Ryan Coogler’s vampire period horror film Sinners has rewritten Oscar history after securing a record-breaking 16 nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards.
The nominations were announced on Thursday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with Sinners earning a Best Picture nod alongside recognition in several major categories.
Set in the Mississippi Delta, the film stars Michael B. Jordan and blends supernatural horror with themes drawn from Black American history, music, and cultural memory. Its bold storytelling and genre-defying approach appear to have resonated strongly with Academy voters.
With 16 nominations, Sinners surpasses the long-standing Oscar record of 14 nominations previously shared by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.
Michael B. Jordan received a Best Actor nomination for his performance, while the film also earned recognition for its screenplay, original score, and Best Casting, a category newly introduced by the Academy this year.
Close behind Sinners is One Battle After Another, which picked up 13 nominations, including a Best Actor nod for Leonardo DiCaprio.
Other strong contenders this awards season include Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, and Sentimental Value, each with nine nominations, while Hamnet followed with eight.
The historic showing by Sinners has further cemented Ryan Coogler’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers and positioned the film as a frontrunner heading into Oscar night.
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