Sinners has broken the all-time record for Oscar nominations with 16, surpassing the previous high of 14 set by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. The vampire horror film, directed by Ryan Coogler, earned nominations in all major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan.
One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, secured the second-most nominations with 13, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio. Other top contenders include Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, and Sentimental Value, each with nine nominations, while Hamnet received eight.
Key Nominations and Snubs
Australian actors Jacob Elordi and Rose Byrne earned nominations for their roles in Frankenstein and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, respectively. However, notable snubs included Chase Infiniti from One Battle After Another and Paul Mescal from Hamnet.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, 2026, hosted by Conan O’Brien. The ceremony will introduce a new award for achievement in casting, bringing the total number of Oscars to 24.
International and Genre Representation
International films made a strong showing, with Sentimental Value (Norway) and The Secret Agent (Brazil) earning multiple nominations, including Best Picture. The Oscars also recognized non-English language performances, with four actors nominated in acting categories.
Sinners defied expectations by dominating across technical and creative categories, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score. The film’s success highlights a shift in Academy recognition for genre films, particularly horror.
Controversies and Reactions
Some industry observers noted the absence of Wicked: For Good and its stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from the nominations. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley is considered a frontrunner for Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, while Rose Byrne has been a consistent favorite in the category.
The nominations were announced by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills. The full list of nominees includes a diverse range of films and performances, reflecting the Academy’s evolving tastes and priorities.