“Sinners Battles for Victory with 16, One Battle Edges at 13”

Riley Calderon

ago 2 hours

“Sinners Battles for Victory with 16, One Battle Edges at 13”

At the upcoming 2026 Academy Awards, the vampire film “Sinners” is making headlines with a groundbreaking 16 nominations. This impressive achievement sets a new record for Oscar nods, surpassing the previous 14 nominations held by classics like “All About Eve” and “Titanic.” Close behind is “One Battle After Another,” which garnered 13 nominations, highlighting its critical acclaim.

A High-Stakes Academy Awards Race

Both “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” earned nominations for Best Picture. Other contenders in this prestigious category include “Frankenstein,” “Bugonia,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sentimental Value,” “Train Dreams,” “F1,” and “The Secret Agent.” Warner Bros. produced both films and led the nomination tally with a total of 30 nods.

Warner Bros.’ Resurgence

This year marks a remarkable turnaround for Warner Bros., especially after a shaky start with films like “Mickey 17” and “The Alto Knights.” Despite initial concerns regarding executives Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who faced scrutiny for their expensive productions, “Sinners” has become a box office phenomenon. In contrast, “One Battle After Another,” despite its artistic recognition, struggled to recoup its $135 million budget.

Sinners: 16 nominations, record-breaking achievement
One Battle After Another: 13 nominations, critical acclaim but financial struggles
Warner Bros.: 30 total nominations, resilient studio turnaround

Streaming Competition

Netflix continues to be a formidable force in the Oscars race, with notable nominations for “Frankenstein” (9 nominations) and “Train Dreams” (4 nominations). Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion has raised concerns about the future of theatrical releases.

Director and Actor Contenders

Ryan Coogler, who directed “Sinners,” joins a talented group of nominees for Best Director alongside Paul Thomas Anderson (“One Battle After Another”), Chloé Zhao (“Hamnet”), Joachim Trier (“Sentimental Value”), and Josh Safdie (“Marty Supreme”).

The Best Actor category features a competitive lineup, including:

Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”)
Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”)
Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”)
Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”)
Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”)

Outstanding Performances

The Best Actress race includes Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”) and Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I Could Kick You”), alongside Emma Stone (“Bugonia”), Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”), and Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”).

For Best Supporting Actor, nominees include:

Benicio Del Toro (“One Battle After Another”)
Sean Penn (“One Battle After Another”)
Delroy Lindo (“Sinners”)
Jacob Elordi (“Frankenstein”)
Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”)

In the Best Supporting Actress category, contenders are:

Elle Fanning (“Sentimental Value”)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (“Sentimental Value”)
Amy Madigan (“Weapons”)
Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”)
Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”)

Notable Highlights and Snubs

This year’s nominations have also seen surprising omissions, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for “Wicked: For Good.” Meanwhile, Paul Mescal, praised for his role in “Hamnet,” did not receive a nomination.

New Developments

This year marks the introduction of recognition for casting directors, with nominees including:

Nina Gold (“Hamnet”)
Jennifer Venditti (“Marty Supreme”)
Cassandra Kulukundis (“One Battle After Another”)
Francine Maisler (“Sinners”)
Gabriel Domingues (“The Secret Agent”)

The 2026 Oscars will be broadcast on ABC and streamed on Hulu on March 15, with Conan O’Brien hosting. Amidst this exciting awards season, the industry faces challenges from corporate consolidation and evolving technologies, including artificial intelligence.