
It’s awards season, and Sinners has officially graduated from “surprise hit” to full-blown phenomenon. The original, R-rated horror film arrived in theaters last year with plenty working against it. Still, after a massive theatrical run and months of sustained cultural buzz, it’s now made Oscar history in 2026 with a staggering 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film. And, even if you’ve already watched it multiple times with your HBO Max subscription (guilty), there’s a good chance you missed one of its most meaningful details: a subtle tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.
Oscar-winning production designer Hannah Beachler took to X to unpack the layered symbolism behind the film’s church set. Along with a screenshot of the church from the opening scene of the movie, in a caption, she revealed: