Oscars 2026: Ryan Coogler wins ‘Best Original Screenplay’ for ‘Sinners’
Nearly a year after its initial theatrical release, Sinners has earned an Oscar for ‘Best Original Screenplay’, marking the first win for Ryan Coogler.
After breaking the all–time record for most Oscar nominations with 16, Sinners took home the ‘Best Original Screenplay’ prize after winning the same category at the Writers Guild of America, Bafta, and Critics’ Choice awards. Coogler is the second Black winner in the category’s history, following Jordan Peele’s 2018 win for Get Out.
Sinners became both a smash box office success and a cultural phenomenon; it was one of five worthy nominees in an excellent category.
In addition to ‘Best Picture’ bedfellows Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value, both the Palme d’Or winner It Was Just An Accident and the festival circuit favourite Blue Moon were recognised.
Coogler has been a rising talent ever since his startling first feature, Fruitvale Station, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival back in 2013, but he was placed firmly on the radar of awards voters when he directed Black Panther, which became the first superhero film nominated for ‘Best Picture’.
Although Black Panther had taken home three wins, Coogler was not individually nominated; he was passed over in the categories of ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’, with Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige being the sole credited producer for ‘Best Picture’.
The filmmaker is also nominated for ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’ for Sinners, and had previously received nominations for ‘Best Original Song’ for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s ‘Lift Me Up’ and ‘Best Picture’ as a producer on Judas and the Black Messiah.
While the Oscars have historically shown a resistance to horror cinema, the ‘Best Original Screenplay’ prize has become a perfect place to award genre films, such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Django Unchained, Her, and the aforementioned Get Out.
On the surface, Sinners might be a vampire flick, but Coogler used the historical setting to tell a powerful story about gentrification, Black art, and the generational power of music.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.