Nominations for the 2026 Oscars were released on Thursday morning, and two films with ties to the Sacramento region were heavily represented. “Sinners”, a vampire film which doubles as a cultural commentary and love letter to Blues music, broke the record for Oscar nominations with 16. The movie was written and directed by Ryan Coogler, an Oakland native who played college football at Sacramento State, graduating in 2007. Coogler went on to get his Master’s Degree in film at the University of Southern California but took film classes during his time at Sac State. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” highlighting the stakes of revolution, was partially filmed in Sacramento and received 13 nominations at this year’s Oscars. The nearly three-hour thriller features the SacRT light rail, Tower Bridge and several downtown government buildings. The movie was also filmed in Stockton, Tracy, Eureka, Borrego Springs, Walter’s Camp, Lompoc and San Diego in California. See a full list of 2026 Oscar nominations here Both movies are among the most critically-acclaimed of 2025 and represent audience demand for unique, powerful stories that stand alone in a world where franchise blockbusters and remakes have become the priority for major Hollywood studios. At times, the two films have even been pitted against each other online, especially during this year’s awards season. But what ties “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” together outside of a long list of awards and nominations? The city of Sacramento. While “Sinners” wasn’t shot in Sacramento, Coogler’s success is something Sacramento State can champion and its students can use as motivation. Coogler has remained candid about how his Northern California roots have influenced his filmmaking journey, and even gives credit to his time as a student athlete to his approach as a director. Coogler was recently a guest on Amy Poehler’s podcast “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” and talked about how he ended up at Sacramento State on a football scholarship but was able to explore his interest in film on the side. “One Battle After Another” represents Sacramento’s potential as a destination location for films. It was already a big deal that stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor were in Sacramento shooting scenes for a highly-regarded director. But the fact that movie went on to become a huge critical success lays the groundwork for more projects to be shot in California’s Capitol City. | MORE | Lights, Camera, Sacramento: Film success fuels hopes for more Hollywood in Northern CaliforniaThe debate between which movie is better will probably continue long after awards season is over. But whether its going to be the crew and cast of “Sinners” or “One Battle After Another” huddled on stage when the Best Picture Oscar is handed out, Sacramento has already won.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Nominations for the 2026 Oscars were released on Thursday morning, and two films with ties to the Sacramento region were heavily represented.
“Sinners”, a vampire film which doubles as a cultural commentary and love letter to Blues music, broke the record for Oscar nominations with 16. The movie was written and directed by Ryan Coogler, an Oakland native who played college football at Sacramento State, graduating in 2007. Coogler went on to get his Master’s Degree in film at the University of Southern California but took film classes during his time at Sac State.
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Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” highlighting the stakes of revolution, was partially filmed in Sacramento and received 13 nominations at this year’s Oscars. The nearly three-hour thriller features the SacRT light rail, Tower Bridge and several downtown government buildings. The movie was also filmed in Stockton, Tracy, Eureka, Borrego Springs, Walter’s Camp, Lompoc and San Diego in California.
Both movies are among the most critically-acclaimed of 2025 and represent audience demand for unique, powerful stories that stand alone in a world where franchise blockbusters and remakes have become the priority for major Hollywood studios.
At times, the two films have even been pitted against each other online, especially during this year’s awards season. But what ties “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” together outside of a long list of awards and nominations? The city of Sacramento.
While “Sinners” wasn’t shot in Sacramento, Coogler’s success is something Sacramento State can champion and its students can use as motivation. Coogler has remained candid about how his Northern California roots have influenced his filmmaking journey, and even gives credit to his time as a student athlete to his approach as a director.
Coogler was recently a guest on Amy Poehler’s podcast “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” and talked about how he ended up at Sacramento State on a football scholarship but was able to explore his interest in film on the side.
This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
“One Battle After Another” represents Sacramento’s potential as a destination location for films. It was already a big deal that stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor were in Sacramento shooting scenes for a highly-regarded director. But the fact that movie went on to become a huge critical success lays the groundwork for more projects to be shot in California’s Capitol City.
| MORE | Lights, Camera, Sacramento: Film success fuels hopes for more Hollywood in Northern California
The debate between which movie is better will probably continue long after awards season is over. But whether its going to be the crew and cast of “Sinners” or “One Battle After Another” huddled on stage when the Best Picture Oscar is handed out, Sacramento has already won.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel