Oscars 2026: Sinners Or One Battle After; Which Film Leads With Highest Nomination At 98th Academy Awards

The 98th Academy Awards are almost here, and 'Sinners’ dominates the field. The film has scored 16 nominations at Oscars 2026, the highest ever for a single movie. It also records the most Black nominees linked to one film, with ten individuals recognised across categories. Close behind, One Battle After Another has earned 13 nominations, signalling a tight contest in several major races. Films such as Frankenstein, Hamnet and Marty Supreme also feature across many categories, alongside high-profile titles like Bugonia, F1 and Train Dreams.

Oscars 2026 and 98th Academy Awards ceremony details

The 98th Academy Awards take place on 15 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Stars, directors and producers gather to celebrate achievements in global cinema. Viewers in India catch the live telecast in the early hours of 16 March because of the time zone difference.

Audiences can expect red-carpet appearances, live performances and the reveal of winners in headline categories. These include Best Picture, acting prizes, directing, writing and a wide range of technical awards. With nominations spread across established names and newer talent, interest among film fans in India remains high.

Oscars 2026 nominations record for 'Sinners’ at 98th Academy Awards

'Sinners’, directed by Ryan Coogler, stands as the clear frontrunner in nomination numbers. Its 16 nods move past the previous record of 14, held jointly by Titanic, All About Eve and La La Land. This milestone makes Oscars history before any envelope is opened.

The film competes for Best Picture and Best Director, with Michael B. Jordan nominated for Best Actor. Delroy Lindo appears in Best Supporting Actor, while the cast also brings nominations in Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay, confirming strong support across branches.

Oscars 2026 major contenders at the 98th Academy Awards

One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is nominated 13 times, including Best Picture and Director. Performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor drive acting attention, while the film also features in technical sections such as Cinematography, Sound, Production Design and Film Editing.

Hamnet, Frankenstein and Marty Supreme secure multiple key nominations and play an important role in the Best Picture race. Sentimental Value and The Secret Agent also appear frequently. The spread of nominations suggests several films remain competitive across acting, writing and craft categories.

Oscars 2026 key nomination numbers at the 98th Academy Awards

Several titles show strong all-round support across the branches of the Academy. The table below highlights the leading films by total nominations, reflecting their presence in both artistic and technical races.

'Sinners’ also achieves a separate record with ten nominations for Black individuals. These include acting, directing, writing and craft roles. This marks a notable moment for representation at the Oscars 2026 ceremony and within the wider 98th Academy Awards nominee field.

Oscars 2026 Best Picture lineup at the 98th Academy Awards

The Best Picture category features ten titles spanning genres from drama to spectacle. Established filmmakers and rising directors share the spotlight. The nominated films are listed below for reference.

These ten films form the core of the awards conversation. Many appear again in other categories, such as acting, music and visual effects. Their broad presence helps shape the narrative leading into Oscars night.

Oscars 2026 acting nominations at the 98th Academy Awards

The Best Actress lineup includes Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet", Rose Byrne for "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You", Renate Reinsve for "Sentimental Value", Emma Stone for "Bugonia" and Kate Hudson for "Song Sung Blue". Each performance anchors its film’s awards profile.

Best Actor contenders are Timothée Chalamet for "Marty Supreme", Leonardo DiCaprio for "One Battle After Another", Ethan Hawke for "Blue Moon", Michael B. Jordan for "Sinners" and Wagner Moura for "The Secret Agent". These roles range from historical characters to intense contemporary figures.

In Best Supporting Actress, nominees are Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter LilIeaas, both for "Sentimental Value", Amy Madigan for "Weapons", Wunmi Mosaku for "Sinners" and Teyana Taylor for "One Battle After Another". Their performances bring additional depth to the main stories.

Best Supporting Actor nominations go to Jacob Elordi for "Frankenstein", Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro for "One Battle After Another", Stellan Skarsgård for "Sentimental Value" and Delroy Lindo for "Sinners". Several films therefore hold more than one supporting nomination.

Oscars 2026 directing and writing races at the 98th Academy Awards

The Best Director field features Paul Thomas Anderson for "One Battle After Another", Ryan Coogler for "Sinners", Chloé Zhao for "Hamnet", Josh Safdie for "Marty Supreme" and Joachim Trier for "Sentimental Value". Many of their films also appear in Best Picture and writing categories.

