The vampire thriller Sinners has rewritten Oscars history by earning a record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations, making it the most nominated film of all time. The Warner Bros production has emerged as the frontrunner in this year’s awards race and is a strong contender for Best Picture.
Set in the segregation-era American South, Sinners blends supernatural horror with social commentary, celebrating blues music and Black culture while exploring themes of racism and inequality. The film’s nomination tally surpasses the long-standing record of 14 nominations previously held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.
At the center of the film’s success is Michael B Jordan, who received a Best Actor nomination for his dual role as twin brothers running a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. His performance anchors the story, which escalates into a violent clash involving gangsters and vampires, serving as an allegory for racial segregation. Jordan now faces stiff competition from Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet.
DiCaprio earned his nomination for One Battle After Another, an unconventional action film that secured 13 nominations overall. Chalamet, meanwhile, was recognized for his role in Marty Supreme, a sports drama centered around professional table tennis. The category is shaping up to be one of the most competitive of the night.
Sinners also earned nominations for director Ryan Coogler, supporting actors Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku, as well as cinematography, costume design, original screenplay, and visual effects. Its Best Picture competitors include Frankenstein, Hamnet, Bugonia, F1, Train Dreams, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme, and One Battle After Another.
This year’s Oscar nominations reflect a broad range of storytelling styles, spanning historical dramas, political thrillers, sports films, and supernatural horror. Many of the nominated titles are also major box office successes, a factor that could boost audience interest ahead of the March 15 awards ceremony.
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley received a nomination for Hamnet, portraying Agnes Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare. Kate Hudson also earned recognition for Song Sung Blue, a film inspired by a Neil Diamond tribute band. Chloé Zhao received a directing nomination for Hamnet, though Paul Mescal, who played Shakespeare, was notably absent from the acting categories.
International cinema also made a strong showing. Tunisian film The Voice of Hind Rajab and Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident were nominated for Best International Feature.
Warner Bros Discovery led all studios with 30 nominations, while Netflix continued its pursuit of a first Best Picture win with nominations for Frankenstein and Train Dreams. The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien and broadcast on ABC, with streaming available on Hulu.
