Sinners Shatters Oscar History with Record 16 Nominations
The 98th Academy Awards delivered shocking surprises as one film broke decades-old records while established frontrunners faced unexpected competition. March 15 ceremony promises drama.
The 98th Academy Awards nominations dropped this morning, delivering a wild mix of expected winners and stunning upsets. Ryan Coogler's Sinners dominated with an unprecedented 16 nominations, smashing previous records. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another grabbed 13 nods, positioning itself as the Best Picture favorite.
The ceremony scheduled for March 15 will honor 2025's finest films. Warner Bros scored big with both Sinners and One Battle After Another leading the pack. Netflix pushed hard with Frankenstein earning nine nominations, while NEON claimed four of five International Feature slots.
Major Category Battles Heat Up
Best Picture features ten contenders including Focus Features' Bugonia and Hamnet, Apple TV's F1, and A24's Marty Supreme. The directing race pits Coogler against Anderson, with Chloé Zhao, Josh Safdie, and Joachim Trier rounding out the field.
Acting categories delivered surprises. Elle Fanning scored an unexpected Supporting Actress nomination for Sentimental Value, which collected nine total nods. Wagner Moura landed Best Actor recognition for The Secret Agent, boosting the Brazilian film's International Feature chances.
Technical Categories Show Clear Favorites
Sinners appears across nearly every technical category. The film earned nominations for Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, Original Score, Sound, and Visual Effects. Frankenstein matched this technical strength with eight craft nominations.
One Battle After Another secured four acting nominations, an unusual achievement. Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor all received recognition for Anderson's latest work.
Streaming Services Make Strong Push
Netflix's campaign centered on Frankenstein and Train Dreams, both adapted screenplay contenders. The streamer's monster movie featuring Jacob Elordi collected nominations across multiple categories. Apple TV entered the race with F1, earning Best Picture and technical recognition.
Documentary and short film categories featured diverse selections. The Alabama Solution and Mr. Nobody Against Putin lead documentary features, while animated shorts include Butterfly and The Girl Who Cried Pearls. International submissions span five countries, with NEON distributing four of the five nominees.