The Nominees: Ryan Coogler, Sinners; Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value; Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another; Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme; Chloé Zhao, Hamnet

DGA, Golden Globe and Critics Choice winner, and 14-time Oscar nominee long overdue, this seems an easy call, but if there is true momentum for Sinners an upset for Coogler wouldn’t be a complete shock, making him the first-ever Black winner in this category.

THE WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another