Vampire thriller Sinners makes Oscar history with 16 nominations

Vampire thriller Sinners made Oscars history on Thursday by earning a record 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film, positioning it as a leading contender for best picture.

The Warner Bros production surpassed the previous record of 14 nominations, shared by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.

Set in the segregated American South, Sinners blends supernatural horror with blues music and Black cultural history. The film will compete for best picture against titles including One Battle After Another, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Bugonia, F1, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams.

Michael B. Jordan received a best actor nomination for his dual role as twin brothers who open a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi, leading to a violent clash between gangsters and vampires. The film also earned nominations for director Ryan Coogler, supporting actors Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku, and several technical categories, including cinematography, costume design, original screenplay, and visual effects.

Jordan will compete for best actor against Leonardo DiCaprio, nominated for One Battle After Another, which received 13 nominations, and Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme.

One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, also earned acting nominations for Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Teyana Taylor. Taylor said the recognition reflected years of struggle for opportunity and respect in the industry.

In the best actress category, Jessie Buckley was nominated for her role as Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet, while Kate Hudson earned a nomination for Song Sung Blue.

Chloé Zhao received a best director nomination for Hamnet, a film that imagines how William Shakespeare’s family coped with the death of their son, Hamnet. Actor Paul Mescal, who played Shakespeare, did not receive a nomination.

This year’s nominations span a wide range of genres, from historical drama to supernatural horror. Several nominated films were also commercial successes, a factor expected to boost interest in the awards ceremony.