Hollywood has a new king. Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror epic, *Sinners*, has sunk its teeth into the history books, securing a staggering 16 nominations for the 98th Academy Awards. This feat smashes the previous record of 14, held jointly by titans like *Titanic*, *La La Land*, and *All About Eve*.

The announcement has sent shockwaves through the industry. *Sinners*, a genre-bending tale of vampires in the Jim Crow South starring Michael B. Jordan, was seen as a risky gamble. Instead, it has become a cultural phenomenon, sweeping nods for Best Picture, Best Director, and a first-ever Best Actor nomination for Jordan.

A Victory for Black Cinema

The record-breaking haul is a watershed moment for Black representation in cinema. Coogler, who redefined the superhero genre with *Black Panther*, has now proven that a Black-led horror film can dominate the most prestigious awards on the planet.

• The Competition: Paul Thomas Anderson’s *One Battle After Another* trailed in second place with 13 nominations, setting up a clash of the titans for Oscars night in March 2026.
• The Categories: *Sinners* scored everywhere—from technical fields like Sound and Visual Effects to the "Big Five" categories. It also grabbed a nomination for Best Casting, a newly introduced category.
• The African Angle: The success of *Sinners* resonates in Kenya, where Lupita Nyong’o (a frequent Coogler collaborator) remains a national icon. It signals to aspiring Kenyan filmmakers that authentic, culturally specific stories—even genre films—have global currency.

The Warner Bros. Windfall

For Warner Bros., the studio behind both top contenders, the nominations are a "golden moment" amid corporate turbulence. With Netflix circling to buy the studio for KES 9.3 trillion ($72 billion), this creative triumph increases the studio's valuation overnight.

Ryan Coogler responded to the news with characteristic humility, calling it "pretty crazy." But make no mistake: *Sinners* has not just broken a record; it has changed the game. The Oscars will never be the same.