The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were revealed on Thursday morning, with the film “Sinners” making history at the Oscars. With a total of 16 nominations, “Sinners” surpassed the previous records set by “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land.” The film received recognition across various categories, including directing, acting, and best picture, thanks to Ryan Coogler’s writing and direction, as well as Michael B. Jordan’s performance, marking Jordan’s first Oscar nod.
Additionally, “One Battle After Another” and the Norwegian film “Sentimental Value” had a strong presence in the nominations. “Sentimental Value” garnered nine nods, a notable achievement for a non-English language film. Foreign language films, including “One Battle” and “Sentimental Value,” have been competing for the best picture award for the past eight years. Both films are also contenders in the newly introduced Oscars category after 25 years: achievement in casting.
The nominations for best performance by an actress in a supporting role went to Elle Fanning (“Sentimental Value”), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (“Sentimental Value”), Amy Madigan (“Weapons”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”), and Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”).
The evening culminated with the announcement of the best picture nominees, which included films like “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners,” and “Train Dreams.”
While the nominations aligned with expectations from previous award shows, there were some surprises. “Wicked: For Good” was notably absent from the list despite the prior recognition of its stars, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Delroy Lindo from “Sinners” received a nomination for supporting actor, replacing Miles Caton, who was a projected nominee. Notable omissions included Jesse Plemons (“Bugonia”) and Paul Mescal (“Hamnet”) in the best actor category. “F1” emerged as a contender with four nominations, including a best picture nod, while “Avatar: Fire and Ash” only received two nominations in technical categories.
“One Battle After Another” fell just short of breaking an Oscars record with four acting nominations. The film’s lead, Chase Infiniti, was left off the list, and Kate Hudson received a surprising nomination for “Song Sung Blue.” “Hamnet” and “Marty Supreme” followed closely behind with eight and nine nominations, respectively. Jessie Buckley from “Hamnet” is a frontrunner for the best actress award, having already won at the Critics Choice and Golden Globes.
The 98th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, will feature a highly anticipated ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien. Canadian filmmakers also have a strong presence in the nominations, with Domee Shi and Maggie Kang being recognized for best animated feature for their works “Elio” and “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Overall, the nominations reflect a diverse and competitive field of talent from various films vying for recognition at this year’s Oscars.