Horror Film Sinners Breaks Oscar Record with 16 Nominations

The 98th Academy Awards have rewritten the rulebook. Ryan Coogler's supernatural thriller has claimed 16 nominations, surpassing the previous record of 14 held by La La Land, Titanic, and All About Eve. This marks a seismic shift in how the Academy views genre filmmaking.

Complete 2026 Academy Awards Nomination List

Best Picture nominees include Bugonia, F1: The Movie, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, the record-breaking horror film, and Train Dreams. The category showcases remarkable diversity across genres and storytelling approaches.

Best Actor recognition goes to Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan's dual performance, and Wagner Moura in The Secret Agent. Jordan's nomination represents a breakthrough for horror performances in lead categories.

Best Actress contenders feature Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone in Bugonia. The lineup spans independent dramas to major studio productions.

Technical Excellence Recognition

Supporting categories highlight exceptional ensemble work. Best Supporting Actor includes Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn from One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein, Delroy Lindo from the horror sensation, and Stellan Skarsgård in Sentimental Value.

Best Supporting Actress nominees are Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas from Sentimental Value, Amy Madigan in Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku from Coogler's film, and Teyana Taylor in One Battle After Another. The category demonstrates strong female performances across varied projects.

Directing nominations went to Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, and Ryan Coogler. This represents Coogler's first directing nomination, cementing his evolution from genre specialist to Academy darling.

Craft Categories Domination

Technical nominations showcase the film's production excellence. Cinematography recognition for Autumn Durald Arkapaw joins editing nods for Michael P. Shawver. Production design by Hannah Beachler and set decoration by Monique Champagne earned nominations alongside Ruth E. Carter's costume work.

Original Score composer Ludwig Goransson received recognition, while the film secured nominations in Sound, Visual Effects, and Makeup and Hairstyling. The Original Song category includes "I Lied to You" from the supernatural thriller.

Animated Feature nominees include Arco, Elio, Kpop Demon Hunters, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Zootopia 2. Documentary Feature recognition spans The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cutting Through Rocks, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, and The Perfect Neighbor.

Historic Achievement Impact

The 16 nominations represent more than statistical achievement. They signal the Academy's willingness to embrace genre storytelling that resonates culturally while maintaining technical excellence. Coogler's film succeeded across nearly every major branch, from creative recognition to technical craft.

International Feature nominees include Brazil's The Secret Agent, France's It Was Just an Accident, Norway's Sentimental Value, Spain's Sirāt, and Tunisia's The Voice of Hind Rajab. The category reflects global cinema's continued strength and diversity.

Short film categories recognize emerging talent across live-action, documentary, and animated formats. These nominations often predict future feature filmmaking trends and showcase innovative storytelling approaches that influence mainstream cinema.