Paul Thomas Anderson’s counterculture comedy One Battle After Another has emerged as the leading contender at this year’s Bafta awards with 14 nominations, narrowly ahead of Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners, which picked up 13.
While Sinners made history last week by becoming the first film ever to secure 16 Oscar nominations, it was Anderson’s gonzo caper that took the slight edge in Tuesday’s Bafta announcement. Close behind are Marty Supreme and Hamnet with 11 nominations each, followed by Frankenstein and Sentimental Value on eight.
One of the biggest surprises was British Tourette comedy I Swear, which earned five nominations, including best actor for Robert Aramayo. The film also received nods for outstanding British film, original screenplay, supporting actor for Peter Mullan and casting. British musical comedy-drama The Ballad of Wallis Island and BDSM biker romance Pillion each secured three nominations.
Major snubs were limited, partly due to Bafta’s six-strong acting shortlists. However, several high-profile names missed out, including Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney, Sydney Sweeney, Dwayne Johnson and Julia Roberts. Wicked: For Good fared better than at the Oscars, receiving nominations for costume design and hair and makeup, though its stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were overlooked.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest best actor nomination marks his seventh in the category, tying him with Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis, Peter Finch, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Lemmon and Laurence Olivier for the all-time Bafta record.
Bafta chair Sara Putt said the success of films such as I Swear, Sinners and One Battle After Another reflected audiences’ appetite for emotionally resonant stories and elevated genre filmmaking. She also acknowledged ongoing challenges around diversity, noting that only one of the six nominated directors is a woman and that representation remains uneven.
This year’s Bafta ceremony will take place on 22 February, hosted by Alan Cumming. The Oscars follow on 15 March, with Conan O’Brien returning as host.
