Oscar Race Narrows to ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’

The 98th Academy Awards are poised for a showdown between two critically acclaimed films: Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” While “Sinners” garnered a record-breaking 16 nominations, “One Battle After Another” has been a consistent frontrunner throughout awards season.

‘Sinners’ Gains Momentum

Recent events, including a warmly received win at the Actor Awards on March 1 [1], have given “Sinners” unexpected momentum. The handling of a racial slur directed at stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo at the BAFTA Awards also garnered significant attention and support for the film [3]. Some awards prognosticators believe this may position “Sinners” for upset wins in both Best Picture and Best Actor for Jordan [3].

‘One Battle After Another’ Remains a Strong Contender

Despite the rising momentum of “Sinners,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” remains a strong contender. The film has been viewed as the perennial favorite since its release in September [4].

Warner Bros. Renaissance

The success of both “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” is driving a renaissance for Warner Bros., potentially influencing the outcome of this year’s Oscars [2].

Record-Breaking Nominations and Potential Upsets

“Sinners” leads the nominations with a record 16, while “One Battle After Another” has already secured major awards. The Academy Awards have a history of surprising outcomes, such as “Moonlight” upsetting “La La Land” in 2017 [4]. Whether either film will match the record for Oscar wins held by “Ben-Hur,” “Titanic,” or “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” remains to be seen [4].

Where to Watch

“Sinners” is currently available to stream on HBO Max and Prime Video (with subscription) and can be rented from $5.99. It is also playing in select theaters, including The Nightlight Cinema and Cinemark Theatres [4].