Could Sinners Break The All-Time Oscar Nomination Record?

3 days ago 9

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

In less than two weeks, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will unveil the official nominations for the 2026 Oscars. Movies like One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme, Hamnet, and Frankenstein are poised to be major players and secure high nomination counts. The same is true of Ryan Coogler's hit period vampire movie, Sinners.

It's been touted as a major awards contender from the second it premiered, and despite coming out early last year, it has maintained a strong position in many key races heading into the 98th Academy Awards. There's no question that Sinners will earn Oscar nominations. The only question is how many it will get. Now discussions are happening about whether it could break the record for the most nominations.

14 Oscar Nominations Is The Most A Single Movie Has Ever Received

Jack & Rose Pose Flying Scene In Titanic.jpg

Several films have secured double-digit nominations at the Oscars, but only three have obtained the biggest tally ever. All About Eve (1950) set the initial Oscar nomination record when it racked up 14. James Cameron managed to tie the record over 40 years later with Titanic (1997). More recently, La La Land (2016) matched the accomplishment, putting it in an elite tier of Oscar contenders.

While All About Eve set the nomination record, it was Titanic that set the Oscar win record, as it took home 11 Academy Awards. All About Eve and La La Land each won six.

Still, 14 Oscar nominations become the mark that Sinners or any other film needs to reach to tie the record. And as difficult as it may seem to get 15 nominations, that's not as crazy a proposition for Sinners thanks to its awards portfolio.

Sinners Breaking The Oscar Nomination Record Is Doable

Smoke looking serious as he hugs Stack in Sinners

When it comes to the current landscape of awards season, Sinners feels safely positioned to accumulate double-digit nominations. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling all seem likely at this point. It should also be among the first-ever Best Casting nominees.

That's 13 nominations right there, putting it one shy of tying the record. The film has also gained ground in Best Supporting Actress thanks to the growing recognition for Wunmi Mosaku's performance. It's no longer inconceivable to think she'll be among the nominees at the Oscars, which would bring Sinners' tally to 14.

So where would the record-setting 15th nomination come from? Miles Caton or Delroy Lindo could surprise in Best Supporting Actor. It is among the 10 films shortlisted for Best Visual Effects, so Sinners could break through there, thanks to the digital work done, such as helping Michael B. Jordan play two characters. The other option is getting two nominations in Best Original Song.

Those options plus Mosaku give Sinners four opportunities to pick up the additional two nominations (or more) to break the Oscars record. It is far from a sure thing at this point, and I would not personally predict it happening at this stage, but the fact that it is this feasible speaks volumes about how great a spot Sinners is in for the 2026 Oscars.