Sinners Leads the Way with 21 Nominations at the Black Reel Awards

Warner Bros’ Sinners Leads Nominations for the 2026 Black Reel Awards

Warner Bros’ film Sinners has made a significant mark at the 2026 Black Reel Awards, securing a record 21 nominations—an impressive lead over its competitors. The complete list of nominees was revealed today.

Directed by Ryan Coogler and featuring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, Sinners is nominated in all major categories, including Outstanding Film, Director, and Lead & Supporting Performance. The film notably boasts four nominations for Outstanding Song.

Following closely is A24’s Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Spike Lee, with 11 nominations. Both Magnolia Pictures’ 40 Acres and Picturehouse’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl have garnered nine nominations each. Sony’s One of Them Days and Amazon MGM’s Hedda also received attention, with eight and six nominations, respectively.

“The Black Reel Awards have always been about celebrating the brilliance and resilience of Black storytellers,” said Tim Gordon, founder and director of the awards. “This year’s nominees represent the very best of our culture, creativity, and community.”

Here are the nominees for the 26th annual Black Reel Awards:

Outstanding Film

• Hedda
• Highest 2 Lowest
• One of Them Days
• Sinners
• Wicked: For Good

Outstanding Director

• Ryan Coogler, Sinners
• Nia DaCosta, Hedda
• Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest
• Rungano Nyoni, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• R.T. Thorne, 40 Acres

Outstanding Lead Performance

• Danielle Deadwyler, 40 Acres
• Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good
• André Holland, Love, Brooklyn
• Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
• Dwayne Johnson, The Smashing Machine
• Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
• Jonathan Majors, Magazine Dreams
• Keke Palmer, One of Them Days
• Tessa Thompson, Hedda
• Denzel Washington, Highest 2 Lowest

Outstanding Supporting Performance

• Miles Canton, Sinners
• Regina Hall, One Battle After Another
• Damson Idris, F1
• David Jonsson, The Long Walk
• Delroy Lindo, Sinners
• Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eternity
• A$AP Rocky, Highest 2 Lowest
• Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
• Jeffrey Wright, Highest 2 Lowest

Outstanding Screenplay

• Ryan Coogler, Sinners
• Nia DaCosta, Hedda
• Rungano Nyoni, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• Syreeta Singleton, One of Them Days
• R.T. Thorne, 40 Acres

Outstanding Documentary

• Being Eddie
• In Whose Name?
• Orwell: 2+2=5
• Songs From the Hole
• The Perfect Neighbor

Outstanding Ensemble

• 40 Acres
• Highest 2 Lowest
• On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• One of Them Days
• Sinners

Outstanding International Film

• My Father’s Shadow
• Night Call
• On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• Souleymane’s Story
• We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe

Outstanding Voice Performance

• Danielle Brooks, The Bad Guys 2
• Quinta Brunson, Zootopia 2
• Idris Elba, Zootopia 2
• Anthony Ramos, The Bad Guys 2
• Zoe Saldana, Avatar: Fire and Ash

Outstanding Score

• Freaky Tales
• Hedda
• Highest 2 Lowest
• Sinners
• The Eyes of Ghana

Outstanding Original Song

• “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest
• “I Lied to You” from Sinners
• “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners
• “Pale, Pale Moon” from Sinners
• “Sinners” from Sinners

Outstanding Soundtrack

• Freaky Tales
• Highest 2 Lowest
• One of Them Days
• Sinners
• Wicked: For Good

Outstanding Independent Film

• 40 Acres
• Love, Brooklyn
• Magazine Dreams
• My Father’s Shadow
• On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Outstanding Independent Documentary

• BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
• The Eyes of Ghana
• Fatherless No More
• Seeds
• We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe

Outstanding Short Film

• The Devil is Busy
• JULES
• Walk in the Light

Outstanding Emerging Director

• Akinola Davies Jr., My Father’s Shadow
• Rachael Holder, Love, Brooklyn
• Kahlil Joseph, BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
• Rungano Nyoni, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• R.T. Thorne, 40 Acres

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance

• Miles Canton, Sinners
• Susan Chardy, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• Naya Desir-Johnson, Sarah’s Oil
• Damson Idris, F1
• Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
• Jayme Lawson, Sinners
• A$AP Rocky, Highest 2 Lowest
• Abou Sangaré, Souleymane’s Story
• SZA, One Of Them Days
• Tyriq Withers, HIM

Outstanding First Screenplay

• Nnamdi Asmougha, The Knife
• Akinola Davies Jr. & Wale Davies, My Father’s Shadow
• Rungano Nyoni, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• Syreeta Singleton, One of Them Days
• R.T. Thorne, 40 Acres

Outstanding Cinematography

• Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners
• Jermaine Canute Bradley Edwards, My Father’s Shadow
• Kira Kelly, HIM
• Malik Hassan Sayeed, After the Hunt
• Brittany Shyne, Seeds

Outstanding Costume Design

• Charlene Akuamoah, 40 Acres
• Estelle Don Banda, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• Ruth E. Carter, Sinners
• Francine Jamison-Tanchuck, Highest 2 Lowest
• Paul Tazewell, Wicked: For Good

Outstanding Editing

• Ronald Bronstein & Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine
• Kahli Joseph, Luke Lynch & Paul Rogers, BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
• Taylor Joy Mason, HIM
• Michael P. Shawver, Sinners
• Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Seeds

Outstanding Hair & Makeup

• Amber Aprin & Mele Egbe, My Dead Friend Zoe
• Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Sian Richards & Shunika Terry, Sinners
• Antonio Hines & Chancelle Mulela, 40 Acres
• Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox & Mia Neal, The Smashing Machine
• Vonda K. Morris & Nikki Wright, One of Them Days

Outstanding Production Design

• Ramsey Avery (production designer) & Rosemary Brandenburg (set decorator), Captain America: Brave New World
• Hannah Beachler (production designer) & Monique Champagne (set decorator), Sinners
• Cara Brower (production designer) & Stella Fox (set decorator), Hedda
• James Chinlund (production designer) & Marcia Calosio, Mike Keel & Frank Okay (set decorators), The Smashing Machine
• Nathan Crowley (production designer) & Lee Sanders (set decorator), Wicked: For Good