Sinners Dominates 98th Academy Awards With Record-Breaking 16 Nominations Across Categories

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The Oscar 2026 nominations were announced. Ryan Coogler’s movie Sinners, which features Michael B. Jordan in the leading role and has an all-star cast that includes Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo, broke new records for the most nominated films of all time with 16 nominations (the 98th Academy Awards have also created many categories). Sinners received nominations in all major award categories, indicating that this film received a high degree of support from the Academy in terms of both storytelling and technical achievements.

Record-Breaking Recognition for Coogler’s Film

The nominations include Best Picture, Best Director for Ryan Coogler, Best Leading Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, and Best Supporting Actor for Delroy Lindo. The other categories include Best Original Screenplay, Cinematography, and Production Design, Original Score, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, Visual Effects, and Casting. The film breaks all the existing records that All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016) had established.

Michael B. Jordan’s Dual Role and Film Highlights

Sinners, set in the 1932 Mississippi Delta, features Michael B. Jordan as the Smokestack Twins—Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore. The film also marks the debut of Miles Caton and includes performances by Jack O’Connell, Jayme Lawson, and Omar Miller. Released on April 18, 2025, with a budget of $90–100 million, it earned $368.3 million globally, showcasing both critical and commercial success.

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Other Leading Oscar Contenders

Leonardo DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another received 13 nominations, while Marty Supreme Frankenstein and Sentimental Value each received nine nominations. Hamnet is listed in eight categories. The nominations show a competitive field, yet Sinners distinguishes itself because it achieved historical record-breaking success and won all available awards in both creative and technical categories.

Conclusion: A Landmark Moment for Cinema

Sinners by Ryan Coogler exemplifies a unique blend of commercial success, artistic creativity, and widespread critical acclaim. The Academy awarded Sinners 16 nominations, indicating that they are now recognizing that films can be written in different ways than the traditional format still offers a superior storytelling experience. With the critical success of Sinners, Coogler and Michael B. Jordan are expected to set new standards for diverse narratives and solidify Michael B. Jordan and Coogler as major cinematic forces.