Ryan Coogler's Sinners has broken the all-time Academy Awards record with 16 nominations, surpassing previous highs set by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land. The supernatural thriller led a diverse field that included strong showings from international films and Netflix titles, while Warner Bros tied its own record with 30 nods overall. The nominations, announced on January 22, 2026, highlight a surge in global representation and the debut of a new casting category.
The 98th Academy Awards nominations were revealed on January 22, 2026, in Los Angeles, marking a historic morning for Ryan Coogler's vampire horror epic Sinners. The film secured 16 nods, including best picture, director for Coogler, best actor for Michael B. Jordan, supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku, supporting actor for Delroy Lindo, original screenplay, and sweeps across technical categories like cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the first woman of color nominated), costume design (Ruth E. Carter, her fifth nod), production design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, sound, visual effects, original score (Ludwig Göransson), and original song for “I Lied to You.” This eclipses the 14-nomination record held by All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016).
Warner Bros dominated with 30 nominations total, including 13 for Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, which earned nods for best picture, adapted screenplay, supporting actress (Teyana Taylor), and production design. Netflix tied for second with 18 nominations, led by Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (9 nods, including best picture) and Train Dreams (4 nods, including best picture). International films shone brightly: Brazil's The Secret Agent garnered four nominations, including best picture and best actor for Wagner Moura, following the country's 2024 win with I'm Still Here.
Director Kleber Mendonça Filho, speaking to Deadline after the announcement, expressed joy over the casting nod: “It’s so good to see casting recognized... The Secret Agent is a wonderful collection of humans, faces, actors.” Teyana Taylor, nominated for One Battle After Another, shared a light moment, telling The Hollywood Reporter she FaceTimed Jessie Buckley (nominated for Hamnet) post-announcement. Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria praised the noms for Train Dreams and KPop Demon Hunters, noting, “We always have to start with stories that come from a very authentic place.”
Snubs included a complete shutout for Wicked: For Good, despite its predecessor's 10 nominations the prior year, and Paul Mescal for Hamnet. The new casting category debuted with nominees like Sinners (Francine Maisler), Marty Supreme, and One Battle After Another. With only 50 films recognized across categories—the lowest since 2008—the field reflects a top-heavy year emphasizing quality over quantity. Voting closes March 5, with the ceremony on March 15 hosted by Conan O’Brien.
