Quick Read
- ‘Sinners’ received 16 Oscar nominations, setting a new all-time record for the Academy Awards.
- The previous record of 14 nominations was held by ‘All About Eve,’ ‘Titanic,’ and ‘La La Land.’
- Another Warner Bros. film, ‘One Battle After Another,’ secured 13 nominations.
- Both films are original, high-budget studio productions with progressive themes, contrasting with industry trends.
- Warner Bros. has re-released both ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ in theaters.
Hollywood is buzzing after the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026, with Warner Bros.’ ‘Sinners’ making history by securing an unprecedented 16 nods. This remarkable achievement shatters the previous record for Oscar nominations, which stood at 14, shared by cinematic classics ‘All About Eve,’ ‘Titanic,’ and ‘La La Land.’ The film’s extraordinary success, alongside the strong showing of ‘One Battle After Another’ with 13 nominations, signals a potential shift in the industry’s focus, validating studio risks on original, high-budget films with progressive themes amidst a landscape largely dominated by spectacle-driven sequels.
‘Sinners’ Rewrites Oscar Record Books
‘Sinners,’ described as a horror fantasia set in the 1930s and deeply rooted in Black culture, captivated both critics and audiences, earning $368 million at the worldwide box office. Its 16 nominations span across most major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Screenplay. This broad recognition underscores the film’s comprehensive artistic and technical excellence, positioning it as a formidable contender in the upcoming awards ceremony.
The film’s plot centers on twin brothers, both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, who return to their Mississippi hometown after a decade in Chicago’s organized crime scene, only to confront a supernatural evil. This unique narrative, combined with its period setting and cultural depth, resonated strongly with Academy voters, who traditionally favor compelling storytelling and strong thematic elements.
‘One Battle After Another’ Also Dominates Nominations
Close behind ‘Sinners’ is another Warner Bros. triumph, ‘One Battle After Another,’ which garnered an impressive 13 nominations. This film, a primal scream about authoritarianism and citizen resistance, collected $206 million globally and also secured nods in most major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and an acting nomination for Teyana Taylor. The film follows ex-revolutionary Bob, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who is drawn back into conflict when his past resurfaces, threatening his teenage daughter Willa, played by Chase Infiniti.
‘One Battle After Another’ had already demonstrated its awards season prowess at the Golden Globes, where it was the most-nominated movie, receiving nine nods and winning four, including Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Teyana Taylor also received an acting nod at the Globes, further cementing her strong performance.
A Bold Bet Against Industry Trends
Both ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ represent a significant departure from Hollywood’s prevailing strategy of producing spectacle-driven sequels with guaranteed $500 million-plus box office potential. These two films, each carrying a progressive political message, were high-budget, original studio productions – a species increasingly endangered in the current cinematic landscape. Warner Bros. executives Mike De Luca and Pamela Abdy, who championed these projects, were initially expected to face repercussions for taking such risks. Their foresight has now been validated by the record-breaking Oscar nominations, making them look shrewd in an industry often hesitant to stray from proven formulas.
The success of these films comes at a pivotal time for Warner Bros., a studio currently at the center of a bidding war between Netflix and Paramount Skydance for acquisition. The critical and commercial acclaim of ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’ undoubtedly strengthens Warner Bros.’ position, showcasing its capacity for producing award-worthy, original content.
Other Notable Nominees and Industry Context
Beyond the two frontrunners, other films also received significant attention. The heart-rending ‘Hamnet’ was honored with eight nominations, having grossed $30 million worldwide. ‘Sentimental Value,’ a subtitled Norwegian family drama, secured nine nominations and $16 million at the box office, highlighting the Academy’s continued appreciation for international and independent cinema.
Additional nominees for the coveted Best Picture prize include ‘The Secret Agent,’ a Brazilian crime drama; Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’; the absurdist ‘Bugonia’; the racing blockbuster ‘F1: The Movie’; ‘Marty Supreme,’ a bouncy period sports drama; and ‘Train Dreams,’ a slow-moving rumination on loss. The Academy expanded the Best Picture field to 10 films in 2022, a move positioned as part of an expanded focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, allowing for a broader range of films to be recognized.
Acting nominations also went to acclaimed talents such as Kate Hudson and Timothée Chalamet, alongside the already mentioned Michael B. Jordan and Teyana Taylor. In anticipation of the awards buzz, Warner Bros. has strategically re-released both ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’ in theaters this weekend, starting January 23, allowing audiences another chance to experience these critically acclaimed films ahead of the final voting.
The record-shattering performance of ‘Sinners’ at the Oscar nominations, alongside the strong showing of ‘One Battle After Another,’ signifies a crucial moment for Hollywood, demonstrating that originality and thoughtful storytelling, even with substantial budgets, can still achieve unprecedented critical recognition and commercial viability, potentially encouraging other studios to invest in diverse, compelling narratives rather than solely relying on established franchises.