December 18, 2025

Sinners’ Jackpot: 21 Nominations at the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards

Washington, D.C. — The Black Reel Awards proudly announced today the nominees for the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards , honoring outstanding achievements in Black cinema and television. Since its founding, the Black Reel Awards have stood as a beacon for recognizing and amplifying the voices of Black creatives across the entertainment industry.

This year’s nominations showcase a remarkable breadth of talent and storytelling. Leading the field is Sinners, which earned a record-breaking 21 nominations, the most in Black Reel Awards history. The film garnered recognition across major categories including Outstanding Film, Outstanding Director (Ryan Coogler), Outstanding Lead Performance (Michael B. Jordan), and an unprecedented four nominations in the Original Song category.

Other top contenders include:

• Highest 2 Lowest with 11 nominations, featuring standout performances from Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, and Jeffrey Wright.
• 40 Acres and On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, each earning 9 nominations, with both films recognized for their directors (R.T. Thorne and Rungano Nyoni, respectively) and strong ensemble casts.
• One of Them Days, with 8 nominations, highlighted by Keke Palmer’s lead performance and SZA’s breakthrough recognition.
• Hedda, directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Tessa Thompson, with 6 nominations including Outstanding Film and Outstanding Production Design.

Key Analysis from the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards

• Sinners is the most nominated horror and musical film in Black Reel Awards history.
• Ryan and Zinzi Coogler become only the second husband-and-wife producing team nominated together for Outstanding Film.
• Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is the most nominated international film in Black Reel Awards history (9 nominations).
• Tessa Thompson joins Queen Latifah and Viola Davis as one of the few actresses nominated as both producer and actor for the same film (Hedda).
• A$AP Rocky makes history as the first male hip-hop artist nominated for both Breakthrough and a main acting award.
• Ludwig Göransson ties Beyoncé for the most nominations in Outstanding Song (7), becoming the first person to receive four music nominations in a single year.

Tim Gordon, founder and director of the Black Reel Awards, shared his excitement:

“The Black Reel Awards have always been about celebrating the brilliance and resilience of Black storytellers. This year’s nominees represent the very best of our culture, creativity, and community. We are thrilled to honor their contributions and look forward to sharing their achievements with the world.”

Winners will be announced during a virtual presentation on Monday, February 16, 2026, bringing together audiences globally to celebrate Black excellence in entertainment.

26th Annual Black Reel Award Nominees

OUTSTANDING FILM (Award given to producers)

Hedda
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Gabrielle Nadig, Nia DaCosta, Tessa Thompson, producers

Highest 2 Lowest 

Todd Black & Jason Michael Berman, producers

One of Them Days
Issa Rae, Deniese Davis, Sara Rastogi, James Lopez, Poppy Hank, producers

Sinners
Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler, producers

Wicked: For Good
Marc Platt & David Stone, producers

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 Caton
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  (Award given to director)

Being Eddie
Angus Wall, director

In Whose Name?

Nico Ballesteros, director 

Orwell: 2+2=5
Raoul Peck, director 

Songs From the Hole 

Contessa Gayles, director 

The Perfect Neighbor

Geeta Gandbhir, director 

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE  (Award given to casting  director)

40 Acres

Stephanie Gorin, casting director 

Highest 2 Lowest 

Kim Coleman, casting director 

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl 

Isabella Odoffin, casting director 

One of Them Days 

Nicole Abellera & Jeanne McCarthy, casting directors 

Sinners 

Francine Maisler, casting director 

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL FILM  (Award given to director)

My Father’s Shadow 

United Kingdom 

Night Call

Belgium 

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

 Zambia, UK, Ireland 

Souleymane’s Story 

France 

We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe 

Italy 

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 

Raphael Saadiq, composer

Hedda

Hildur Guðnadóttir, composer 

Highest 2 Lowest 

Howard Drossin, composer

Sarah’s Oil 

Kathyrn Bostic, composer

Sinners

Ludwig Göransson, composer 

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG  (Award given to performer & writer)

“Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest 

Aiyana-Lee, performer 

Aiyana-Lee Anderson & Nicole Daciana Anderson, writers

“I Lied to You” from Sinners 

Miles Caton, performer

Raphael Saadiq & Ludwig Göransson, writers

“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners
Miles Caton & Alice Smith, performers

