Can Sinners Break the Oscar Curse? Fans Say It Outshines DiCaprio’s Latest

The new year has arrived, and with it, the buzz of awards season is in full swing. Among the year’s most talked-about films, Sinners has quickly become a frontrunner for 2025, igniting conversations about whether it can finally overcome the so-called Oscar curse that has haunted horror movies for decades.

Horror’s Uphill Battle at the Oscars

Since the Academy first handed out its golden statues, horror films have rarely found favor in the Best Picture category. In fact, only The Silence of the Lambs managed to claim that honor back in 1991. No other horror film has repeated the feat since, leaving many to wonder if Sinners—helmed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan —can finally break through. Yet, the film faces stiff competition, most notably from Leonardo DiCaprio ’s One Battle After Another, which has already built a strong following among moviegoers.

I’m glad Ryan Coogler got, at least, Original Screenplay but I wish he got Best Picture and Best Director for Sinners. If he has to lose, at least it’s to PTA for One Battle After Another, but I still think it should be Coogler’s year 🥺 #CriticsChoiceAwards

Fans have been vocal about their emotional reactions to Sinners, with some expressing how deeply the film’s themes of freedom and struggle resonated with them.

I was so emotional after watching Sinners. They just wanted to be free. They looked for it in religion, fought for it in war, thought they had it in financial stability, even tried immortality. And they never really got it. We never really got it.

DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another: A Formidable Rival

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another hit theaters in 2025, with DiCaprio taking the lead as a paranoid former revolutionary grappling with the consequences of his past. Despite underperforming at the box office, the film’s exploration of fatherhood, guilt, and redemption has earned it critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. Benicio del Toro’s supporting role only adds to the film’s depth, making it a strong Oscar contender alongside Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme.

Still, many movie fans argue that Sinners stands out as the superior film, with some taking to social media to voice their opinions.

Sinners was better than One Battle After Another

What Sets Sinners Apart

While One Battle After Another delivers a compelling narrative, some viewers feel its storyline treads familiar ground, weaving together elements seen in other films. In contrast, Sinners offers a bold allegory, casting white characters as vampires and weaving in the Ku Klux Klan to create a powerful, original narrative. The film’s metaphors and commentary on Black history are striking, and Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of the Smoke-Stack twins has been widely praised.

The film’s final moments, especially Stack’s monologue to an elderly Sammie about fleeting freedom, have left a lasting impression on audiences, with many calling it a fresh and unique cinematic experience.

Showdown at the Academy Awards

Both films have impressive credentials. Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and Miles Caton, was released on April 18, 2025, and boasts a 7.5/10 IMDb rating and a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score. Its box office haul reached $367 million. One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, premiered on September 26, 2025, with a 7.8/10 IMDb rating and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, earning $205 million worldwide. Both are available to stream on HBO Max.

With such fierce competition, the question remains: will Sinners finally break the Oscar curse, or will DiCaprio’s latest triumph at the Academy Awards?