Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” makes history with 16 nods
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially released the full list of nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 15, 2026.
In a record-breaking announcement on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic, “Sinners”, emerged as the dominant force, securing a historic 16 nominations. This feat surpasses the previous record of 14 nominations held by “All About Eve”, “Titanic”, and “La La Land”, firmly positioning the film as the frontrunner for this awards season.
Closely following “Sinners” is Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another”, which earned an impressive 13 nominations. Other major contenders include “Marty Supreme”, “Frankenstein”, and “Sentimental Value”, each securing nine nods, while the Shakespearean adaptation “Hamnet” followed with eight. The nominations were presented by actors Lewis Pullman and Danielle Brooks at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, signaling the start of a highly competitive race to the finish line.
The ceremony, which will be hosted by Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, is already drawing significant attention for its diverse lineup. Notable mentions include Michael B. Jordan, who earned his first Best Actor nomination for his dual role in “Sinners”, and British-Nigerian actress Wunmi Mosaku, nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The list also features a new category for Best Casting, reflecting the Academy’s ongoing efforts to modernize the awards and recognize the vital work of casting directors.
Top categories and major contenders for the 98th Oscars
The “Big Five” categories—Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay—are particularly crowded this year with a mix of veteran filmmakers and fresh faces. Chloé Zhao returns to the director’s circle with “Hamnet”, competing against Josh Safdie and Joachim Trier. In the acting categories, Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio are set for a high-stakes showdown, while Emma Stone seeks to add another statuette to her collection for her performance in “Bugonia”.
| Category | Nominees |
| Best Picture | “Bugonia”, “F1”, “Frankenstein”, “Hamnet”, “Marty Supreme”, “One Battle After Another”, “The Secret Agent”, “Sentimental Value”, “Sinners”, “Train Dreams” |
| Best Director | Chloé Zhao (“Hamnet”), Josh Safdie (“Marty Supreme”), Paul Thomas Anderson (“One Battle After Another”), Joachim Trier (“Sentimental Value”), Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”) |
| Best Actor | Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Wagner Moura |
| Best Actress | Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, Emma Stone |
The International Feature Film category also showcases a global reach, with entries from Brazil, France, Norway, Spain, and Tunisia. “The Secret Agent” from Brazil and “Sirât” from Spain are currently being touted by critics as the ones to watch. Meanwhile, the Animated Feature category sees a battle between major studios and indie darlings, with Disney’s “Zootopia 2” going up against the visually stunning “Arco”.
Technical excellence and cultural impact lead the race
Beyond the star-studded acting categories, the 2026 nominations highlight the technical mastery behind the year’s biggest hits. “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” dominated the technical crafts, including Cinematography, Production Design, and Film Editing. Analysts note that “Sinners” has achieved a rare feat by landing a nomination in almost every category it was eligible for, a testament to Ryan Coogler’s meticulous vision for the film’s “History of the Blues” narrative.
The 98th Oscars are expected to be a major cultural moment, especially with the high viewership of films like “Sinners” and “F1”, which helped revitalize the global box office in 2025. Fans are particularly excited about the Original Song category, which features heavyweights like Diane Warren and a multi-contributor track from “KPop Demon Hunters”. As the industry prepares for the final voting period, the conversation has already shifted to whether this will be the year Ryan Coogler becomes the first Black director to win the top prize.