Miles Caton, Alice Smith & Ludwig Göransson, writers 

“Pale, Pale Moon” from Sinners
Brittany Howard, performer

Brittany Howard & Ludwig Göransson, writers

“Sinners” from Sinners
Rod Wave, performer

Darius Povillunas, Kyris D’Asia, Rod Wave & Tarkan Kozluklu, writers  

OUTSTANDING SOUNDTRACK

Freaky Tales 

Highest 2 Lowest 

One of Them Days

Sinners

Wicked: For Good 

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT FILM (Award given to director)

40 Acres 

R.T. Thorne, director 

Love, Brooklyn 

Rachael Holder, director 

Magazine Dreams 

Elijah Bynum, director

My Father’s Shadow 

Akinola Davies Jr., director

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl 

Rungano Nyoni, director 

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY  (Award given to director)

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions 

Kahlil Joseph, director 

Fatherless No More 

Kayla Johnson, director 

Seeds 

Brittany Shyne, director 

We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe 

Fred Kudjo Kuwornu, director 

Who in the Hell is Regina Jones?

Billy Miossi & Soraya Sélène, directors 

OUTSTANDING SHORT FILM  (Award given to director)

The Devil is Busy 

Geeta Gandbhir & Christalyn Hampton, directors 

JULES 

Tiffany Abney, director 

Walk in the Light 

Princella Smith, director

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 Caton 

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  

Benny Safdie 

The Smashing Machine 

Kahlil 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 (Award given to production design & set decorator)

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

Nominations By Film for the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards

21 Nominations

SINNERS

• Outstanding Film; Outstanding Director (Ryan Coogler); Outstanding Lead Performance (Michael B. Jordan); Outstanding Supporting Performance (Miles Caton, Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku); Outstanding Screenplay; Outstanding Ensemble; Outstanding Score; Outstanding Original Song (“I Lied to You”, “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)”, “Pale, Pale Moon” & “Sinners”); Outstanding Soundtrack; Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Miles Caton & Jayme Lawson); Outstanding Cinematography; Outstanding Costume Design; Outstanding Editing; Outstanding Hair & Makeup; Outstanding Production Design 

11 Nominations

HIGHEST 2 LOWEST 

• Outstanding Film; Outstanding Director (Spike Lee); Outstanding Lead Performance (Denzel Washington); Outstanding Supporting Performance (A$AP Rocky & Jeffrey Wright); Outstanding Ensemble; Outstanding Score; Outstanding Original Song (“Highest 2 Lowest”); Outstanding Soundtrack; Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (A$AP Rocky); Outstanding Costume Design

9 Nominations

40 ACRES

• Outstanding Independent Film; Outstanding Director (R.T. Thorne); Outstanding Lead Performance (Danielle Deadwyler); Outstanding Screenplay; Outstanding Ensemble; Outstanding Emerging Director (R.T. Thorne); Outstanding First Screenplay; Outstanding Costume Design; Outstanding Hair & Makeup

ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL

• Outstanding Independent Film; Outstanding International Film; Outstanding Director (Rungano Nyoni); Outstanding Screenplay; Outstanding Ensemble; Outstanding Emerging Director (Rungano Nyoni); Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Susan Chardy); Outstanding First Screenplay; Outstanding Costume Design 

8 Nominations

ONE OF THEM DAYS

• Outstanding Film; Outstanding Lead Performance (Keke Palmer); Outstanding Screenplay; Outstanding Ensemble; Outstanding Soundtrack; Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (SZA); Outstanding First Screenplay; Outstanding Hair & Makeup 

6 Nominations

HEDDA

• Outstanding Film; Outstanding Director (Nia DaCosta); Outstanding Lead Performance (Tessa Thompson); Outstanding Screenplay; Outstanding Score; Outstanding Production Design

5 Nominations

MY FATHER’S SHADOW 

• Outstanding Independent Film; Outstanding International Film; Outstanding Emerging Director (Akinola Davies Jr.); Outstanding First Screenplay; Outstanding Cinematography 

WICKED: FOR GOOD

• Outstanding Film; Outstanding Lead Performance (Cynthia Erivo); Outstanding Soundtrack; Outstanding Costume Design; Outstanding Production Design 

