At a Glance
- Sinners tops the field with 16 Oscar nominations.
- Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” follows with 13 nominations.
- Casting directors receive their first competitive category, marking a new milestone.
- Why it matters: The Oscars are expanding, embracing horror and acknowledging behind-the-scenes talent.
Intro paragraph
The 98th Academy Awards announced a record-setting slate of nominees, with the horror-fantasy “Sinners” leading at 16 nominations, a first for the genre. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” trails with 13 nods, while the ceremony introduces a new category for casting directors.
Record-Breaking Nominations
The most-nominated film, Sinners, earned a wide array of honors, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, who is making his first Oscar appearance. No film has ever achieved more than 14 nominations; the record is held by “All About Eve”, “Titanic”, and “La La Land”. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” secured 13 nominations across categories such as Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Historical Context
The Academy last added a competitive category in 2001 with Best Animated Feature. Adding casting directors marks the first new competitive award in five years, reflecting the industry’s evolving recognition of creative contributors.
Casting Directors: A New Era
For the first time, the Academy is awarding a competitive category to casting directors. The new award, added last year, acknowledges the crucial role of casting in film success. The inaugural nominees include Nina Gold for “Hamnet”, Jennifer Venditti for “Marty Supreme”, Casandra Kulukundis for “One Battle After Another”, Gabriel Domingues for “The Secret Agent”, and Francine Maisler for “Sinners”.
Michael B. Jordan’s First Nomination
Michael B. Jordan received a nomination for Best Actor for his role in “Sinners”. This marks his first Oscar nomination, highlighting his rise in the industry and the film’s critical acclaim.
Ceremony Details
The awards ceremony will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The event will be televised live on ABC and streamed on Hulu at 7 p.m. ET. Conan O’Brien is returning as host, following his successful run last year.
Full Nominee List
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Best Actor | Timothée Chalamet – “Marty Supreme”; Leonardo DiCaprio – “One Battle After Another”; Ethan Hawke – “Blue Moon”; Michael B. Jordan – “Sinners”; Wagner Moura – “The Secret Agent” |
| Best Actress | Jessie Buckley – “Hamnet”; Rose Byrne – “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”; Kate Hudson – “Song Sung Blue”; Renate Reinsve – “Sentimental Value”; Emma Stone – “Bugonia” |
| Best Director | Chloé Zhao – “Hamnet”; Josh Safdie – “Marty Supreme”; Paul Thomas Anderson – “One Battle After Another”; Joachim Trier – “Sentimental Value”; Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” |
| Best Picture | “Bugonia”; “F1”; “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “Marty Supreme”; “One Battle After Another”; “The Secret Agent”; “Sentimental Value”; “Sinners”; “Train Dreams” |
| Best Supporting Actor | Benicio Del Toro – “One Battle After Another”; Jacob Elordi – “Frankenstein”; Delroy Lindo – “Sinners”; Sean Penn – “One Battle After Another”; Stellan Skarsgård – “Sentimental Value” |
| Best Supporting Actress | Elle Fanning – “Sentimental Value”; Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – “Sentimental Value”; Amy Madigan – “Weapons”; Wunmi Mosaku – “Sinners”; Teyana Taylor – “One Battle After Another” |
| Best Original Screenplay | “Blue Moon”; “It Was Just an Accident”; “Marty Supreme”; “Sentimental Value”; “Sinners” |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | “One Battle After Another”; “Hamnet”; “Bugonia”; “Train Dreams”; “Frankenstein” |
| Best Cinematography | “Sinners”; “One Battle After Another”; “Train Dreams”; “Frankenstein”; “Marty Supreme” |
| Best Editing | “F1”; “Marty Supreme”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sentimental Value”; “Sinners” |
| Best Sound | “F1”; “Frankenstein”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sinners”; “Sirat” |
| Best Visual Effects | “Avatar: Fire and Ash”; “F1”; “Jurassic World Rebirth”; “The Lost Bus”; “Sinners” |
| Best Production Design | “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “Marty Supreme”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sinners” |
| Best Costume Design | “Avatar: Fire and Ash”; “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “Marty Supreme”; “Sinners” |
| Best Makeup & Hairstyling | “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “Marty Supreme”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sinners” |
| Best Original Score | “Bugonia”; “Frankenstein”; “Hamnet”; “One Battle After Another”; “Sinners” |
| Best Original Song | “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless”; “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters”; “I Lied to You” from “Sinners”; “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from “Viva Verdi!”; “Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams” |
| Best Casting | Nina Gold – “Hamnet”; Jennifer Venditti – “Marty Supreme”; Casandra Kulukundis – “One Battle After Another”; Gabriel Domingues – “The Secret Agent”; Francine Maisler – “Sinners” |
| Best International Feature Film | “It Was Just an Accident”; “The Secret Agent”; “Sentimental Value”; “The Voice of Hind Rajab”; “Sirat” |
| Best Documentary Feature Film | “The Alabama Solution”; “Come See Me in the Good Light”; “Cutting Through Rocks”; “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”; “The Perfect Neighbor” |
| Best Animated Feature Film | “KPop Demon Hunters”; “Zootopia 2”; “Arco”; “Elio”; “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” |
| Best Animated Short Film | “Butterfly”; “Forevergreen”; “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”; “Retirement Plan”; “The Three Sisters” |
| Best Live Action Short Film | “Butcher’s Stain”; “A Friend of Dorothy”; “Jane Austen’s Period Drama”; “The Singers”; “Two People Exchanging Saliva” |
Key Takeaways
- “Sinners” sets a new horror-film precedent with the most nominations ever.
- Casting directors receive a competitive award for the first time.
- The ceremony will air live on ABC and Hulu, with Conan O’Brien hosting.
Sinners, a vampire tale directed by Ryan Coogler, achieved the most nominations for a horror film, breaking a long-standing record.
The new casting category acknowledges the work of professionals who assemble the ensemble that brings stories to life.
ABC will broadcast the ceremony to a national audience, while Hulu offers a streaming option for viewers who prefer digital access.
Conan O’Brien, known for his quick wit, has hosted the Oscars twice before, bringing a blend of humor and ceremony.
The Academy’s decision to add casting directors after a five-year hiatus reflects a broader trend of recognizing diverse creative roles.
The 98th Oscars will feature 25 categories, with 10 of them awarding technical achievements.
The ceremony will be held at Dolby Theatre, a historic venue that has hosted the Oscars since 1974.
The nominees span a wide range of genres, from biopics to animated features, showcasing the industry’s diversity.
The award for Best International Feature Film will recognize non-English language films that have resonated globally.
Documentary films such as “The Alabama Solution” and “The Perfect Neighbor” were among the nominees, highlighting real-world stories.
Animated shorts like “Butterfly” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” continue the tradition of celebrating short-form storytelling.
