Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” officially made Oscars history.
On Jan. 22, the genre-blending drama earned a record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations, becoming the most-nominated film in Oscars history and surpassing the long-standing record held by “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land,” according to multiple reports.
The milestone moment places “Sinners” at the center of this year’s awards conversation and marks a major career moment for its cast and creative team, many of whom are receiving their first Oscar recognition.
Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan Reach New Career Highs
Directed by Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” landed nominations in nearly every major category, including best picture, best director and best original screenplay. The nods mark Coogler’s first-ever Oscar nominations for directing and writing, making him the seventh Black filmmaker to be nominated for best director.
The film’s success also delivered a long-awaited milestone for Michael B. Jordan, who earned his first Oscar nomination for best actor for his dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore. Jordan and Coogler’s collaboration dates back to 2013’s “Fruitvale Station,” making the recognition feel like a full-circle moment for the longtime creative partners.
First-time Oscar nominations also went to Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo in the supporting acting categories. Behind the scenes, the film earned nominations across technical fields including cinematography, costume design, editing, makeup and hairstyling, sound, visual effects and production design. Ludwig Göransson was recognized for original score, while the song “I Lied To You” landed a best original song nomination.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s casting director Francine Maisler also earned a nod in the Academy’s newly introduced best casting category, adding to the film’s historic total.
Cast Reacts as ‘Sinners’ Momentum Continues
As the nominations rolled in, the cast’s reaction was immediate and emotional.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, breakout star Miles Caton said the group chat lit up as soon as the news broke. “The chat is jumping right now,” Caton shared. “We’re literally texting in the chat right now. Everybody’s texting in the chat.”
Caton, who makes his acting debut in “Sinners,” said watching his co-stars receive recognition has been especially meaningful. “I’m so, so proud of them,” he said, adding that seeing the work Mosaku, Lindo and Jordan put in behind the scenes made the nominations feel deeply earned.
Mosaku echoed that sentiment in an interview with Deadline, calling the recognition an emotional and affirming moment. She credited Coogler’s storytelling for resonating so strongly with audiences, saying his work is filled with “so much heart, representation, love, honesty and truth.”
She also emphasized how close the cast and crew became during production, describing “Sinners” as the most connected creative experience of her career. According to Mosaku, that sense of care and intention translated directly to the screen.
Beyond awards recognition, “Sinners” has already proven itself a commercial success. The film grossed approximately $368 million worldwide on a reported $90 million to $100 million budget and became the highest-grossing original film domestically in 15 years, per the Evening Standard.
With its record-setting nominations and growing awards momentum, “Sinners” is now firmly positioned as one of the defining Oscar stories of the year.
As Mosaku put it, the recognition feels less about trophies and more about the love behind the work, saying the film was made “with so much love, and I think people can really feel that.”
