Director Ryan Coogler, who was raised in Oakland and Richmond, made history Thursday morning as his supernatural thriller Sinners led the 98th Academy Award nominations with a record-shattering 16 nods. The film, starring Michael B. Jordan, surpassed the long-standing benchmark of 14 nominations previously shared by classics like Titanic and La La Land.
The Academy recognized Coogler in three marquee categories: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Jordan earned his first-ever Best Actor nomination for his dual performance, while veteran Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku received supporting nods. The film’s dominant showing extended to technical achievements, including a historic fifth career nomination for costume designer Ruth E. Carter.
Coogler’s ascent to Oscar history is rooted in the East Bay. Born in Oakland, he moved to Richmond at age eight and attended Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, where he was a standout student-athlete. He earned a scholarship to play football at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga before transferring to Sacramento State, where he graduated with academic honors and was a top wide receiver. His interest and early studies in film prompted him to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Before reaching this record-breaking milestone, Coogler gained acclaim for Fruitvale Station (2013), which chronicled the final hours of Oscar Grant. He later revitalized the Rocky franchise with Creed (2015) and directed the cultural phenomenon Black Panther (2018), the first superhero film ever nominated for Best Picture.
This year’s Academy Awards winners will be crowned live on Sunday, March 15. Conan O’Brien returns for his second year as host at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The show starts at 4 p.m. PT on ABC and Hulu.
