The recent announcement of the Academy Award nominations saw Warner Bros’ vampire thriller 'Sinners' make remarkable history by earning an unprecedented 16 nods. This feat establishes the film as a leading contender for the Best Picture category, competing against notable titles such as 'One Battle After Another', 'Frankenstein', 'Hamnet', and 'Marty Supreme'. The previous highest number of nominations stood at 14, held jointly by 'All About Eve', 'Titanic', and 'La La Land'. Other Best Picture nominees include 'Bugonia', 'F1', 'The Secret Agent', 'Sentimental Value', and 'Train Dreams'.
The nominated films span a variety of genres ranging from historical drama to supernatural horror. This eclectic mix reflects the film industry’s gradual shift toward embracing diverse, unconventional narratives. Some of the nominated works have also achieved commercial success, which could enhance viewership for the Oscars ceremony scheduled for March 15.
Leading the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan received a Best Actor nomination for his dual portrayal of twin brothers in 'Sinners', a story rooted in 1930s Mississippi that intertwines a supernatural vampire conflict with themes of segregation and racial tension. Additional nominations for the film include those for director Ryan Coogler, supporting actor Delroy Lindo, supporting actress Wunmi Mosaku, as well as for cinematography, costume design, original screenplay, and visual effects.
Jordan’s competition in the Best Actor category comprises Leonardo DiCaprio for the film 'One Battle After Another', which gained 13 nominations, and Timothee Chalamet for 'Marty Supreme', a narrative centered on table tennis. Paul Thomas Anderson received a Best Director nomination for 'One Battle After Another', portraying DiCaprio as a former radical who becomes a marijuana-user and father. Supporting acting nods also went to Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Teyana Taylor, who commented on the struggles and persistence inherent to their careers.
In the Best Actress category, nominations were secured by Jessie Buckley for her performance as Agnes Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife in 'Hamnet', and Kate Hudson for 'Song Sung Blue', a film revolving around a Neil Diamond tribute band. Director Chloe Zhao, previously one of only three women to win Best Director for 'Nomadland', was also nominated for directing 'Hamnet', which imagines Shakespeare's family coping with the death of their son Hamnet—a loss believed to have inspired the playwright's 'Hamlet'. Despite critical praise for his portrayal of Shakespeare, Paul Mescal did not receive an award nomination.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, comprising around 10,000 members across actors, producers, directors, and industry craftspeople, will ultimately decide the winners. The Oscars ceremony will be broadcast on ABC and streamed via Hulu, with comedian Conan O’Brien returning as host.
Warner Bros Discovery led the studios with 30 total nominations, amidst ongoing industry acquisition interest from Netflix and Paramount Skydance. Netflix, despite multiple nominations for past films, has yet to secure a Best Picture win but holds a solid presence this year with Guillermo del Toro’s 'Frankenstein', ranked with nine nominations, and 'Train Dreams'. Netflix's release strategy involves limited theatrical runs to qualify for awards. The streaming giant’s 'KPop Demon Hunters' secured nominations for Best Animated Feature and Original Song for 'Golden'.
Among the Best Picture contenders, two are non-English language films: Norwegian drama 'Sentimental Value' and Brazilian political thriller 'The Secret Agent'. 'Sentimental Value' actor Stellan Skarsgard noted the importance of awards season recognition in increasing visibility for films lacking substantial marketing budgets. While 'Sentimental Value' has earned $16 million globally, 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another' have grossed $368 million and $206 million respectively. The highest-grossing nominee remains Brad Pitt’s racing drama 'F1', with nearly $632 million worldwide revenue.