Sinners Smashes Oscar Record With 16 Nominations

The glitz, the glamour, and the surprises—the 98th Academy Awards nominations have landed, and Hollywood is abuzz with excitement, record-breaking achievements, and a few notable snubs. On the morning of January 22, 2026, actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman took the stage at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles to reveal the contenders for film’s most coveted prizes. As the world tuned in live across ABC, Hulu, and the Academy’s digital channels, the air was thick with anticipation. And what an announcement it was.

Leading the charge this year is Ryan Coogler’s supernatural Southern Gothic epic, Sinners, which not only dominated the field but also made Oscar history. According to NBC News, “Sinners” snagged 16 nominations, shattering the previous record of 14 held jointly by Titanic, La La Land, and All About Eve. The film’s impressive haul includes nods for best picture, best director, best original screenplay, best casting (a brand-new category this year), and a slew of technical and acting categories. Michael B. Jordan, who stars in a dual role as twin brothers, earned his first Oscar nomination for the film, joining a group of 11 first-time acting nominees recognized by the Academy this year.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another was not far behind, earning 13 nominations, including two for best supporting actor (Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn). Other heavy hitters include Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, and Marty Supreme, each with nine nominations, while Hamnet collected eight. The best picture race is as competitive as ever, featuring a diverse slate: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams.

The 2026 Oscars ceremony, set for Sunday, March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, will see comedian Conan O’Brien return as host for the second year in a row. The event will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, a nod to the evolving ways audiences watch major events. The Walt Disney Co., parent company of both ABC and Hulu, continues to play a pivotal role in Oscars coverage. As NBC News pointed out, the Academy has also inked a deal to move the Oscars to YouTube starting in 2029, marking a new era for the awards show after decades on broadcast television.

One of the most talked-about changes this year is the introduction of the best casting category, the first new competitive Oscar since best animated feature was added in 2001. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the move has been widely praised as long overdue, recognizing the crucial role casting directors play in shaping the stories audiences love. The inaugural nominees for best casting are Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners.

This year’s nominations also reflect a strong international presence. Indie distributor Neon, in particular, made a splash by securing four out of five slots in the best international feature film category—It Was Just an Accident (France), The Secret Agent (Brazil), Sentimental Value (Norway), and Sirât (Spain)—demonstrating the Academy’s growing appreciation for global cinema. The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), a poignant story following the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s efforts in Gaza, rounded out the category.

The acting categories are full of fresh faces and emotional reactions. Elle Fanning, nominated for her role in Sentimental Value, expressed her disbelief on Instagram: “I can’t catch my breath. I am in absolute shock. What an honor to have my first Academy Award nomination be for a film that acknowledges the power of moviemaking and family!” Jessie Buckley, up for best actress for Hamnet, told the TODAY show, “I am just so thrilled for everyone whose been part of making this film and so proud to be standing by all these incredible women.”

Veteran actors and newcomers alike are being recognized. Delroy Lindo, at 73, earned his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Sinners, prompting widespread celebration online. Other first-time nominees include Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).

Of course, no Oscar nominations announcement would be complete without a few surprises and snubs. As reported by Variety, Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another) was widely expected to land a best actress nod, and Paul Mescal (Hamnet) was tipped for best supporting actor. Both were left out, possibly due to category confusion over their performances. Guillermo Del Toro, whose Frankenstein earned nine nominations, was surprisingly omitted from the best director race despite a Directors Guild Awards nod. Big-budget sequels like Wicked: For Good and Avatar: Fire and Ash also saw less recognition than anticipated, with the latter earning just two nominations—a franchise low.

This year, the Academy made a notable push for inclusivity and transparency. According to NBC News, a record 74 women are nominated across all categories, surpassing the previous record of 71 set in 2023. The Academy also required voters to confirm they had watched every nominated film in each category before casting their ballots, a policy aimed at ensuring informed and fair voting.

On the studio front, Warner Bros. Discovery had a banner year, collecting 30 nominations across its films, including the lion’s share for Sinners and One Battle After Another. CEO David Zaslav hailed the achievement as “a truly golden moment for our company and also a powerful validation of our strategy—to believe in movies, to believe in original storytelling, and to believe in the theatrical experience.” Netflix and Neon each amassed 18 nominations, while Focus Features and A24 rounded out the top five with 13 and 11 nominations, respectively.

Fans of genre films had reason to celebrate, too. The Academy, historically lukewarm toward horror, showered Sinners—a vampire saga—and Frankenstein with nominations, marking a rare embrace of darker fare. The animated feature race is led by Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, which has captured audiences worldwide with its infectious soundtrack and pop culture appeal.

As the countdown to March 15 begins, all eyes are on the Dolby Theatre, where Hollywood’s brightest stars will gather to see who takes home the gold. With a record-breaking field, a new category honoring casting, and a global slate of nominees, the 98th Academy Awards promise to be as unpredictable as they are historic.

With the stage set, the world waits to see which films and artists will emerge victorious on Oscar night—a testament to the enduring power and passion of cinema.