Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were revealed on Thursday morning, with the film “Sinners” making a significant impact in Oscars history by securing a total of 16 nominations. This achievement surpassed the records previously set by “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land.” The film, recognized 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 debut Oscar nomination), and best picture.
Among the noteworthy mentions were “One Battle After Another” and the surprising entry of the Norwegian film “Sentimental Value.” The latter garnered nine nominations, a notable feat for a non-English language film. Additionally, it marked the eighth consecutive year where foreign language films like “One Battle” and “Sentimental Value” competed for the best picture category. Both films are also in contention for the Oscars’ newly introduced 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 grand finale of the ceremony featured the prestigious award for best picture, with films such as “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners,” and “Train Dreams” in contention.
While the lineup for the nominations mostly aligned with predictions from earlier award shows, there were some surprises. “Wicked: For Good” missed out entirely despite past nominations for stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Delroy Lindo from “Sinners” received a supporting actor nod instead of the anticipated nominee, Miles Caton. Notable omissions included Jesse Plemons (“Bugonia”) and Paul Mescal (“Hamnet”) for best actor nods, while Apple’s “F1” emerged as a potential contender with four nominations, including best picture.
“One Battle After Another” nearly set a new Oscars record by securing four acting nominations, falling just short of the five nominations required to match a record set back in 1976 by “Network.” The absence of star Chase Infiniti, who received Golden Globes and Critics Choice nominations, was notable, with Kate Hudson earning a surprise nomination for her role in “Song Sung Blue.”
Following closely behind were “Hamnet” and “Marty Supreme,” with eight and nine nominations, respectively. Jessie Buckley from “Hamnet” is favored to win best actress, having already triumphed at the Critics Choice and Golden Globes awards. Timothée Chalamet from “Marty Supreme,” a frontrunner for best actor, faces stiff competition from Leonardo DiCaprio from “One Battle.” Chalamet had previously been a strong contender for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”
“One Battle After Another” clinched 13 nominations, the second-highest this year, after a successful run at the Golden Globes. The film, along with “Sinners,” contributed to a remarkable showing for Warner Bros., as Netflix eyes a potential acquisition of the studio amid a competitive bid from Paramount Skydance.
Canadian filmmakers also stand a good chance of winning, with Domee Shi and Maggie Kang nominated for best animated feature for their works “Elio” and “KPop Demon Hunters” respectively. “KPop Demon Hunters” is a strong contender given its widespread popularity, though France’s “Arco” is also receiving critical acclaim. Last year, the lesser-known film “Flow” managed to upset big-budget productions to secure a win.
“The Girl Who Cried Pearls” by Montreal’s Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski received a nomination for best animated short film, while Alison McAlpine’s “Perfectly a Strangeness” from Quebec is in the running for best documentary short film. The Canadian teams behind “Frankenstein” also earned nominations for makeup and hairstyling, sound, and production design.
The Guillermo del Toro Netflix film, as well as “Frankenstein,” received nominations for best picture. The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled to be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien set to host the event.