The 98th Academy Awards nominations have been announced, and history has already been made. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations, surpassing the previous high of 14 shared by All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016).
A Historic Sweep
Sinners, a genre-bending horror drama starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, dominated across categories. It earned nods for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Casting, Costume Design, Film Editing, Production Design, Score, Song, and Sound. It also scored in Visual Effects and secured acting nominations for Wunmi Mosaku (Supporting Actress) and Delroy Lindo (Supporting Actor), marking Lindo’s first Oscar nomination.
Close Competition
Another Warner Bros. release, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, followed closely with 13 nominations. The political dramedy, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro, has been a strong contender throughout awards season. Other Best Picture nominees include Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, and Brad Pitt’s racing thriller F1, which surprised many by securing a spot in the top category.
The Big Snub
On the flip side, Wicked: For Good was completely shut out. Just a year after Wicked earned 10 nominations, its sequel failed to land a single nod, making it one of the morning’s biggest shocks.
Key Acting Categories
- Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Emma Stone (Bugonia).
- Supporting Roles: Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku, and Teyana Taylor in Supporting Actress; Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Delroy Lindo, Sean Penn, and Stellan Skarsgård in Supporting Actor.
Expanding Categories
The nominations also highlight the Academy’s evolving recognition of filmmaking disciplines. Casting, introduced for the 2026 ceremony, saw nominees including Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners.
Looking Ahead
With Sinners breaking records and One Battle After Another close behind, the race for Best Picture promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. The winners will be revealed at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, hosted by Conan O’Brien and broadcast live on ABC and Hulu.
