Can Sinners Defy the Horror Curse and Win an Oscar?
Is this the year Sinners finally break the horror Oscars curse? Find out now.
As of now, Sinners has grossed $161.6 million worldwide against a budget of $90 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie got nearly-perfect scores from both the critics and the audience alike (98% and 97%, respectively).
Sinners' success has reignited the age-old debate about horror films and their place at the Academy Awards. The question on everybody's mind now is whether horror will finally get the recognition it deserves.
Breaking Down Horror’s Rocky Relationship With Oscars
To understand where Sinners stands, we need to look back at the Oscar record for horror films. And honestly, it's not much.
It took 5 years for the Academy to recognize horror, with Fredric March winning Best Actor for his role in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
But it took 46 years for the genre to really get noticed, with The Exorcist becoming the first horror to be nominated for Best Picture. The only horror to win the category remains The Silence of the Lambs.
The recent ceremony had The Substance nominated for 5 categories, but they went home with just 1 win for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Is Sinners Our Next Best Picture Winner?
With that being said, we still have reasons to stay optimistic about Sinners' Oscar chances. The film's psychological horror and social commentary has already earned it serious critical acclaim. And we're also seeing a shift in how the Academy treats the competition now.
However, the horror stigma at the Oscars is real and it's tough to shake. While the film might secure nominations in categories like Best Sound and Cinematography, the big question remains: can it break into the prestigious Best Picture race?
Fan Predictions for Oscars 2026: It’s Sinners Time
“People aren't saying Sinners is Oscar worthy because of numbers, they're saying that because they've seen it,” Redditor Spaceship_Janitor_80 wrote.
“It's a phenomenal movie and deserves 8 noms. Its way better than Conclave. Better than Brutalist and I'm still here. I really wanna see it at the Oscars,” Redditor yousippin shared.
Where Can I Watch Sinners Right Now?
Sinners is currently haunting theaters, and if you're brave enough, you can grab your tickets through AMC Theatres, Fandango, Atom Tickets, Cinemark, Harkins Theatres, B&B Theatres or Marcus Theatres.
