Sinners Breaks Oscar Record as Best Picture Race Remains Wide Open

The 2026 Oscar nominations have delivered an unexpected twist in what was shaping up to be a predictable awards season. While Sinners, a vampire period horror film set in the segregated 1930s American South, has made history by becoming the most nominated film ever with 16 nominations, it is not the clear frontrunner to win the night's biggest prize.

Instead, One Battle After Another, which earned 13 nominations, has emerged as the favorite to take Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony on March 15. The race has become more complicated than typical Oscar years, with the film that received the most nominations not automatically positioned to win the top award.

Background

For decades, the Oscar nominations have followed certain patterns. Films that rack up large numbers of nominations often have momentum heading into the ceremony. But the Academy's voting system and the diverse makeup of its membership mean that the most nominated film does not always prevail.

Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, broke the previous record of 14 nominations, which had been held jointly by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. The horror film's recognition across nearly every major category represents a significant moment for the genre, as horror movies have historically been overlooked by the Academy.

One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, tells the story of a retired revolutionary searching for his teenage daughter against a backdrop of radical violence, immigration raids, and white supremacists. The film has been gaining momentum throughout the awards season, winning at the Critics Choice Awards and leading the Golden Globe nominations with nine nods.

Key Details

Sinners received nominations in nearly every category available, including Best Picture, Best Director for Ryan Coogler, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score. The film also secured a nomination for Best Casting, the first new category added to the Oscars in more than two decades.

Michael B. Jordan plays twins battling supernatural forces and racist violence in the film. His nomination in the Best Actor category puts him in competition with Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent.

"One Battle After Another remains the frontrunner to win best picture, having won almost every precursor prize going so far this awards season." – Industry observers tracking the race

One Battle After Another earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for DiCaprio, and Best Supporting Actor for both Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn. However, Chase Infiniti, the 25-year-old newcomer who plays the female lead, was notably snubbed in the acting categories, surprising many industry watchers.

Both films are Warner Bros. productions, giving the studio its best Oscar showing in its 102-year history. Together, Sinners and One Battle After Another account for 29 of the studio's 30 total nominations.

In the Best Director race, Paul Thomas Anderson faces competition from Ryan Coogler, Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, and Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value. Anderson has never won an Oscar despite receiving 11 nominations throughout his career for films including There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Phantom Thread.

What This Means

The 2026 Oscar race demonstrates that nomination totals do not determine outcomes. Sinners' record-breaking 16 nominations have given the vampire horror film significant visibility, but the film faces an uphill climb in winning Best Picture against a competitor that has already won major precursor awards.

The split between the two films highlights how the Academy's voting works differently than some other awards bodies. Critics groups and industry organizations have rallied behind One Battle After Another, while the broader Academy membership that votes on nominations spread their support across more categories for Sinners.

For horror films specifically, Sinners' nominations represent a watershed moment. The genre has long been dismissed by the Academy, making this recognition a breakthrough regardless of whether the film wins the top prize. The film's success in securing nominations across technical and creative categories suggests growing acceptance of horror as a legitimate art form worthy of Oscar consideration.

The Best Director race will likely determine much of the evening's outcome. Historically, the director of the Best Picture winner often takes home the directing award as well. Anderson's previous Oscar losses despite critical acclaim make this year particularly significant for his career.