As awards season heats up, the 2025 film Sinners continues to rack up nominations and critical praise. The Warner Bros. release earned seven Golden Globe nominations in December, cementing its place as one of the year’s most talked-about films. But amid the celebration, one notable absence has left critics and fans frustrated: Delroy Lindo. While stars Michael B. Jordan and writer-director Ryan Coogler received major recognition, Lindo’s omission from the Golden Globe nominations stood out as one of the most glaring snubs of the season.
A Performance That Anchors Sinners
In Sinners, Lindo delivers a powerful turn as Delta Slim, an aging blues musician whose outward humor masks deep trauma. The character initially appears as comic relief, but gradually becomes one of the film’s emotional cores. Critics have pointed to Lindo’s ability to balance drama and dark humor as one of the movie’s greatest strengths. His portrayal adds emotional depth to Coogler’s 1930s-set horror narrative, grounding the film’s more surreal and terrifying elements in human pain and history. One scene in particular — a quiet car ride in which Slim recounts the lynching of a fellow musician — has been widely cited as awards-worthy. The moment reframes the entire film, shifting the audience’s understanding of Slim and intensifying the story’s emotional stakes.
A Familiar Pattern of Awards Overlook
Despite a career spanning decades, Lindo has never received an Oscar or Golden Globe nomination — a fact many industry observers see as long overdue for correction. His work in Spike Lee films such as Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and Da 5 Bloods earned acclaim but little awards traction. The Golden Globes snub for Sinners feels especially sharp given that many critics consider it one of Lindo’s finest performances to date. Some have even called it a career-best role, combining subtlety, rage, sorrow, and wit in equal measure.
Why Oscar Hope Still Remains
Although the Golden Globes overlooked Lindo, awards momentum does not end there. The Academy Awards often chart a different course, particularly in the Best Supporting Actor category. This year’s field is expected to be competitive, with buzz surrounding performances from Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Jesse Plemons, Stellan Skarsgård, and Jacob Elordi. Even so, many believe Lindo’s work stands shoulder to shoulder with the strongest contenders. Industry insiders note that Academy voters sometimes respond more strongly to emotionally resonant, character-driven performances — precisely the kind Lindo delivers in Sinners.
A Critical Moment for Recognition
As awards season continues, fans and critics alike are watching closely to see whether the Academy will finally acknowledge Lindo’s contribution. For many, an Oscar nomination would not only honor his work in Sinners but also serve as overdue recognition for a career defined by consistency and excellence. Whether or not the nod comes, Lindo’s performance has already left a lasting mark — one that many believe deserves to be remembered alongside the year’s very best.
