• Ryan Coogler’s Sinners earned a record 16 Oscar nominations, the most in Academy history.
  • Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another received 13 nominations and was partly filmed in Sacramento.
  • Sacramento connections include Coogler’s studies at Sacramento State and local filming sites used in Anderson’s movie.

H2: Record-breaking nominations for ‘Sinners’

Ryan Coogler’s vampire drama Sinners led the 2026 Oscar race with a historic 16 nominations, topping previous records and dominating awards season conversation. Written and directed by Coogler, the film blends genre elements with a love letter to Blues music and cultural commentary. The achievement highlights Coogler’s continued rise from Northern California roots to international acclaim.

H3: Sacramento ties through Coogler’s college years

While Sinners was not shot in Sacramento, Coogler’s connection to the city runs through his time at Sacramento State, where he played college football and took film classes before earning a Master’s at USC. Sac State officials and students have pointed to his success as inspiration for aspiring filmmakers in the region.

H2: ‘One Battle After Another’ brings big names to Sacramento

Paul Thomas Anderson’s nearly three-hour thriller One Battle After Another received 13 Oscar nominations and used Sacramento as a production hub. The film includes scenes shot on the SacRT light rail, Tower Bridge and several downtown government buildings, giving local viewers recognizable backdrops in a major awards contender.

The production drew A-list talent, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor, marking a significant moment for Sacramento as a filming location. Fans of leonardo dicaprio movies will note DiCaprio’s presence in a critically acclaimed director’s dense, politically charged film.

H3: Regional filming footprint

Beyond Sacramento, One Battle After Another was filmed across California locations such as Stockton, Tracy, Eureka, Borrego Springs, Walter’s Camp, Lompoc and San Diego. The multi-city shoot demonstrates how major productions are increasingly using diverse Californian landscapes to tell large-scale stories.

H2: Local impact and what this means for Sacramento

Industry observers and local officials say the visibility from a high-profile, Oscar-nominated production can help attract more projects to Sacramento. The combined success of Sinners and One Battle After Another showcases two different routes to awards-season prominence: a director with hometown ties and a large-scale production that uses Sacramento locations on screen.

Coogler discussed his Sacramento State days and how football and film intersected during a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler, offering students a concrete example of how regional experience can feed a filmmaking career.

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H4: Looking ahead

As awards season wraps and conversations continue about which film will take Best Picture, Sacramento’s role—both as a formative place for talent and as a practical filming location—has already emerged as a clear win for the region. Whether teams from Sinners or One Battle After Another accept Oscars, Sacramento’s name will be part of the story.

Image Referance: https://www.kcra.com/article/sinners-one-battle-after-another-oscars-sacramento-coogler/70098220