Sinners becoming the 2026 best picture winner would prove the Oscars don’t need to play it safe

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Ever since “Sinners” was released in theaters last April, it quickly became an awards season favorite. Critics immediately praised the film’s story, music, acting, and visuals, leading to a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations – more than any other film has ever received.

With the 98th Academy Awards approaching, many now believe ‘Sinners’ has a strong chance of winning Best Picture.

Ryan Coogler, the director behind films like Black Panther and Fruitvale Station, teams up once again with Michael B. Jordan in Sinners. This new film is set in Mississippi during the Jim Crow era and centers on twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Jordan), who return home to open a local music venue. Their return brings them back together with family and friends, including their cousin, Sammie ‘Preacher Boy’ Moore (Miles Caton).

The Blues’ celebratory night quickly turns disastrous when the vampire Remmick (Jack O’Connell) appears, leaving a bloody path behind him.

The praise for ‘Sinners’ feels particularly meaningful right now, as people of colour globally are facing constant violence and harmful language. Coogler powerfully centers the ancestry and spirituality of Black and brown communities – communities often made to feel unimportant – demonstrating their inherent value and the epic scope of their stories.

One of the film’s most memorable scenes is the beautiful dance sequence in the juke joint. While Sammie sings “I Lied To You,” people from different times appear, attracting the attention of Remmick. He wants to turn Sammie into a vampire and use his music to communicate with his ancestors. It’s a truly special scene, and it makes perfect sense that Caton will be performing the same song at the Oscars this year.

I’m so impressed with the acting in Sinners! It’s no surprise so many of the cast are getting recognized – Michael B. Jordan is up for Best Actor, and Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku are nominated for their supporting roles, which is fantastic! Wunmi actually won a BAFTA for hers, and she absolutely deserves all the praise.

Caton’s role in Sinners is his first time acting on screen, and he delivers a remarkable performance, especially considering he shares scenes with such established actors. He manages to stand out even when his character, Sammie, is portrayed as vulnerable or less energetic than his cousins.

The last horror film to win Best Picture was The Silence of the Lambs in 1992. While films like The Substance and Get Out have been critically acclaimed, many believe Sinners was just as deserving of the award.

If ‘Sinners’ wins, it would show Hollywood that a Best Picture winner doesn’t have to be a predictable choice. It would establish that a film exploring supernatural themes and vampire mythology can be considered genuine art, not just another genre movie.

One of the film’s post-credit scenes delivers a chilling line that perfectly captures the movie’s core message. Despite facing constant hardship, the characters found genuine freedom only within the walls of the juke joint before nightfall. Even without the arrival of Remmick, a racist group was determined to attack. Years later, when Sammie reconnects with Stack, he asks if those evenings truly felt like the best days of his life.

He said, “There’s no question about it. It was the last time I saw my brother, the last time I felt the sun on my face. For a few precious hours, we were truly free.”

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Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a degree in Journalism.

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2026-03-14 12:04