Horror Shines at the Oscars, Despite Sinners Missing Out on Best Picture

Horror had a standout moment at the recent Academy Awards, with no film showcasing the evolving tastes of voters quite like *Sinners*.

Ryan Coogler’s vampire drama made history with an impressive 16 nominations, the highest ever for a single film. Such a massive nomination count can sometimes lead to disappointment in terms of wins, as seen with past contenders. While *Sinners* didn’t snag the Best Picture award, which went to *One Battle After Another*, its key players still celebrated significant victories.

The highlight of the night was Michael B. Jordan, who took home Best Actor for his remarkable dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. Coogler also celebrated his first Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay, making him the first to win for explaining why vampires can’t enter a house without an invitation.

Let’s dive into Smoke’s final decision and its implications, especially in light of Stack’s fate.

Coogler’s frequent collaborator, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, made history as well by winning Best Cinematography, becoming the first woman to achieve this honor. The film also secured a fourth win with composer Ludwig Göransson, who earned Best Original Score, marking his third Oscar and second for a collaboration with Coogler. Both Arkapaw and Göransson expressed admiration for Coogler’s creative process and his dedication to the material, which, thankfully for fans, includes alluring vampires and intense shootouts.

The 2026 Oscars mirrored the *Fangoria Chainsaw Awards* in more ways than just *Sinners*’ success. Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her chilling performance in *Weapons*, setting a record for the longest gap between nominations and wins—40 years since her first nod for *Twice in a Lifetime*. Guillermo del Toro’s gothic masterpiece *Frankenstein* took home three craft awards, including Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design. Meanwhile, Netflix’s cultural phenomenon *KPop Demon Hunters* won Best Animated Feature, with its song “Golden” making history as the first K-pop track to win Best Original Song. (And if you doubt the horror aspect, just ask my kids about their first encounter with the demons.)

Back in 2018, the Academy considered introducing a “Popular Film” Oscar to honor blockbuster hits. This year’s awards seem to serve as a strong rebuttal to that idea—genre films don’t need a separate category if they’re crafted with seriousness and respect.