4 Nominations

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER 

• Outstanding Lead Performance (Chase Infiniti); Outstanding Supporting Performance (ReginaHall & Teyana Taylor); Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Chase Infiniti) 

THE SMASHING MACHINE 

• Outstanding Lead Performance (Dwayne Johnson); Outstanding Editing; Outstanding Hair & Makeup; Outstanding Production Design 

3 Nominations

BLKNWS: TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Outstanding Independent Documentary; Outstanding Emerging Director (Kahlil Joseph); Outstanding Editing 

HIM

• Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Tyriq Winters); Outstanding Cinematography; Outstanding Editing 

LOVE, BROOKLYN 

• Outstanding Independent Film; Outstanding Lead Performance (Andre Holland); Outstanding Emerging Director (Rachael Holder) 

SEEDS

• Outstanding Independent Documentary; Outstanding Cinematography; Outstanding Editing 

2 Nominations

F1

• Outstanding Supporting Performance (Damson Idris); Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Damson Idris) 

FREAKY TALES

• Outstanding Score; Outstanding Soundtrack 

MAGAZINE DREAMS

• Outstanding Independent Film; Outstanding Lead Performance (Jonathan Majors) 

SARAH’S OIL

• Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Naya Desir-Johnson); Outstanding Score 

SOULEYMANE’S STORY 

• Outstanding International Film; Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Abou Sangare) 

THE BAD GUYS 2

• Outstanding Voice Performance (Danielle Brooks & Anthony Ramos) 

WE WERE HERE – THE UNTOLD STORY OF BLACK AFRICANS IN RENAISSANCE EUROPE 

• Outstanding International Film; Outstanding Independent Documentary 

ZOOTOPIA 2

• Outstanding Voice Performance (Quinta Brunson & Idris Elba) 

1 Nomination

AFTER THE HUNT

• Outstanding Cinematography 

AVATAR: FIRE & ASH

• Outstanding Voice Performance (Zoe Saldana) 

BEING EDDIE 

• Outstanding Documentary 

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD 

• Outstanding Production Design 

ETERNITY 

• Outstanding Supporting Performance (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) 

FATHERLESS NO MORE

• Outstanding Independent Documentary 

IN WHOSE NAME?

• Outstanding Documentary 

JULES

• Outstanding Short Film 

MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE

• Outstanding Hair & Makeup 

NIGHT CALL

• Outstanding International Film

ORWELL: 2+2=5

• Outstanding Documentary 

SONGS FROM THE HOLE 

• Outstanding Documentary 

THE DEVIL IS BUSY

• Outstanding Short Film

THE KNIFE

• Outstanding First Screenplay 

THE LONG WALK

• Outstanding Supporting Performance (David Jonsson) 

THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR 

• Outstanding Documentary 

WALK IN THE LIGHT 

• Outstanding Short Film 

WHO IN THE HELL IS REGINA JONES?

• Outstanding Independent Documentary 

Individuals With Multiple Nominations for the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards

6 Nominations

Rungano Nyoni

• Outstanding Director (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl); Outstanding Screenplay (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl); Outstanding International Film (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl); Outstanding Independent Film (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl);  Outstanding Emerging Director (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl); Outstanding First Screenplay (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl)
  

5 Nominations

R.T. THORNE 

• Outstanding Director (40 Acres); Outstanding Independent Film (40 Acres); Outstanding Screenplay (40 Acres); Outstanding Emerging Director (40 Acres); Outstanding First Screenplay (40 Acres) 

4 Nominations

MILES Caton

• Outstanding Supporting Performance (Sinners); Outstanding Original Song (“I Lied to You” & “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” – Sinners); Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Sinners) 

AKINOLA DAVIES JR. 

• Outstanding Independent Film (My Father’s Shadow); Outstanding International Film (My Father’s Shadow);  Outstanding Emerging Director (My Father’s Shadow); Outstanding First Screenplay (My Father’s Shadow)

LUDWIG GÖRANSSON

• Outstanding Score (Sinners) ; Outstanding Original Song (“I Lied to You”, “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” & “Pale, Pale Moon” – Sinners) 

3 Nominations

RYAN COOGLER 

• Outstanding Film (Sinners); Outstanding Director (Sinners); Outstanding Screenplay (Sinners)

Nia DaCosta 

• Outstanding Film (Hedda); Outstanding Director (Hedda); Outstanding Screenplay (Hedda)

KAHLIL JOSEPH 

• Outstanding Independent Documentary (BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions); Outstanding Emerging Director (BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions); Outstanding Editing (BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions) 

2 Nominations

GEETA GANDBHIR 

• Outstanding Documentary (The Perfect Neighbor); Outstanding Short Film (The Devil is Busy) 

RACHAEL HOLDER

• Outstanding Independent Film (Love, Brooklyn); Outstanding Emerging Director (Love, Brooklyn) 

DAMSON IDRIS 

• Outstanding Supporting Performance (F1); Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (F1) 

CHASE INFINITI 

• Outstanding Lead Performance (One Battle After Another); Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (One Battle After Another) 

FRED KUDJO KUWORNU 

• Outstanding International Film (We Were Here – The Untold Story of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe); Outstanding Independent Documentary (We Were Here – The Untold Story of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe) 

A$AP ROCKY

• Outstanding Supporting Performance (Highest 2 Lowest); Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (Highest 2 Lowest) 

RAPHAEL SAADIQ 

• Outstanding Score (Freaky Tales); Outstanding Original Song (“I Lied to You” – Sinners)

BRITTANY SHYNE

• Outstanding Independent Documentary (Seeds); Outstanding Cinematography (Seeds) 

SYREETA SINGLETON

• Outstanding Screenplay (One of Them Days); Outstanding First Screenplay (One of Them Days) 

TESSA THOMPSON

• Outstanding Film (Hedda); Outstanding Lead Performance (Hedda) 

Factoids for the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards

Sinners

• Holds record for most nominations in Black Reel Awards history (21).
• Also the most nominated horror and musical film in Black Reel Awards history.
• This marks only the second time in Black Reel Awards history that a husband and wife (Ryan & Zinzi Coogler) are nominated together as producers for Outstanding Film.
• Holds the record for the most nominations for a Warner Bros. Pictures film.
• First film to earn four nominations in the Original Song category.

Hannah Beachler (Sinners)

• Extends her record for the most nominations for Outstanding Production Design (4).

Andre Holland (Love, Brooklyn), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good) & Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) 

• Tied with Colman Domingo for the most nominations for Outstanding Lead Performance (2).
• Holland and Erivo also join Domingo as the only actors to earn consecutive nominations in this category.

Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

• Hold the record with the most films nominated for 10 or more Bolt nominations in a single year (4). 

Tessa Thompson (Hedda)

• Joins Queen Latifah (Just Wright) and Viola Davis (The Woman King) as the only actresses nominated as both producer and actor for the same film.

Zoe Saldana (Avatar: Fire & Ash)

• Joins Michael B. Jordan as the only actors to receive three Bolt acting nominations for the same role.

Nia DaCosta (Hedda)

• Joins Gina Prince-Bythewood, Sanaa Hamri, Dee Rees and Ava DuVernay as the only women to be nominated multiple times for Outstanding Director. 

A$AP Rocky (Highest 2 Lowest)

• First male hip-hop artist to be nominated for Breakthrough and a main acting award (Lead or Supporting).

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl 

• Holds the record for the most nominated international film in Black Reel Awards history (9).
• First international film nominated for Outstanding Costume Design (Estelle Don Banda).
• First film from Ireland nominated for Outstanding International Film.

Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

• First person to receive four nominations in the music field as both songwriter and composer in the same year.
• Ties with Beyoncé for the most nominations for Outstanding Song (7).

Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor & The Devil is Busy)

• First person to be nominated for Outstanding Documentary and Outstanding Short Film in the same year.
• Nominated for Outstanding Documentary (The Perfect Neighbor) and Outstanding Short Film (The Devil is Busy).

We Were Here – The Untold Story of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe

• First film from Germany to be nominated for Outstanding International Film 

Wicked: For Good

• First sequel to be nominated for Outstanding Film without its original film being nominated.
• Cynthia Erivo becomes the first actor (man or woman) to earn consecutive acting nominations for the same role. 

