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, and Delroy Lindo also received acting nods.

The film “One Battle After Another” follows with 13 nominations. It sets up several direct contests with “Sinners” in key categories. The 98th Academy Awards will air on ABC on March 15. Host Conan O’Brien will return to helm the ceremony. The nominations confirm a strong year for genre filmmaking and auteur-driven projects. The broad recognition for “Sinners” highlights the Academy’s evolving tastes. Now, let’s examine the major categories and the contenders vying for Oscar gold.

Major Category Contenders and Key Matchups

The Best Picture category features a diverse slate of ten films. Alongside “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another,” nominees include “Bugonia,” “F1,” and “Hamnet.” The lineup also includes “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” and “Train Dreams.” This category promises a tight race between the historical horror epic and the sprawling war drama.

Best Director sees Ryan Coogler recognized for “Sinners.” He competes against Chloé Zhao for “Hamnet,” Josh Safdie for “Marty Supreme,” Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle After Another,” and Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value.” The acting categories feature notable showdowns. Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”) faces Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”) for Best Actor. Meanwhile, Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”) and Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”) are both nominated for Best Supporting Actress. These parallel contests will be central to the awards night narrative.

Complete List of Major Category Nominees

Michael B. Jordan in “Sinners.”
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Best Picture
“Bugonia”
“F1”
“Frankenstein”
“Hamnet”
“Marty Supreme”
“One Battle After Another”
“The Secret Agent”
“Sentimental Value”
“Sinners”
“Train Dreams”

Director Chloé Zhao with actors Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley on the set of "Hamnet." — Director Chloé Zhao with actors Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley on the set of “Hamnet.”
Agata Grzybowska/Focus Features

Best Director
Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet”
Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value”
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”

Renate Reinsve in “Sentimental Value.”
NEON

Best Actress
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue”
Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
Emma Stone, “Bugonia”

Leonardo DiCaprio in “One Battle After Another.”
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”

Amy Madigan in "Weapons." — Amy Madigan in “Weapons.”
Warner Bros.

Best Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value”
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value”
Amy Madigan, “Weapons”
Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”

Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro, “One Battle After Another”
Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
Delroy Lindo, “Sinners”
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
Stellan Skarsgard, “Sentimental Value”

Technical and Craft Category Highlights

“Sinners” dominates the craft and technical fields, reflecting its comprehensive filmmaking achievement. It scored nominations for Best Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling. Additionally, Ludwig Goransson is nominated for Best Original Score. The song “I Lied to You” from the film is up for Best Original Song. The film also garnered nods for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. This sweep indicates respect for the film’s technical artistry and immersive world-building.

Other notable craft achievements include “Frankenstein” and “One Battle After Another.” “Frankenstein” scored nominations for Makeup, Costume Design, and Production Design. “One Battle After Another” earned recognition for its Editing, Cinematography, and Score. The international category features strong contenders like “The Secret Agent” and “Sentimental Value.” The animated feature race includes “Zootopia 2” and “KPop Demon Hunters.” These categories often predict the overall Best Picture winner’s strength across the Academy’s branches.

Analysis of the Record-Breaking Nominations

The historic 16 nominations for “Sinners” signal a shift in Oscar voter preferences. A genre film has never before led the nominations to this degree. The achievement underscores Ryan Coogler’s elevated status in the industry. Furthermore, it highlights the Academy’s increasing embrace of popular cinema executed with high artistic merit. The film’s success also points to the power of a compelling narrative backed by studio marketing. Warner Bros. mounted a formidable campaign that clearly resonated.

However, a nominations lead does not guarantee a sweep on awards night. “La La Land” (14 nominations) famously lost Best Picture to “Moonlight.” “One Battle After Another” remains a formidable challenger, especially in acting and writing categories. The coming weeks of guild awards will clarify the true frontrunner. The Producers Guild (PGA), Directors Guild (DGA), and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards will be critical indicators. The record-breaking Oscar nominations for “Sinners” have set the stage for a dramatic and potentially historic Oscars ceremony.

The Road to the 98th Academy Awards

Campaigning will now intensify ahead of the March 15 ceremony. Nominees will participate in luncheons, interviews, and final screenings to sway voters. The international feature “Sentimental Value,” with six nominations, could be a surprise powerhouse. Its nominations across acting, writing, and directing show deep appreciation. Similarly, “Hamnet” and “Marty Supreme” have passionate support within the Academy.

Voting begins in late February, giving films a short window to make their final case. The host, Conan O’Brien, is expected to bring a sharp comedic perspective to the broadcast. Ultimately, the 2026 Oscars will be remembered for “Sinners” breaking the nominations record. Whether it converts those nods into wins will be the night’s central drama. The full list of Oscar nominations confirms a vibrant and competitive year for film.