At a Glance
- Ryan Coogler’s vampire tale “Sinners” tops the field with 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film.
- Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” follows with 13 nominations, matching the record of “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land.”
- The Academy added a new category for casting directors, a first since 2001’s best animated film.
- The ceremony will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre and air live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu.
Why it matters: The nominations reveal the Oscars’ evolving focus and set the stage for a historic ceremony.
The Oscars are back with a full slate of nominees that includes a record-setting 16-nomination haul for Ryan Coogler’s vampire film “Sinners.” The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre and broadcast live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu. A new category for casting directors marks a first in over two decades, underscoring the Academy’s expanding recognition of filmmaking craft.
Background
The Academy Awards, often called the Oscars, have long celebrated the best in motion pictures. Over the decades, the ceremony has evolved, adding new categories to honor emerging aspects of filmmaking. The recent addition of a casting category reflects this trend.
The 98th ceremony will honor works from the 2025 film year, continuing the tradition of recognizing artistic and technical excellence.
Record-Breaking Nominations
“Sinners” leads the pack with 16 nominations, the highest number a film has ever received. No movie has landed more than 14 nominations-an achievement shared only by “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land.”
The nominations span every major category, from Best Picture to Best Cinematography, and include a first-time Oscar nod for Michael B. Jordan as Best Actor. Coogler’s work has also earned the film a nomination for Best Director.
The record-setting tally underscores the Academy’s willingness to embrace genre films that traditionally have been overlooked.
The film’s vampire theme challenges the Academy’s traditional preference for realistic narratives, showing a shift toward genre inclusion. This shift may open doors for more speculative projects in future nominations.
New Casting Category
This year, the Academy recognized casting directors for the first time with a competitive category. The addition follows the 2001 introduction of Best Animated Film, the last time a new competitive award was added.
Nominees include Nina Gold for “Hamnet,” Jennifer Venditti for “Marty Supreme,” Casandra Kulukundis for “One Battle After Another,” Gabriel Domingues for “The Secret Agent,” and Francine Maisler for “Sinners.”
The move highlights the crucial role casting plays in shaping a film’s voice and success.
Casting directors have long been behind the scenes, and this recognition brings their creative choices into the spotlight. It may also influence how studios assemble ensembles for future projects.
Ceremony Details
The ceremony will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It will be televised live on ABC and Hulu at 7 p.m. ET.
Conan O’Brien returns as host, bringing his trademark humor to the evening. The event is expected to draw a large audience and feature performances from nominated artists.
The 98th Academy Awards continue the tradition of celebrating cinematic excellence while expanding the categories that honor the art form.
The Dolby Theatre, known for its iconic stage, has hosted the Oscars for decades. Its grandeur adds to the ceremony’s prestige.
