- Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror film “Sinners” just broke the all-time Oscar nominations record with 16 nods, surpassing Titanic and La La Land
- “One Battle After Another” leads the Best Picture race with 13 nominations, making Sunday night’s ceremony a genuine two-horse battle
- The 98th Academy Awards air this Sunday, March 15, on ABC, with Conan O’Brien returning to host
Hollywood just had its biggest wake-up call in decades. And it came from a vampire movie set in 1932, Mississippi.
The Oscar nominations for 2026 are in, and Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror film “Sinners” has done the unthinkable, earning a record-breaking 16 nominations for the 98th Academy Awards ceremony. That is more nominations than Titanic. More than La La Land. More than anything, ever, in the history of this awards show. Let that sink in for a second.
The Film That Broke the Internet and Hollywood
“Sinners” combines horror, drama, and supernatural themes set in the 1932 Mississippi Delta, with an ensemble cast including Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, and Delroy Lindo. It pulled in $368 million in global ticket sales, which is remarkable for a horror film in an era when audiences are increasingly staying home. Clearly, something about this one made people get off their couches.
Michael B. Jordan earned a Best Actor nomination for his dual-role performance, while Wunmi Mosaku received a Best Supporting Actress nod, and Delroy Lindo earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for what critics are calling his most haunting performance yet. The film did not just win over audiences. It won over every single department of the Academy.
Among its technical nominations, “Sinners” picked up a historic Best Cinematography nomination for Autumn Durald Arkapaw, making her the first woman of color ever nominated in that category. That alone makes this awards season one for the history books, regardless of what happens Sunday night.
But “Sinners” Is Not the Only One to Watch
Here is where it gets interesting. “One Battle After Another” is right behind with 13 nominations and is still considered the one to beat for Best Picture. So you have the record-breaking crowd favourite on one side, and the critical darling on the other. Sunday night is going to be a proper fight.
“Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein,” and “Sentimental Value” each landed nine nominations, while “Hamnet” is up for eight. Timothee Chalamet, already generating buzz for his role in “Marty Supreme,” is in the Best Actor race alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Ethan Hawke. Yes, that Best Actor lineup is as stacked as it sounds.
What Sunday Night Actually Looks Like
The ceremony kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and will also stream live on Hulu, with Conan O’Brien returning to host for the second year running. Presenters include Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Chris Evans, Demi Moore, and Paul Mescal, among others. So, even the presenter lineup is stacked this year.
Only two nominated songs will be performed on the night: “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters and “I Lied To You” from Sinners. Which means even the musical performances are essentially a “Sinners” victory lap.
Sixteen nominations. A record that has stood for decades, now gone. Whatever happens on Sunday, Oscar nominations 2026 just rewrote the rulebook.
