'Sinners', Ryan Coogler’s Vampire Epic Leads with Record 16 Nominations

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Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire epic, Sinners, made Academy Awards history on Thursday by securing 16 nominations, the highest number ever bestowed upon a single film. By reaching this milestone, Sinners shattered the previous record of 14 nominations held jointly by All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016). The film's dominant showing includes major categories such as Best Picture, Best Director for Coogler, and a Best Actor nod for Michael B. Jordan, his first career nomination, for his dual role as twin brothers in 1930s Mississippi.

Close behind in the race is Paul Thomas Anderson’s revolutionary saga, One Battle After Another, which earned 13 nominations. The film saw four of its veteran stars, Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, recognised in acting categories, though newcomer Chase Infiniti was a notable omission in the Best Actress race. Both Sinners and One Battle After Another were bolstered by the Academy’s newly introduced Best Casting category, further padding their historic totals.

The morning proved to be a landmark occasion for Warner Bros., which led all studios with a staggering 30 nominations. This success comes at a pivotal moment for the 102-year-old studio as it navigates a contentious $72 billion sale to Netflix. The acquisition is currently facing challenges from Paramount Skydance, leaving the industry bracing for what could be the largest realignment in Hollywood history. Despite the corporate uncertainty, the studio’s epics have clearly resonated with voters during a fraught national moment.

The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, is set to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It will be televised live on ABC and Hulu, marking one of the final years of the current broadcast agreement before YouTube's exclusive deal takes effect in 2029.