The 98th Academy Awards: ‘Sinners’ Makes History with Record 16 Nominations

The race for the 98th Academy Awards has officially begun, and it is already one for the record books. In a morning that celebrated the return of the “prestige blockbuster,” Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic Sinners emerged as a historical juggernaut, shattering the all-time record for the most nominations ever received by a single film.

While the industry has recently leaned toward sequels and franchises, this year’s nominations belong to original stories with massive creative ambitions. Leading the pack are two Warner Bros. powerhouses: the horror-fantasy Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s revolutionary drama One Battle After Another.

Table of Contents

1. A New All-Time Record Holder
2. The Top Nominated Films of 2026
3. Acting Milestones: Chalamet, Jordan, and Moura
4. The Best Picture Lineup
5. Inaugural Category: Best Casting
6. Ceremony Details: Host and How to Watch

1. A New All-Time Record Holder

For decades, the record for the most Oscar nominations (14) was shared by three cinematic icons: All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016). That record was finally broken today by Sinner

The Ryan Coogler-directed film secured 16 nominations in s. total. Set in the 1930s and deeply rooted in Black culture and Hoodoo mythology, the film has been a commercial and critical sensation, grossing $368 million worldwide. Its nominations span every major pillar of filmmaking, from Best Picture and Best Director to technical feats in Cinematography and Visual Effects.

The way I knew Delroy Lindo had his oscar nomination secured when I saw this impactful scene from Sinners in theaters!! I’m so glad the academy came to their senses and gave him his deserved flowers!! https://t.co/TuCju0M9Rm pic.twitter.com/KJbnVg0ygQ

— jack o’connell’s left pinky (@ragingmotelfire) January 22, 2026

2. The Top Nominated Films of 2026

The 98th Oscars are dominated by two films that many feared were “too risky” for modern studios to produce.

3. Acting Milestones: Chalamet, Jordan, and Moura

The acting categories this year are notable for both the inclusion of first-time nominees and the breaking of age-related records:

• Timothée Chalamet: At just 30 years old, Chalamet earned his third Best Actor nomination for Marty Supreme, making him the youngest actor in history to reach this milestone.
• Michael B. Jordan: Despite years of leading Hollywood blockbusters, Jordan earned his first-ever Oscar nomination for his dual performance in Sinners.
• Wagner Moura: Moura made history as the first Brazilian man to be nominated for Best Actor for his performance in the crime drama The Secret Agent.
• Supporting Standouts: Teyana Taylor and Wunmi Mosaku earned nods for their powerful roles in One Battle After Another and Sinners, respectively.

4. The Best Picture Lineup

The Academy has selected 10 films that represent a global and stylistic breadth. The list includes:

• The Blockbusters: Sinners, One Battle After Another, and the racing epic F1.
• The Auteurs: Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie) and Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro).
• The International Contenders: The Secret Agent (Brazil) and Sentimental Value (Norway).
• The Emotional Dramas: Hamnet, Train Dreams, and the absurdist Bugonia.

5. Inaugural Category: Best Casting

In a move to modernize the telecast, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences introduced a new competitive category this year: Best Casting. This marks the first new category added since Animated Feature in 2001. The first-ever nominees for this award include the casting directors for Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners.

6. Ceremony Details: Host and How to Watch

The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre.

• Host: Conan O’Brien returns after his successful hosting of the 97th ceremony, which saw a boost in viewership to nearly 20 million people.
• Where to Watch: The ceremony will air live on ABC and will be available for streaming on Hulu.
• Future Note: This represents one of the final years the Oscars will air on traditional network television before moving exclusively to YouTube in 2029.

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