Original Screenplay nominees include "Blue Moon" by Robert Kaplow, "It Was Just an Accident" by Jafar Panahi with Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin and Mehdi Mahmoudian, "Marty Supreme" by Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie, "Sentimental Value" by Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier, and "Sinners" by Ryan Coogler.

In Adapted Screenplay, the nominees are "Bugonia" by Will Tracy, "Frankenstein" by Guillermo del Toro, "Hamnet" by Chloé Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell, "One Battle After Another" by Paul Thomas Anderson and "Train Dreams" by Clint Bailey and Greg Kwedar. Many of these scripts draw from well-known source material.

Oscars 2026 music, animation and international fields at the 98th Academy Awards

Original Song nominees are "Golden" from "Kpop Demon Hunters", "Train Dreams" from "Train Dreams", "Dear Me" from "Diane Warren: Relentless", "I Lied To You" from "Sinners" and "Sweet Dreams Of Joy" from "Viva Verdi!". These tracks reflect different musical styles and story contexts.

For Original Score, the nominations go to "Bugonia" by Jerskin Fendrix, "Frankenstein" by Alexandre Desplate, "Hamnet" by Max Richter, "One Battle After Another" by Jonny Greenwood and "Sinners" by Ludwig Göransson. Music plays a central role in shaping the mood of these films.

Animated Feature Film nominees include "Arco", "Elio", "KPop Demon Hunters", "Little Amélie or the Character of Rain" and "Zootopia 2". International Feature Film contenders are "The Secret Agent" from Brazil, "It Was Just an Accident" from France, "Sentimental Value" from Norway, "Sirât" from Spain and "The Voice of Hind Rajab" from Tunisia.

Oscars 2026 documentary and short film nominees at the 98th Academy Awards

In Documentary Feature Film, the nominated titles are "The Perfect Neighbor", "The Alabama Solution", "Come See Me in the Good Light", "Cutting Through Rocks" and "Mr. Nobody Against Putin". These projects cover political, social and personal subjects from across the world.

The Documentary Short Film category lists "All the Empty Rooms", "Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud", "Children No More: Were and Are Gone", "The Devil Is Busy" and "Perfectly a Strangeness". Many of these works examine human rights or conflict.

Live Action Short Film nominees are "Butcher's Stain", "A Friend of Dorothy", "Jane Austen's Period Drama", "The Singers" and "Two People Exchanging Saliva". Animated Short Film nominees include "Butterfly", "Forevergreen", "The Girl Who Cried Pearls", "Retirement Plan" and "The Three Sisters".

Oscars 2026 technical and craft categories at the 98th Academy Awards

In Casting, the nominated films are "Hamnet", "Marty Supreme", "One Battle After Another", "The Secret Agent" and "Sinners". Best Sound includes "F1", "Frankenstein", "One Battle after Another", "Sinners" and "Sirāt". These categories highlight the work behind performances and audio detail.

Cinematography nominees are "Frankenstein", "Marty Supreme", "One Battle After Another", "Sinners" and "Train Dreams". For Visual Effects, the contenders are "Avatar: Fire and Ash", "F1", "Jurassic World Rebirth", "The Lost Bus" and "Sinners". Spectacle-focused films feature strongly here.

Production Design nominations go to "Frankenstein", "Hamnet", "Marty Supreme", "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners". Film Editing lists "F1", "Marty Supreme", "One Battle After Another", "Sentimental Value" and "Sinners". These categories reward pacing, sets and the visual environment.

For Makeup and Hairstyling, the nominees are "Frankenstein", "Kokuho", "Sinners", "The Smashing Machine" and "The Ugly Stepsister". Costume Design features "Avatar: Fire and Ash", "Frankenstein", "Hamnet", "Marty Supreme" and "Sinners". Period films and fantasy projects appear strongly in both fields.

With Oscars 2026 only hours away, the 98th Academy Awards present a broad and diverse set of nominees. 'Sinners’ leads with record numbers, but several films show deep support across categories. Viewers in India and worldwide now wait to see how these nominations translate into wins on 15 March.