Oldest & Youngest Nominated Actors

• Oldest: Delroy Lindo (Outstanding Supporting Performance, Sinners), 73.
• Youngest: Naya Desir-Johnson (Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Sarah’s Oil), 11.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Eternity)

• Joins Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Jurnee Smollett with the most nominations for Outstanding Supporting Performance (2).

Aiyanna-Lee Anderson & Nicole Daciana Anderson (Highest 2 Lowest)

• First mother and daughter nominated for Outstanding Song.
• Aiyanna is nominated as both performer and writer, while Nicole is nominated as a writer for the song “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest.

A quick recap: long blue people mostly good, human people mostly not good. Humans from Earth want the resources of the blue people’s planet. The blue people (Na’vi) want to keep it peaceful and pristine. And sometimes the blue people fight with each other. And it takes 3 hours and 15 minutes.

You don’t need to remember every detail of the earlier films; if you have a vague recollection that you liked them, you will be fine because, like its predecessors, the visuals are stunning, the action is dynamic, the story is thin, and the dialogue is painfully basic, just barely enough to let you know who you’re supposed to root for. Cameron, who has said that he makes movies to finance his ocean adventures, loves water, and the water in this movie is simply gorgeous. The long blue people are, too. They all look like supermodels crossed with Mr. Fantastic. So if you did enjoy the earlier films, you will enjoy this one, too.

Next to the visual splendor, the other reason to watch the film is the villain. James Cameron emphasizes that the technique is not motion capture, but performance capture. Every actor playing one of the blue creatures performs every minute on screen, each one’s face covered with dots to guide the CGI. So, all credit to Oona Chaplin, the grand-daughter of Charlie Chaplin and great granddaughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill, for playing Varang, a ruthless bandit queen with magnetically sinuous menace. And with a head like a frilled-neck lizard. She wants to destroy the peaceful community where the hero of the first movie, human turned Na’vi Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is settled with his wife, Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and children, sons Neteyam (killed in the second film) and Lo’ak and a daughter called Tuk. They also adopted Kiri, mysteriously born from a human in an avatar body (the laws of biology as we know it don’t apply here), and they care for a loyal and limber human teenager called Spider (Jack Champion), the son of one of Jake’s most important foes, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

Like Jake, Spider is completely at home in the world of the Na’vi, though he has to use a mask to enable him to breathe on the planet. He has no relationship with his biological father. Both of those elements will change over the course of the film, as Jake, Neytiri, and their family have to find a way to defend their community, even after Varang forms an alliance with Quaritch, meaning access to guns.

As this movie begins, Lo’ak and Neteyam are swimming together, at least in a dream of repeated goodbyes. Lo’ak is still suffering from survivor guilt and has a strained relationship with Jake beyond the typical teenage push for independence. Everyone in the family feels guilt along with grief.

There are some powerful emotional themes but they are explored in a not very powerful way. The issue of an outsider giving more powerful weapons to shift the balance of a conflict was explored with more insight in its episodes about the prime directive. Before the next one comes out, maybe they could spend some of the zillion dollar budget on dialogue better than “All this time and you still don’t get it. The world is much deeper than you imagine.” This film is less deep than it imagines. But very beautiful.

Parents should know that this film has extended peril and violence, including arrows, knives, guns, and explosives. Characters are injured and killed. There is a lot of intense family drama, with issues of biological and adoptive families. The military-industrial complex from Earth is represented by rapacious, murderous business employees and soldiers. Scientists are more compassionate. There is a non-explicit sexual situation and some sensual touching.

Family discussion: What are the options for a community being attacked by enemies with vastly superior weapons? What makes Spider feel accepted and what makes him feel like an outsider?

If you like this, try: the previous “Avatar” movies

I love the Christmas classic movies and watch as many as I can every year, including at least a couple of versions of “A Christmas Carol” and Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in “White Christmas.”  But there are many great Christmas films that don’t get mentioned as often and I like to remind families that these are worth making time for as well.

1.  The Nativity Story  This sincere and respectful story is a good way to remember that Christmas is about more than presents and parties.  “Whale Rider’s” Keisha Castle-Hughes has a shy but dignified and resolute air and she glows believably as the very young woman who is selected as the mother of Jesus. And “Drive’s” Oliver Isaac effectively conveys tenderness, doubt, courage, and transcendence as Joseph.

