The 98th Academy Awards nominations were revealed on Thursday, with the movie “Sinners” making Oscar history by receiving a total of 16 nominations. This accomplishment surpassed the previous record held by “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land.” The film, praised for Ryan Coogler’s writing and direction, as well as Michael B. Jordan’s performance, received nods in various categories, including directing, acting (marking Jordan’s first Oscar nomination), and best picture.
Another noteworthy mention was for “One Battle After Another” and the surprising entry of the Norwegian film “Sentimental Value,” which both garnered significant recognition. “Sentimental Value” secured nine nominations, a notable achievement for a non-English language film. Additionally, this year marks the eighth consecutive year that foreign language films like “Sentimental Value” and Brazil’s “The Secret Agent” are vying for the best picture award. Both “One Battle” and “Sentimental Value” are also in contention for the Oscars’ newly introduced category after 25 years: achievement in casting.
The first nominations for best performance by an actress in a supporting role went to Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for “Sentimental Value,” Amy Madigan for “Weapons,” Wunmi Mosaku for “Sinners,” and Teyana Taylor for “One Battle After Another.”
The awards ceremony culminated with the announcement of the best picture nominees, which included “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners,” and “Train Dreams.”
While the nominations mostly aligned with expectations from earlier awards shows, there were a few surprises. Notably, “Wicked: For Good” was notably absent from the nominations after its stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo received nominations last year. Additionally, Delroy Lindo from “Sinners” received a supporting actor nomination instead of the expected nominee, Miles Caton. Caton, who won the Critics Choice award for best young performer, is also nominated at the upcoming 2026 Actor Awards.
Jesse Plemons and Paul Mescal, expected to be nominated for best actor, did not make the cut. Apple’s “F1” emerged as a potential contender by securing four nominations, including one for best picture, while James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” only received nominations in technical categories.
“One Battle After Another” narrowly missed setting a new Oscars record by receiving four acting nominations, just one shy of the record held since 1976. Notably, Chase Infiniti was left off the nominations list despite receiving Golden Globes and Critics Choice nominations, with Kate Hudson earning a surprise nomination for her role in “Song Sung Blue.”
Following closely behind in nominations were “Hamnet” and “Marty Supreme,” with eight and nine nods respectively. Jessie Buckley from “Hamnet” is a strong favorite to win the best actress category, having already won at the Critics Choice and Golden Globes. Timothée Chalamet from “Marty Supreme” is in the running for best actor, a category he won at the Golden Globes, facing stiff competition from Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle.”
With its 13 nominations, “One Battle After Another” ranked second in total nominations this year, following a successful run at the Golden Globes. The film, alongside “Sinners,” contributed to a remarkable showing for Warner Bros.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien set to host.
Meanwhile, Canadian filmmakers have a strong presence among the nominees. Domee Shi and Maggie Kang, directors of “Elio” and “KPop Demon Hunters,” respectively, are vying for the best animated feature award. “KPop Demon Hunters” is a strong contender, while France’s “Arco” is also considered a critical favorite in the category.
In addition to the competitive categories, Canadian films such as “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” and “Perfectly a Strangeness,” along with the Canadian teams behind “Frankenstein,” have also received nominations across various technical and creative categories. Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix film “Frankenstein” has also been recognized with a best picture nomination.