Full Nominee List
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Best Actor | Timothée Chalamet – “Marty Supreme”; Leonardo DiCaprio – “One Battle After Another”; Ethan Hawke – “Blue Moon”; Michael B. Jordan – “Sinners”; Wagner Moura – “The Secret Agent” |
| Best Actress | Jessie Buckley – “Hamnet”; Rose Byrne – “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”; Kate Hudson – “Song Sung Blue”; Renate Reinsve – “Sentimental Value”; Emma Stone – “Bugonia” |
| Best Director | Chloé Zhao – “Hamnet”; Josh Safdie – “Marty Supreme”; Paul Thomas Anderson – “One Battle After Another”; Joachim Trier – “Sentimental Value”; Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” |
| Best Cinematography | “Sinners”; “One Battle After Another”; “Train Dreams”; “Frankenstein”; “Marty Supreme” |
| Best Picture | “Bugonia”; “F1”; “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “Marty Supreme”; “One Battle After Another”; “The Secret Agent”; “Sentimental Value”; “Sinners”; “Train Dreams” |
| Best Supporting Actress | Elle Fanning – “Sentimental Value”; Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – “Sentimental Value”; Amy Madigan – “Weapons”; Wunmi Mosaku – “Sinners”; Teyana Taylor – “One Battle After Another” |
| Best Supporting Actor | Benicio Del Toro – “One Battle After Another”; Jacob Elordi – “Frankenstein”; Delroy Lindo – “Sinners”; Sean Penn – “One Battle After Another”; Stellan Skarsgård – “Sentimental Value” |
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | “Frankenstein”; “Kokuho”; “Sinners”; “The Smashing Machine”; “The Ugly Stepsister” |
| Best Original Score | “Bugonia”; “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sinners” |
| Best Live Action Short Film | “Butcher’s Stain”; “A Friend of Dorothy”; “Jane Austen’s Period Drama”; “The Singers”; “Two People Exchanging Saliva” |
| Best Animated Short Film | “Butterfly”; “Forevergreen”; “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”; “Retirement Plan”; “The Three Sisters” |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | “One Battle After Another”; “Hamnet”; “Bugonia”; “Train Dreams”; “Frankenstein” |
| Best Original Screenplay | “Blue Moon”; “It Was Just an Accident”; “Marty Supreme”; “Sentimental Value”; “Sinners” |
| Best Casting | Nina Gold – “Hamnet”; Jennifer Venditti – “Marty Supreme”; Casandra Kulukundis – “One Battle After Another”; Gabriel Domingues – “The Secret Agent”; Francine Maisler – “Sinners” |
| Best Costume Design | “Avatar: Fire and Ash”; “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “Marty Supreme”; “Sinners” |
| Best International Feature Film | “It Was Just an Accident”; “The Secret Agent”; “Sentimental Value”; “The Voice of Hind Rajab”; “Sirat” |
| Best Original Song | “Dear Me” – “Diane Warren: Relentless”; “Golden” – “KPop Demon Hunters”; “I Lied to You” – “Sinners”; “Sweet Dreams of Joy” – “Viva Verdi!”; “Train Dreams” – “Train Dreams” |
| Best Production Design | “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “Marty Supreme”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sinners” |
| Best Documentary Feature Film | “The Alabama Solution”; “Come See Me in the Good Light”; “Cutting Through Rocks”; “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”; “The Perfect Neighbor” |
| Best Film Editing | “F1”; “Marty Supreme”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sentimental Value”; “Sinners” |
| Best Visual Effects | “Avatar: Fire and Ash”; “F1”; “Jurassic World Rebirth”; “The Lost Bus”; “Sinners” |
| Best Animated Feature Film | “KPop Demon Hunters”; “Zootopia 2”; “Arco”; “Elio”; “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” |
| Best Sound | “F1”; “Frankenstein”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sinners”; “Sirat” |
| Best Documentary Short | “All the Empty Rooms”; “Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud”; “Children No More: Were and Are Gone”; “The Devil Is Busy”; “Perfectly a Strangeness” |
The breadth of categories-from technical achievements to artistic performances-highlights the Oscars’ comprehensive approach to filmmaking.
Key Takeaways
The Oscars are expanding their scope, adding a new category for casting directors and recognizing genre films with record nominations.
Conan O’Brien’s return as host signals a blend of tradition and contemporary flair.
With a full slate of nominees across 20 categories, the ceremony promises to be a landmark event for the film industry.
The 98th ceremony will likely set new precedents for how genre, casting, and diverse voices are celebrated.
Industry Impact
The inclusion of casting as a competitive category may shift how studios approach talent selection. It also reflects a broader industry push toward recognizing the creative work behind a film’s ensemble.
The record nominations for “Sinners” demonstrate the Academy’s willingness to honor stories outside the traditional drama mold, potentially encouraging more diverse storytelling.
The outcomes of this ceremony could shape studio strategies and award campaigns for the next cycle.
As the awards night approaches, the film community watches closely for how these developments will influence the industry’s future.
