Hollywood’s awards season reaches its pivotal moment as the Academy prepares to announce nominations for the 98th Oscars, with Warner Bros’ cinematic powerhouses “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” positioned to dominate the recognition list. Industry analysts project both films could achieve an extraordinary dozen or more nominations across major categories, potentially challenging the historical record of 14 nominations jointly held by “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land.”
The studio’s dual frontrunner status presents a remarkable achievement for Warner Bros, particularly noteworthy as the distributor faces potential acquisition amid intense bidding wars between Paramount Skydance and Netflix. This awards dominance could mark the studio’s final independent year with unprecedented recognition.
“Sinners,” Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused horror period piece set in the segregated American South, continues the “Black Panther” director’s acclaimed trajectory. The film features Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins combating supernatural threats and racial injustice in 1930s Mississippi, with expectations spanning Best Actor, screenplay, and score nominations. Variety’s awards specialist Clayton Davis suggests Coogler is “rewriting the math entirely” regarding nomination records.
Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” has dominated the preliminary awards circuit, securing nearly every major precursor honor. The genre-blending thriller follows a retired revolutionary searching for his daughter amidst radical violence and immigration conflicts, already breaking the Screen Actors Guild’s nomination record. Leonardo DiCaprio appears certain to secure his seventh Academy acting nomination for his leading role.
The expanded international voting bloc within the Academy creates opportunities for non-English language contenders including Norwegian arthouse favorite “Sentimental Value,” Persian-language Palme d’Or winner “It Was Just An Accident,” and Brazil’s political drama “The Secret Agent,” though category space remains highly competitive.
This ceremony introduces the groundbreaking Best Casting category, honoring the previously unrecognized artistry of matching performers to projects. The criteria remain undefined, leaving voters to determine whether to prioritize star power, ensemble cohesion, or discovery of new talent.
The nomination announcements will occur Thursday at 5:30 AM PST in Los Angeles, with the culminating ceremony scheduled for March 15.