Los Angeles: Vampire horror film Sinners has rewritten Oscar history, becoming the most nominated film ever after securing 16 nominations, the highest total for a single movie in the Academy Awards’ history.
The film surpassed the previous record of 14 nominations and finished ahead of its closest competitor this year, One Battle After Another, which received 13 nods. The announcement places Sinners firmly at the centre of this year’s awards season, defying long-held assumptions that horror films struggle to gain recognition from the Academy.
Among the nominees for Sinners is its lead actor, Michael B Jordan, who is recognised for his dual role as twin brothers returning to Mississippi in the 1930s to open a juke joint that becomes the target of vampires. British actors Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo are also nominated, making the film a major contender for acting honours.
Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the “Sinners” cast and crew with a record-setting 16 Academy Award® nominations for the 98th Academy Awards!
*Best Picture – Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler
*Best Director – Ryan Coogler
*Best Original Screenplay – Ryan Coogler… pic.twitter.com/hGhhYeLS3f— SinnersMovie (@SinnersMovie) January 22, 2026
Director Ryan Coogler earned nominations for directing, writing, and producing, while Sinners is also in contention for best picture. The film blends supernatural horror with themes of racism in the American South.
One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, explores political unrest in the United States and has been a leading favourite throughout the awards season. DiCaprio is nominated for best actor, alongside supporting nominations for Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor, as well as a directing nod for Paul Thomas Anderson. Despite trailing Sinners in nominations, it remains a strong contender for the top prize.
This year’s acting races are highly competitive. Timothée Chalamet has earned his third acting nomination at the age of 30 for Marty Supreme, becoming the youngest man to reach that milestone since Marlon Brando. Ethan Hawke picked up his fifth nomination for Blue Moon, while Wagner Moura was recognised for The Secret Agent.
Oscars nominations are starting NOW! #Oscars https://t.co/MqR1AWYgVJ
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 22, 2026
In the best actress category, Jessie Buckley is widely seen as the frontrunner for Hamnet, while Emma Stone reached another milestone by becoming the youngest woman to receive seven Oscar nominations, this time for Bugonia.
The nominations also reflect a growing international presence, with a record four acting nominations for non-English language performances. Animated hit K-pop Demon Hunters emerged as a strong contender in the animation and music categories, while the Wicked sequel was notably absent after widespread expectations of recognition.
The nominations are a boost for Warner Bros, which produced both Sinners and One Battle After Another, as the studio weighs potential sale options. The Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Hollywood on March 15, where Sinners will attempt to convert its record-breaking nominations into major wins.
