Horror Breaks Through with Historic Oscar Surge

Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller 'Sinners' leads the charge with a record-breaking 16 nominations.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In nearly 100 years of Academy Awards history, only a handful of horror films have ever been nominated for Best Picture, and just one has ever won. But this year, the genre is having a major breakthrough, led by Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller 'Sinners' which shattered the all-time Oscar nomination record with 16 nods. Other horror standouts include 'Weapons' and 'Frankenstein', signaling a shift in how the Academy views the genre.

Why it matters

Horror films have long been overlooked at the Oscars, with the genre often dismissed as unserious or unworthy of prestige recognition. But the success of films like 'Get Out' and now 'Sinners' is forcing the Academy to take horror more seriously, acknowledging that these movies can be both critically acclaimed and beloved by audiences. This breakthrough could open the door for more horror films to gain major awards recognition in the future.

The details

Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' is a vampire thriller set in the Jim Crow-era South, and the film has been praised for blending horror tropes with elements of Southern Gothic, family drama, and social commentary. The film's 16 Oscar nominations are the most ever for a single movie. Other horror standouts include 'Weapons', which earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for 75-year-old Amy Madigan, and Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' which picked up 9 nominations.

  • The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026.

The players

Ryan Coogler

The director of the vampire thriller 'Sinners', which has a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations.

Amy Madigan

A 75-year-old actress who earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in the horror film 'Weapons'.

Guillermo del Toro

The director of the horror film 'Frankenstein', which received 9 Oscar nominations.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Without a doubt. This is the best year that horror has ever had at the Oscars.”

— Erik Davis, Managing Editor, Fandango

“We still have a ways to go, but horror definitely is getting a place on the big stage.”

— Clayton Davis, Chief Awards Editor, Variety

“To see films like 'Sinners' and 'Weapons' have success, not just at the box office but at the Academy Awards, is a big win for the genre overall.”

— Erik Davis, Managing Editor, Fandango

“The most nominations of all time being a horror movie, it's pretty sick.”

— Clayton Davis, Chief Awards Editor, Variety

What’s next

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, where 'Sinners', 'Weapons', 'Frankenstein', and other horror standouts will compete for Oscar gold.

The takeaway

This year's historic Oscar recognition for horror films like 'Sinners' signals a major shift in how the Academy views the genre, acknowledging that horror can produce critically acclaimed, audience-beloved works that deserve prestige accolades. This breakthrough could open the door for more horror films to gain major awards recognition in the future.