Ryan Coogler shared his immense pride for his longtime collaborator Michael B. Jordan, who earned his first career Oscar nomination for their film Sinners. The movie itself made Academy Awards history, securing 16 nominations—the most ever for a single film. The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on January 22, 2026.
The groundbreaking horror epic, set in the Jim Crow-era South, was recognized across nearly every major category. Beyond Best Picture, nods include Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Coogler, Best Actor for Jordan, and supporting acting nominations for Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku. The film’s technical and creative achievements were also honored, from cinematography and editing to original song.
Sinners Sets a New Oscars Record with 16 Nominations
Sinners has officially broken the Oscars record for the most nominations received by one film. The previous record of 14 was jointly held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. This massive haul is particularly notable for a horror film, a genre historically underrepresented in major Academy Awards categories.
The film’s 16 nominations span all disciplines, highlighting its success as a complete cinematic work. It earned recognition in the newly introduced Best Casting category, along with nominations for its score, production design, sound, and visual effects. Speaking about the historic achievement, Coogler and his producing team were stunned.
“I don’t know that it’s truly settled in yet,” said producer Zinzi Coogler. “We’re still trying to catch our bearings. Like, literally for any morning, it’s so early. But what an insane honor.”
Coogler emphasized that the recognition was for the entire team. “I was very impressed by everything that my collaborators were doing every day,” he said. “I’m so happy that everybody got recognized by their peers.” Producer Sev Ohanian experienced a special moment, sharing that his family surprised him at 5:15 a.m. with food to watch the announcements together.
Michael B. Jordan’s Emotional Reaction to His First Oscar Nod
For Michael B. Jordan, the morning brought a deeply personal milestone: his first Oscar nomination. Nominated for Best Actor for his dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, Jordan described the feeling as “surreal”.
“To be a part of a project that will live in cinema history right up there with the movies that have inspired me as an artist — it is really a surreal feeling,” Jordan told Deadline.
Despite his long and successful career, this nomination holds unique weight. “I’ve been in this industry for a long time,” Jordan told The Hollywood Reporter. “To be in those conversations and in that company is a solidifying feeling.” He shared that his first phone call was to his mother. “It was great. A lot of tears… To talk to the woman who started it all first meant the world,” he said.
Jordan was actively working when the news broke, editing his new directorial project, a reimagining of The Thomas Crown Affair. He chose to sleep through the live announcement and wake up to whatever the result would be. “My battery’s already at like 12% and I had it on the charge all night. So the phone hasn’t really stopped,” he joked a few hours after the news came out. “It’s a cool morning, man. Feeling good today!”
Ryan Coogler’s Pride in Michael B. Jordan’s Recognition
The core of the news is director Ryan Coogler’s heartfelt reaction to his friend and frequent collaborator’s achievement. Having worked together for over a decade on films like Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther, Coogler expressed profound joy for Jordan.
“To see him achieve this recognition by his peers, it’s just the best feeling to have,” Coogler said.
This sentiment was echoed in other interviews, where Coogler reflected on their partnership and the significance of Jordan’s nomination within the film’s overall success. The director also dedicated the film’s recognition to his late uncle, who inspired the story. “I wrote this script for my uncle who passed away 11 years ago,” Coogler said. “I got to imagine that he’s listening to some blues music right now to celebrate.”
The Cultural and Box Office Success Behind the Nominations
The Oscar nominations cap an exceptional year for Sinners, which was both a critical darling and a commercial hit. The film holds a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and was previously nominated for seven Golden Globes, winning one. More importantly, it connected powerfully with audiences.
“The word of mouth on this movie was incredible,” Michael B. Jordan noted. “The conversations that were had about the movie, it’s layered in a way that you want to go back… It feels like a movie that you want to watch whenever it’s on.”
Co-star Wunmi Mosaku highlighted the film’s cultural impact. “First of all, the way the audience showed up at the cinema feels rare [in this day and age], and people showed up not once, not twice, but three, four and 10 times,” she told Deadline. As an R-rated horror film, its global box office gross of $368 million is considered a runaway success.
For Coogler, this audience connection was the ultimate goal. “For me, people just showing up to the movies and having a good time, that would’ve been enough,” he said.
A Historic Night Awaits at the 98th Academy Awards
All attention now turns to the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast live on ABC and hosted for the second consecutive year by Conan O’Brien.
Sinners will compete for Best Picture against other major nominees like Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which received 13 nominations, and Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value. Other Best Picture nominees include Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, and Train Dreams.
Also Read:
Whether Sinners will convert its record number of nominations into wins remains to be seen. Regardless, for Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, and the entire team, the historic recognition itself is a celebration of their collaborative work. As Jordan put it, the nominations are “a testament to the movie, to every piece of the puzzle that went into making this film”.
Also Read: The Borderline Crime Drama Series Premiere Date and Crave Streaming Details
For more stories about this year’s awards season and your favorite stars, stay tuned to VvipTimes.
