At a Glance
- Sinners earns 16 Oscar nominations, the most ever awarded to a single film.
- Warner Bros. faces a $72 billion sale to Netflix amid industry realignment.
- The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre.
The 98th Academy Awards opened with a historic moment: Ryan Coogler’s vampire-steeped epic Sinners received 16 nominations, eclipsing the previous record of 14 held by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land. The film’s sweep includes best picture, best director, best screenplay, and a first-time Oscar nod for star Michael B. Jordan in best actor.
Record-Breaking Nominations
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters gave Sinners more nominations than ever before, shattering the 14-nomination benchmark set by earlier classics. Coogler’s film also secured nominations for best casting, a new category introduced this year, adding to its already impressive haul.
Warner Bros. and Netflix Sale
Both Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another are Warner Bros. titles. In the midst of a contentious sale to Netflix, the 102-year-old studio achieved one of its best Oscar nomination mornings. Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $72 billion, while Paramount Skydance has challenged the deal, sparking speculation about a potential industry realignment.
Other Major Nominees
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another trailed in second place with 13 nominations. The film features Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, all receiving nods. Newcomer Chase Infiniti was left out of the best actress category.
Sentimental Value, a Norwegian family drama by Joachim Trier, garnered nine nominations, including best foreign language film and several supporting categories. The film’s success underscores the Academy’s continued tilt toward international cinema.
Best Picture List
The ten films nominated for best picture are:
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
New Casting Category
The Oscars introduced a new category for casting, which helped both Sinners and One Battle After Another pad their already impressive statistics. The addition of this honor reflects the Academy’s recognition of the pivotal role casting plays in film production.
International Focus
Every category included an international nominee, and for the eighth year in a row, a non-English-language film was nominated for best picture. Sentimental Value led the international field, while It Was Just an Accident, a Palme d’Or-winning Iranian drama by Jafar Panahi, was also nominated for best foreign language film.
Other international entries included the Tunisian film The Voice of Hind Rajab, the Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent, the Spanish road movie Sirât, and Sentimental Value.
Event Details
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and will be televised live on ABC and Hulu. YouTube’s new deal to exclusively air the ceremony will not take effect until 2029. Conan O’Brien will return as host.
Key Takeaways
- Sinners sets a new Oscar record with 16 nominations.
- Warner Bros.’ sale to Netflix for $72 billion adds industry drama.
- The Oscars introduce a new casting category.
- International films continue to dominate the nominations.
