Ryan Coogler's *Sinners* received 16 nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, the highest total ever recorded for one film and a notable breakthrough for a genre rarely dominant in major Oscar categories.
The previous record was 14, previously shared by *La La Land*, *All About Eve* and *Titanic*. *Sinners* moved beyond that mark with nominations that included best picture, directing and original screenplay. Acting recognition went to Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku, as well as lead performer Michael B. Jordan, while the film also appeared in craft and music contests. Jordan plays twin brothers facing supernatural threats in the Jim Crow-era American South.
The performance gave Coogler's film a clear numerical lead over *One Battle After Another*, which collected 13 nominations. Paul Thomas Anderson's political comedy-thriller was selected for best picture, directing and adapted screenplay, with four performers recognised: Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio. *Frankenstein*, *Marty Supreme* and *Sentimental Value* followed with nine nominations each.
Best picture featured ten titles. The field paired *Sinners* with *Train Dreams*, *Sentimental Value*, *The Secret Agent* and *One Battle After Another*. It was completed by *Marty Supreme*, *Hamnet*, *Frankenstein*, *F1* and *Bugonia*. The directing field comprised Coogler, Anderson, Chloé Zhao, Josh Safdie and Joachim Trier.
The announcement also introduced best casting, the first new competitive Oscar category in 25 years. Five films, including *Sinners*, were nominated for the award, which recognises the work of assembling a film's cast. Its arrival broadened formal recognition for an aspect of production that shapes performances but had not previously had a dedicated Academy Award.
International films had a visible presence across the ballot. Brazil's *The Secret Agent* and Norway's *Sentimental Value* were both nominated for best picture, and performers Wagner Moura and Renate Reinsve received acting nominations. The international-feature finalists represented Brazil, France, Norway, Spain and Tunisia.
The nominations were announced by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Winners were scheduled to be revealed on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O'Brien hosting. The record total did not guarantee any wins, but it placed *Sinners* at the centre of the season and expanded the historical ceiling for a single Oscar-nominated production.
The acting races also illustrated the breadth of the field. Leading actor included Wagner Moura, Jordan and Ethan Hawke, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet completing that field. For leading actress, the Academy selected Emma Stone and Renate Reinsve alongside Kate Hudson, Rose Byrne and Jessie Buckley. Animated hit *KPop Demon Hunters* appeared in both animated feature and original song, showing that widely streamed titles could reach the ballot after meeting theatrical eligibility rules.