2. A Christmas Memory Truman Capote’s bittersweet memory of his childhood Christmas making fruitcakes with his elderly cousin, the only relative who cared about him is beautifully filmed with the magnificent Geraldine Page and Capote himself reading the narration.

3. Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas The California Raisins guys put together this Christmas special, with the highlight the funniest-ever performance of “Carol of the Bells.”

4. Come to the Stable Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are French nuns trying to raise money to build a hospital.  Their faith and goodness transforms those they meet.

5. Little Women “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents” is the first line of this classic novel based on the loving if sometimes tumultuous family of author Louisa May Alcott.  The movie opens with an important Christmas lesson about the joy of giving.

6. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Based on the classic book, this stars Loretta Swit as the mother of six rambunctious kids who insist on playing roles in the church pageant.

7. This Christmas I love this movie about a family with five adult children who return home to celebrate Christmas with their mother and youngest brother.  The outstanding cast includes Regina King, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, and Chris Brown.  Be sure to watch through the credits to see a great dance number.

8. Desk Set Before Google, companies had human beings to track down information. Katherine Hepburn plays the head of the all-female research department for a television network and Spencer Tracy is the engineer who is installing the company’s first computer, which takes up a whole wall and uses punch cards and vacuum tubes. Sparks fly — and not just in the equipment.

9. Die Hard Bruce Willis plays a cop visiting his estranged wife at her office Christmas party when the building is taken over by bad guys led by Alan Rickman in this action-movie classic.

10. The Polar Express Tom Hanks stars in this animated story based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg about a magical train ride to the North Pole.

11. Home Alone This comedy smash hit stars Macauley Culkin as a little boy who is accidentally left home when his family goes away for the holidays and has to take care of himself and guard the house from a couple of inept thieves.  The slapstick is a bit over the top but the message of Christmas is surprisingly touching.

12. Annie The story of the plucky orphan from the comic pages became one of the biggest Broadway musicals of all time and one of its highlights is Christmas with Daddy Warbucks. There are several versions, all great family movies.

13. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story “Colorful” is not a colorful enough word to describe a fantasy movie musical so maximalist that even the title is overstuffed. “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” packs a lot into the movie’s title, including two character names and the dual ideas of something cute and something a little more heartwarming, with a touch of the spiritual. The setting is a fantasy Dickensian steampunk, and there are musical numbers and magical toys and a great cast including Phylicia Rashad, Forest Whitaker, and Keegan-Michael Key.

The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association awards — with “Sinners” setting a record with 10 awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Below — the nominees, with the winners in all caps.

2025 WAFCA Awards
Film
SINNERS
One Battle After Another
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value

Director
RYAN COOGLER – Sinners
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

Actor
MICHAEL B. JORDAN – Sinners
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon

Actress
JESSIE BUCKLEY – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Cynthia Erivo – WIcked

Supporting Actor
BENECIO DEL TORO – One Battle After Another
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein

Supporting Actress
Amy Madigan – Weapons
TEYANA TAYLOR – One Battle After Another
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande – Wicked

Youth Performance
MILES CATON – Sinners
Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet
Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family
Cary Christopher – Weapons
Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl
Mason Thames – How to Train Your Dragon

Voice Performance
Jason Bateman – Zootopia 2
ARDEN CHO – KPop Demon Hunters
Ginnifer Goodwin – Zootopia 2
Ke Huy Quan – Zootopia 2
Yonas Kibreab – Elio

Performance Capture
ZOE SALDANA – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Oona Chaplin – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Stephen Lang – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Sigourney Weaver – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Sam Worthington – Avatar: Fire and Ash

Ensemble
SINNERS
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Wake Up Dead Man
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
Hamnet

Original Screenplay
SINNERS
It Was Just an Accident
Sentimental Value
Weapons
Marty Supreme

Adapted Screenplay
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Train Dreams
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet

Animated
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Zootopia 2
Elio
Arco
Little Amélie or the Character of the Rain

Production Design
SINNERS
Frankenstein
Wicked: For Good
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Hamnet

Cinematography
SINNERS
Train Dreams
One Battle After Another
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme

 
Editing
SINNERS – tie
One Battle After Another
F1: THE MOVIE – tie
Marty Supreme
Hamnet

Score
SINNERS
One Battle After Another
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
Hamnet

