98th Academy Awards Nominations: “Sinners” Breaks All-Time Record With 16 Nods, Cinematography Race Features Diverse Field

AwardsOscars 2026

by Nino LeitnerJanuary 22^nd, 2026

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, with Ryan Coogler’s period vampire drama “Sinners” setting a new record with 16 nominations. The cinematography category showcases an eclectic mix of veteran masters and rising talents, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Darius Khondji, Dan Laustsen, Michael Bauman, and Adolpho Veloso competing for the top honor.

The previous record of 14 nominations, shared by “All About Eve” (1950), “Titanic” (1997), and “La La Land” (2016), has finally been surpassed. “Sinners” earned recognition in every category it was eligible for, spanning best picture, director, lead actor, two supporting acting nominations, and nearly every craft category including cinematography, production design, costume design, editing, sound, visual effects, original score, and original song.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” follows closely with 13 nominations, while “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme,” and “Sentimental Value” each secured nine nods. “Hamnet” earned eight nominations. The ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien returning as host. (In case you missed it, check out our educational article on the iconic car chase in “One Battle After Another” here.)

Cinematography contenders

The cinematography race presents an interesting mix of established masters and emerging voices. Autumn Durald Arkapaw earned her first Oscar nomination for “Sinners,” building on her reputation established through work on “Loki” and “The Old Man.” Her collaboration with Coogler on the period-set vampire tale required balancing the atmospheric horror elements with the film’s exploration of the American South.

Darius Khondji received his nomination for “Marty Supreme,” reuniting with Josh Safdie after their collaboration on “Uncut Gems.” Khondji’s career spans decades of acclaimed work with directors including David Fincher, Wong Kar-wai, and Michael Haneke, and his textured approach to the period sports drama has drawn considerable attention throughout awards season.

Dan Laustsen continues his longstanding collaboration with Guillermo del Toro on “Frankenstein,” earning his second Oscar nomination after his recognition for “The Shape of Water.” The Netflix production required extensive work with practical effects and creature design, presenting unique lighting challenges for the cinematographer.

Michael Bauman earned recognition for “One Battle After Another,” his work with Paul Thomas Anderson on the politically charged drama. Adolpho Veloso rounds out the category with his nomination for the Netflix drama “Train Dreams,” representing a newer voice in the field.

Best picture field spans studios and genres

Ten films earned best picture nominations: “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners,” and “Train Dreams.” The inclusion of “F1” emerged as something of a surprise, with the Apple racing drama joining more traditional awards fare.

Warner Bros. led all studios with 30 nominations, buoyed by the dominant performances of “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another.” According to Variety, this caps a remarkable turnaround for the studio after a challenging start to the year. Netflix secured 18 nominations, while indie distributor Neon also matched that total despite its smaller size, driven by international titles like “Sentimental Value” and “The Secret Agent.”

Craft categories showcase technical achievements

Beyond cinematography, several craft categories hold particular interest for filmmakers. The editing nominations went to “F1” (Stephen Mirrione), “Marty Supreme” (Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie), “One Battle After Another” (Andy Jurgensen), “Sentimental Value” (Olivier Bugge Coutté), and “Sinners” (Michael P. Shawver).

Sound nominations include “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners,” and the Spanish film “Sirāt.” The visual effects category features “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “F1,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “The Lost Bus,” and “Sinners.”

Production design saw nominations for “Frankenstein” (Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau), “Hamnet” (Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton), “Marty Supreme” (Jack Fisk, Adam Willis), “One Battle After Another” (Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino), and “Sinners” (Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne).

Inaugural casting category makes debut

This year marks the first time casting directors will be recognized by the Academy. The inaugural nominees include Nina Gold (“Hamnet”), Jennifer Venditti (“Marty Supreme”), Cassandra Kulukundis (“One Battle After Another”), Francine Maisler (“Sinners”), and Gabriel Domingues (“The Secret Agent”). This new category contributed to the elevated nomination totals for both “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another.”

Acting races take shape

The best director category features Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”), Paul Thomas Anderson (“One Battle After Another”), Josh Safdie (“Marty Supreme”), Joachim Trier (“Sentimental Value”), and Chloé Zhao (“Hamnet”). Zhao previously won the directing Oscar for “Nomadland.”

Best actor nominees include Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”), Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”), Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”), Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”), and Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”). The best actress category features Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”), Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”), and Emma Stone (“Bugonia”).

According to the Los Angeles Times, costume designer Ruth E. Carter earned her fifth career nomination for “Sinners,” setting a new record for most Oscar nominations by a Black woman in any category.

At the box office, “Sinners” has earned $368 million worldwide among the best picture contenders, trailing only “F1” at $632 million globally.

The 98th Academy Awards will air on ABC and stream on Hulu on March 15. Which cinematography approach do you think deserves the win this year? Does “Sinners” have the momentum to convert its record nominations into actual wins? Share your predictions in the comments below.