Ryan Coogler's supernatural thriller 'Sinners' has made history by becoming the first film to earn 16 Academy Award nominations, surpassing the previous record of 14 held by 'All About Eve', 'Titanic', and 'La La Land'. The film, starring Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers in 1930s Mississippi, is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, and two supporting acting nods, among others.
The nominations also set individual records: Ruth E. Carter becomes the most-nominated Black woman in Oscars history with her fifth career nod, while cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw is only the fourth woman nominated in that category. British actors Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku are recognised in supporting categories.
Coogler expressed surprise at the tally, revealing that his father kept count and was vindicated when the official count was confirmed. 'Sinners' has grossed $368m worldwide but faces stiff competition from Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another', which secured 13 nominations and is tipped to win several top prizes.
Other notable films include 'Marty Supreme' and 'Sentimental Value', each with nine nominations, and Chloé Zhao's 'Hamnet' with eight. Timothée Chalamet is the favourite for Best Actor for 'Marty Supreme', while Jessie Buckley leads the Best Actress race for 'Hamnet'. However, some expected nominees, such as Chase Infiniti and Paul Mescal, were overlooked.
