LOS ANGELES — Ryan Coogler’s supernatural epic Sinners has officially rewritten the history books. In an announcement that stunned the film industry on Thursday morning, the 98th Academy Award nominations revealed that the 1930s-set vampire thriller earned a staggering 16 nominations, the most for any single film in the history of the Oscars.
By securing 16 nods, Sinners has surpassed the long-standing record of 14 nominations previously shared by All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016).
A Sweep Across the Board
The film, which stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as the “Smokestack Twins,” dominated nearly every category for which it was eligible. Its path to the record was bolstered by the Academy’s newly introduced Best Casting category, making Sinners one of the first films to benefit from the expanded field.
Key nominations for the film include:
- Best Picture
- Best Director: Ryan Coogler
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (his first-ever Oscar nomination)
- Best Supporting Actor: Delroy Lindo
- Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku
- Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler
- Technical Dominance: Nods in every technical category, including Cinematography, Production Design, Visual Effects, and Original Score by Ludwig Göransson.
From April Release to Awards Legend
What makes the record particularly notable is the film’s release strategy. While most “Oscar bait” films arrive in late autumn, Warner Bros. released Sinners in April 2025. The film’s blend of Southern Gothic horror, blues music, and racial allegory clearly resonated with voters long after its theatrical debut, where it grossed over $368 million worldwide.
The Competition
While Sinners is the clear frontrunner, it faces stiff competition in a year defined by high-profile auteurs. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another followed closely with 13 nominations, while Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme each secured nine.
The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air on March 15, 2026. All eyes will now be on whether Sinners can break the record for the most wins in a single night—a title currently held by Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King with 11 trophies each.
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