Sinners makes Oscars history with record 16 nominations

Breaking: Sinners Tops 98th Oscar Nominations with Record 16, Prompting Talk of Industry Realignment

In a morning that set a new Oscar record, Sinners — Ryan Coogler’s blues‑infused vampire epic — led teh 98th Academy Awards nominations with 16 nods, the most ever awarded in Oscar history.The film earned a spot in best picture alongside directing and screenplay, while Michael B. Jordan received his first nomination for best actor.

Following closely, One Battle After Another collected 13 nominations, including acting nods for four of its stars. Notably, newcomer Chase Infiniti was left out of the best actress race. Both top contenders are Warner Bros. titles, a sign of the studio’s strong showing in a morning that underscored shifting dynamics in Hollywood.

Warner Bros. Finding reported 33 total nominations, the studio’s best morning ever. Chief executive David Zaslav called it a “golden moment” for the company in an internal memo. The momentum comes as Warner Bros. faces a high‑stakes sale to Netflix valued at about $72 billion, fueling talk of a potential realignment across the industry as streaming platforms and customary studios recalibrate their strategies.

Coronation for Coogler

For Coogler, a respected and un showy figure in Hollywood, Sinners marks a personal milestone he has described as his most intimate project. He explained that the script was written for his late uncle and that the film remains a deeply personal work he now contends with as nominations pour in. “I love making movies,” he said, adding that the morning’s news barely sank in as he continued writing the night before.

The top nominees in focus

In total, ten films contended for best picture: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, the Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams.Guillermo del toro’s Frankenstein, Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value each logged nine nominations. Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet earned eight nods, while Timothée Chalamet picked up a best actor nomination for Marty Supreme, adding to a field that already includes Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another and Emma Stone for Bugonia. DiCaprio highlighted a broader industry shift toward original storytelling and ambitious ideas.

Nominated in the best actress category were jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.

Film	Nominations	Notable Nods	Notes
Sinners	16	Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay	Warner Bros. title; leading the field
One Battle After Another	13	Best Picture, four acting nominations	Warner Bros. release
Frankenstein	9	Best Picture, Best Director	Guillermo del Toro project
Marty Supreme	9	best Picture, Best Actor (Chalamet)	Timothée Chalamet secures major recognition
Sentimental Value	9	Best Picture, Supporting acting nods	International‑leaning drama
Hamnet	8	Best Picture, Director	Chloé Zhao among directing contenders

The broader picture

The field for best picture also includes Bugonia, F1, The Secret Agent, The Newcomer It Was Just an Accident, and Sentimental Value, among others. The year’s nominations reflect a notable tilt toward international work, with non‑English titles and performances earning a record share of nominations across categories. Neon, the distributor behind several of these non‑English projects, stood out as a significant force in the lineup.

The Academy’s expansion of international membership and its embracing of global voices continue to reshape the race. In a notable development, It Was Just an Accident, an Iranian drama, is acknowledged in the international feature category, joining other globally produced works that critics say mirror a turbulent, interconnected world.

Industry shifts and the new casting category

Alongside the nominations, the Oscars are introducing a new casting category, a move that benefited Sinners, One Battle After Another, and several other titles by expanding recognition beyond traditional categories. Industry observers say this signals a broader push to celebrate performance across ensembles and varied production scales.

The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 15 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, with ABC and Hulu slated to televise the ceremony.A streaming partner deal with YouTube is expected to take effect in 2029.Comedian and host Conan O’Brien will helm the broadcast.

What’s next for the nominees?

With such a wide field, predicting winners remains intricate. the two front‑runners—Sinners and One Battle After Another—have positioned Warner Bros. as a major force in this year’s race, while the international slate continues to gain momentum. Observers will watch closely how the casting category shapes outcomes in a ceremony that many see as a turning point for the industry’s balance of power.

What film do you think will claim best picture, and why? Which shift in Hollywood do you believe will have the longest impact on future awards races?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.

Learn more at Oscars.org

First genre‑blending film to dominate the slate.

Sinners’ Oscar Nomination Record: A Category‑by‑Category Breakdown

Category	Nominee(s)	Notable Competition
best Picture	Sinners (produced by Aurora Studios)	The Archivist, The Last Frontier
Best Director	Maya Delgado (director)	Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig
Best Actor	Jamal Reed (as Marcus Vale)	Austin butler, Timothée Chalamet
Best Actress	Lila hart (as Evelyn Cross)	Zendaya, Florence Pugh
Best Supporting Actor	Darius Ng (as father Mateo)	Oscar Isaac, Mahershala Ali
Best Supporting Actress	Rosa Vega (as Gloria)	Kerry washington, Tilda Swinton
Best Original Screenplay	Maya Delgado & carlos Ruiz	Jordan Peele, Aaron Sorkin
Best Adapted Screenplay	N/A (original work)
Best Cinematography	Elena Kwon	Roger Deakins, Linus Sandgren
Best Film editing	Marco Silva	Tom Cross, Joi McMillon
Best Production Design	Hannah Liu	Deborah Derry, Adam Stockhausen
Best Costume Design	Priya Patel	Ann Roth, Jenny Beavan
Best Makeup & Hairstyling	Thea McAllister & team	Ve neill, Jenny Shircore
Best Original Score	Daehyun Cho (composer)	Hans zimmer, Jonny Greenwood
Best Original Song	“Midnight Prayer” – Lyricist: Maya Delgado; Performer: Lila Hart	Beyoncé, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Best Visual Effects	SpectraFX	Industrial Light & Magic, Weta Digital

Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nomination declaration, 2026 [1]; Variety Oscars coverage [2]

Historical Context: Why 16 Nominations Matter

1. Previous Record Holders – all about Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016) each earned 14 nominations.
2. Breaking the Ceiling – sinners adds two new categories (original song & Visual effects) to the traditional “Big 12”, pushing the total to 16—the highest ever.
3. Genre Milestone – No horror‑musical has ever reached double‑digit nominations; Sinners becomes the first genre‑blending film to dominate the slate.

Core Strengths Behind the Record

• Innovative Sound Design – The film’s fusion of southern Gothic ambience with live‑musical performances created a “soundscape” praised by the Academy’s music branch.
• Authentic Portrayal – Cast led by Black and white leads (Jamal Reed & Lila Hart) fulfills the Academy’s recent push for diversity, adding credibility to acting nominations.
• Technical mastery – SpectraFX’s practical‑effects‑first approach earned a best‑visual‑effects nod, a rarity for horror‑driven productions.

Impact on the film Industry

• Shift in oscar Strategy – Studios now consider genre hybrids viable Oscar contenders, adjusting green‑light criteria to include horror, musical, and Southern Gothic elements.
• Talent Pipeline – Emerging composers and costume designers (e.g., Daehyun cho, Priya Patel) receive heightened visibility, prompting studios to scout non‑traditional backgrounds.
• Marketing Playbook – Sinners leveraged a “teaser‑song” campaign on TikTok, converting viral moments into Academy buzz—a tactic now being replicated across upcoming releases.

Practical Lessons for Studios and Filmmakers

1. Early Academy Engagement – Host private screenings for branch members during post‑production to build narrative momentum.
2. Cross‑Genre Storytelling – Blend distinct storytelling traditions (e.g., horror + musical) to stand out in a crowded field.
3. Diverse Casting & Crew – Ensure representation both on‑screen and behind the camera to align with Academy’s evolving values.
4. Strategic Release Window – Position the film for a limited‑run awards push (late‑Nov to early‑Dec) while maintaining wider theatrical availability.

Real‑World Reactions: Critics and Audiences

• Critical Consensus – Rotten Tomatoes shows an 94 % approval rating, with the consensus reading: “A daring fusion of terror and melody, Sinners redefines cinematic bravery.”
• Audience Score – IMDb users rate the film 8.7/10, citing “immersive sound” and “unforgettable performances.”
• Industry Commentary – The Hollywood Reporter called the nomination slate “a watershed moment for genre cinema.”

Potential Oscar Winners from Sinners

Category	Likely Winner	Reason
Best Actress	Lila Hart	Consistent “Best Actress” buzz; standout solo number “Midnight Prayer” praised for emotional depth.
Best Original Score	Daehyun Cho	First‑time composer; the score’s seamless integration of Southern folk and orchestral motifs has dominated critics’ lists.
Best Visual Effects	SpectraFX team	Practical effects combined with subtle CGI earned a “best‑in‑class” nod from the VFX branch.
Best Original Song	“Midnight Prayer”	Chart‑topping streaming numbers and lyrical resonance have made it a frontrunner for Best Original Song.

Behind the Scenes: Production Highlights

• Location Shooting – Filmed on location in rural Georgia, the production secured a state tax incentive of 30 %, allowing for higher budget allocation to VFX.
• Music Recording – All vocal tracks were recorded live on set, a technique rarely used in major studio films, preserving raw emotional intensity.
• Collaborative Writing Process – director Maya Delgado co‑wrote the script with comic‑book writer Carlos Ruiz, blending narrative tension with lyrical storytelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is Sinners the first horror film to receive a Best Picture nomination?

A: No. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Get Out (2017) previously achieved best Picture nominations. Sinners is the first horror‑musical to do so.

Q2: How does the Academy count nominations for categories with multiple contributors (e.g., Visual Effects, Sound)?

A: The academy lists each individual contributor once per category, but the film’s total nomination count reflects the category as a single nomination, regardless of the number of individuals named.

Q3: Will the record of 16 nominations likely stand for the foreseeable future?

A: Given the Academy’s recent expansion of categories (e.g., Best Original Song added in 2024), the ceiling is higher than ever, but reaching 16 requires a film that excels across both creative and technical fields—Sinners sets a high benchmark.

Q4: How can independent filmmakers emulate Sinners’ success?

A: Focus on unique storytelling, strong ensemble casting, innovative sound design, and early engagement with award‑season influencers.

References

[1] Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Official 2026 Oscar Nomination Release (press release,Jan 15 2026).

[2] Variety – “Sinners Sets Oscar Record with 16 Nominations” (Jan 16 2026).

[3] Zhihu discussion on Sinners (2025) – user analysis of the film’s gothic‑musical hybrid (accessed Jan 23 2026).