Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' Shatters Oscar Records, Breaking the Mold
Ryan Coogler has made history with his film 'Sinners', which has shattered the Academy Awards' all-time nomination record, earning an impressive 16 nods. This achievement surpasses the previous mark of 14 nominations, held by three films, and sets a new benchmark in the history of the Oscars.
The supernatural thriller 'Sinners' has been recognized in numerous categories, including best picture, director, actor (Michael B. Jordan), supporting actress (Wunmi Mosaku), actor in a supporting role (Delroy Lindo), original screenplay, casting, production design, cinematography, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, sound, visual effects, original score, and original song for 'I Lied to You'.
What makes 'Sinners' truly remarkable is its achievement in being the seventh movie to be nominated in every technical category (excluding original song when applicable). This exclusive club includes 'Dune' (2021), 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015), 'The Revenant' (2015), 'Hugo' (2011), 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' (2003), and 'Titanic' (1997). When including original song, it stands next to only one other: 'Titanic' (1997).
This achievement eclipses the 14 nominations received by 'All About Eve' (1950), 'Titanic' (1997), and 'La La Land' (2016). The record for most wins is also shared by three films: 'Ben-Hur' (1959), 'Titanic', and 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003), with 11 apiece.
Coogler's recognition extends beyond the numbers. He becomes only the second Black filmmaker nominated in the same year for producing, directing, and original screenplay, following Jordan Peele's triple recognition for 'Get Out' (2017). He is also the third overall filmmaker to achieve that combination, with Spike Lee having done so for 'BlacKkKlansman' (2018), where he was additionally nominated in adapted screenplay.
Coogler is also the seventh Black director to receive a best director nomination, joining John Singleton ('Boyz n the Hood'), Lee Daniels ('Precious'), Steve McQueen ('12 Years a Slave'), Barry Jenkins ('Moonlight'), Peele, and Lee. None of them won.
The 'Black Panther' filmmaker is also the second Black producer to be nominated for best picture more than once. His previous producing nomination came for 'Judas and the Black Messiah' (2020). Peele holds the other distinction with 'Get Out' and 'BlacKkKlansman'.
'Sinners' brings historic firsts for several of his collaborators. Fellow producer Zinzi Coogler becomes the first Filipino producer and the third Black woman nominated for best picture. She and Ryan Coogler are also the first Black married couple nominated together in the category.
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first Filipino woman and the first woman of color nominated for cinematography. Production designer Hannah Beachler, who won the Oscar for her work on 'Black Panther' (2018), earned her second nomination and remains the only Black woman recognized in the category.
Costume designer Ruth E. Carter — the first Black woman to win more than one competitive Oscar, for 'Black Panther' (2018) and 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022) — picked up her fifth nomination in the category. She is now the most-nominated Black woman in Oscar history, surpassing Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis. She is now tied with Spike Lee and Morgan Freeman of the third most nominated Black creatives, following Quincy Jones with seven and Denzel Washington with nine overall.
Coogler also joins a lineage of Black screenwriters nominated for original screenplay, a category that first recognized Black writers in 1972, when Suzanne de Passe received a nomination for 'Lady Sings the Blues'. Since then, Lee, Singleton, Peele, and the 'Judas and the Black Messiah' writing team have earned nominations, with Peele becoming the first — and still the only — Black winner.
The final Oscar voting will take place from February 26 to March 5. The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15 and will air on ABC, hosted by Conan O'Brien.
