In a historic moment for Hollywood and the Oscars, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners has set a new Academy Awards record by earning 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film in the history of the Academy Awards.
The supernatural blues epic, which blends horror, music, and social commentary, topped the list announced Thursday for the 98th Academy Awards. It’s 16 nominations surpass the previous all-time high of 14, a mark long held by classic films such as All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016).
“This is pretty crazy,” director Ryan Coogler said in response to the nominations, noting that the response from fans and audiences has been a driving force behind the film’s success.
Among the nominations, Sinners secured nods in major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director for Coogler, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan—marking Jordan’s first Oscar nomination. The film also received recognition in several acting and technical fields: supporting acting nods for Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku, plus nominations in categories such as Original Score, Original Song, Production Design, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects.
Industry observers said the record haul reflects both the Academy’s growing openness to genre-bending storytelling and Sinners’ wide critical and commercial appeal. Released in April 2025, the film has garnered praise for its bold narrative and immersive world, grossing hundreds of millions of dollars globally.
Trailing Sinners in nominations this year is Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which earned 13 nods, and several other acclaimed films such as Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, and Sentimental Value, with nine nominations apiece.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026, where Sinners will vie for cinema’s most prestigious honors against a strong field in what promises to be one of the most competitive years in recent memory.
