The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on Jan. 22, officially launching one of the most anticipated awards seasons in recent years. As always, the list sparks excitement and debate for people’s favorite celebrities. From record-breaking films to unexpected actors, this year’s nominations reflect a film industry that continues to evolve and push the boundaries. The Oscars are scheduled to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. 

One film that immediately stood out from the rest was “Sinners.” The movie earned a record-breaking 16 nominations, making history as the most nominated film the Academy has ever recognized. The film dominated across many categories, including best picture, acting, directing and technical awards, signaling how strongly it resonated with voters. This achievement has already positioned “Sinners” as the film to watch heading into Oscar Night.

“I’ve heard really amazing things about this movie, and the fact that it has record-breaking nominations really interests me,” freshman Michal Gavriel said. 

Close behind is “One Battle After Another,” which obtained 13 nominations. While it did not break records, its presence in nearly every major category highlights its appeal. The film’s recognition for acting, directing and writing suggests the Academy valued not just its scale but its storytelling and performances.

The best picture category itself offers a snapshot of the year in film. Alongside “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another,” nominees include “Hamnet,” “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme,” “Bugonia,” “Train Dreams” and “Sentimental Value.” While movies based on books are nominated alongside genre films, smaller, character-focused stories compete with big-budget movies. This mix reflects the Academy’s increasing openness to different types of stories and filmmaking styles.

The acting categories also drew a significant amount of attention. Timothee Chalamet earned best actor nominations for “Marty Supreme,” while Leonardo DiCaprio in “One Battle After Another” and Michael Jordan in “Sinners” continued their strong presence in awards conversations. For their emotional range and impressiveness, actresses Jessie Buckley in “Hamnet,” Rose Byrne in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” and Emma Stone in “Begonia” dominated the best actress category with their amazing performances. 

“I am actually obsessed with Emma Stone and her role in this movie,” junior Sophia Rastegar said. “She is an amazing actress overall, but this movie highlighted how great she can be and makes me very excited to see what will happen at the Oscars.”

Additionally, multiple first-time and lesser-known performers were also recognized. Acting nominations for Inga Ibsdotter Lileaas and Wunmi Mosaku highlight performances that may have otherwise gone unnoticed by mainstream audiences. For many viewers, these nominations provide an opportunity to discover films outside the most marketed releases.

As expected, the nominations also sparked debate over unexpected picks and notable omissions. Several anticipated nominations failed to appear in key categories, leading to conversations and insults across social media. These moments demonstrate that subjective awards voting can take place, influenced by trends and campaigning.

Technical categories also played a significant role in this year’s nominations. Films such as “Frankenstein” and “Sinners” earned nominations for cinematography, production design and costume design, emphasizing the importance of visual storytelling. In animation, nominees including “Arco” and “Zootopia 2” continued to demonstrate creative and artistic range. 

“It’s really amazing to me how the Frankenstein film handled all of their makeup and costume design because this is such a complex character,” junior Eden Rosenberg said.

With the ceremony still weeks away, the nominations have already shaped conversations about film and performance. Many nominated movies are currently available on streaming platforms or will be released in theaters before the awards show. As Oscar night approaches, attention will remain on how these films reflect current trends in filmmaking and which performances ultimately earn the Academy’s highest honors.