Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler Celebrate Historic Wins

History was made Sunday night at the 98th Academy Awards as Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler took home two of the four top awards for “Sinners,” which earned a record-breaking 16 nominations – the most ever for a film in the history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Coogler won for “Best Original Screenplay” for the highly acclaimed film, marking his first win. His victory capped off a dominant writing season for Coogler, who also earned major honors from the Writers Guild, BAFTA and Critics Choice Awards, reinforcing the screenplay’s widespread industry recognition. “Sinners” brought in $48 million in its domestic opening weekend, the best debut for a live‑action original film in years according to Box Office Mojo.

The film follows twin brothers as they attempt to leave behind their troubled pasts, only to return home and be confronted with an even greater, pervasive evil in their community. The movie explores themes of identity, family, trauma and redemption, using the twins’ dual perspectives to examine how environment and circumstance shape individuals differently.

Jordan portrayed the dual roles of twin brothers “Smoke” and “Stack” and took home an Oscar for “Best Actor,” his first win, making him the sixth African American actor to receive the prestigious award in the Academy’s history. His performance was a defining force throughout awards season, also earning him top acting honors at the SAG Awards and NAACP Image Awards, where he was additionally recognized as Entertainer of the Year.

Together, their historic wins were part of a broader sweep that positioned “Sinners” as one of the most celebrated films of the year. Across the season, Coogler and Jordan consistently led in major categories—writing, acting and ensemble—underscoring both their individual excellence and the strength of their long-standing creative partnership.

The film also landed Autumn Durald Arkapaw an Oscar for “Best Cinematography.” Her historic win made her one of the very few women—and the first woman of color—to receive the Oscar in this category, marking a major milestone for representation behind the camera.

“Sinners” also earned “Best Original Score,” awarded to composer Ludwig Göransson. The score played a crucial role in shaping the film’s emotional depth and tension, blending musical influences to create a soundscape that complemented the film’s themes.

Together with its acting and screenplay wins, these additional awards highlighted the film’s strength across both creative and technical categories, reinforcing its status as one of the most well-rounded and celebrated films of the ceremony.

With 16 nominations, “Sinners” demonstrates its cinematic impact across numerous categories.

1. Best Picture – Sinners (Producers: Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler)

2. Best Director – Ryan Coogler

3. Best Actor – Michael B. Jordan

4. Best Supporting Actor – Delroy Lindo

5. Best Supporting Actress – Wunmi Mosaku

6. Best Original Screenplay – Ryan Coogler

7. Best Casting – Francine Maisler

8. Best Cinematography – Autumn Durald Arkapaw

9. Best Film Editing – Michael P. Shawver

10. Best Costume Design – Ruth E. Carter

11. Best Makeup and Hairstyling – Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine & Shunika Terry

12. Best Original Score – Ludwig Göransson

13. Best Original Song – “I Lied To You” (Music & Lyrics by Raphael Saadiq & Ludwig Göransson)

14. Best Sound – (Sinners’ sound team)

15. Best Visual Effects – (Sinners’ visual effects team)

16. Best Production Design – Hannah Beachler & Monique Champagne