Joe Barber Award for Portrayal of Washington, DC
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolts
Nuremberg
Anniversary

 
Stunts
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
One Battle After Another
F1: The Movie
Sinners
Superman

Documentary
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
Come See Me in the Good Light
Orwell: 2+2=5
The Librarians
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk

Foreign Language Film
It Was Just an Accident
The Secret Agent
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
No Other Choice
Left-Handed Girl

The holiday season always brings great movies, some destined for Oscar recognition, some for generations to enjoy together, some to make you laugh, and some to make you cry. There are sequels, big-budget extravaganzas, and even a few promising little indies. The ones I am most looking forward to include:

Zootopia 2 (November 26) Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are now partners tracking down a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia. And the sloth is back, too!

Eternity (November 26) If the legendary wit Noel Coward did a remake of Albert Brooks’ after-life fantasy “Defending Your Life,” it might look like this, with Elizabeth Olson as an elderly woman who arrives in heaven to find both of her husbands waiting for her: the one she married when they were young who was killed in the Korean War (Callum Turner), and the man she was later married to for more than 60 years (Miles Teller).

Hamnet (November 26) Jessie Buckley gives one of the most thrilling performances of the year as a woman married to an aspiring playwright named William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, which itself was based on the true story of the death of Shakespeare’s young son.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (November 26) The third in the murder mystery series featuring master detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is another all-star treat, this time set in a church in upstate New York, with Josh O’Conner, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, and Thomas Hayden Church.

Merrily We Roll Along (December 5) First it was a legendary flop by powerhouse duo George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. They were known for comedy but they experimented with a serious play told in reverse order, taking a trio of characters from middle age back to their early 20s. Then Stephen Sondheim decided to make it into a musical, where it flopped so badly there is a whole documentary about it, called “The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened.” Then it was remounted on Broadway with Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Krystal Joy Brown, where it finally was a huge hit and won Tonys for the two male actors. This is a film of that play.

Jay Kelly George Clooney stars as the title character, a huge movie star en route to a festival in Italy where he will receive a lifetime achievement award. He is accompanied by his manager (Adam Sandler) and publicist (Laura Dern) and tries to reconcile with his older daughter (Riley Keogh) and connect to his younger daughter (Grace Edwards), who would rather travel with her friends. This film, from writer/director Noah Baumbach, is one of my favorite of the year.

Dust Bunny (December 5) An eight-year-old girl asks her hitman neighbor for help in killing the monster under her bed that she thinks ate her family. Rogerbert.com’s Brian Tellerico calls it “playfully twisted.” Note: it is about a child but it is not for children: Rated R.

Merv Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox play a separated couple who still share love — and custody — of their dog, Merv. When the dog’s vet tells them their pet is depressed because they are not together, they join forces to take him on a vacation.

Ella McCay (December 12) This is one I’m especially looking forward to because it is from James L. Brooks, the writer/director of “Terms of Endearment” and “Broadcast News.” Emma Mackey plays a young politician who unexpectedly becomes governor of New York. the cast includes Albert Brooks, Julie Kavner, Woody Harrelson, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Goodbye, June (December 12) Adult siblings who do not get along gather to be with their dying mother. Kate Winslet directed, based on a screenplay by her son. She also stars along with Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Helen Mirren, Stephen Merchant, and “Ted Lasso’s” Jeremy Swift.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19) Writer/director James Cameron gives us another chapter in the saga of Pandora, again starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang, with Oona Chaplin as the new villain.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (December 19) The residents of Bikini Bottom are back, this time with Mark Hamill providing the voice for the Flying Dutchman, who needs the world’s most innocent soul to break his curse. Who could that be?

Anaconda (December 25) Paul Rudd and Jack Black play bros who decide to remake their favorite movie, the cheesy 1997 film Anaconda. When their fake snake fails, of course they decide to get a real one. What could go wrong?

Marty Supreme (December 25) Timothée Chalamet (with a mustache) and Gwyneth Paltrow (as a movie star) appear in a film about a ping pong champion. Viewers at a recent surprise screening loved it. From the AP’s Jack Coyle: “A madcap ode to strivers. A great New York movie.”

Song Sung Blue (December 25) A documentary about a real life Neil Diamond tribute duo inspired this feature film starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.