Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler Celebrate Historic Wins

History was made on Sunday night at the 98th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler took home two of the four top awards garnered by “Sinners,” which received 16 milestone Academy Award nominations.

Coogler won the coveted Oscar for “Best Original Screenplay” for his highly acclaimed film, “Sinners,” marking his first win of the motion picture industry’s pinnacle award. 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 confront 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 Oscar 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.

“Sinners” 16 nominations, highlighted blow, was also a milestone achievement, making  the film the most nominated film in the history of the Academy.

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