Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller has been racking up wins and breaking records, much like the bold history it draws inspiration from. The director made history at the Actors Awards by becoming the first director to lead two different casts to wins, as Sinners (after Black Panther) took home the Best Cast honor. Both the filmmaker and the movie have been unstoppable ever since. Now, with 16 nominations, Coogler and his Sinners are a powerful contender at the Oscars. 

Now, an Academy Award win would be monumental for Coogler, who could become the first Black director to win in the ceremony’s 98-year history. Yet for the director, there is something even more meaningful than the possibility of making history in that moment.

Ryan Coogler, in his interview with Variety, spoke about his film as well as the Oscar nomination. He is aware of how important this moment is for him and those who look up to him. However, when asked about a possible win, the director shifted the focus to something more valuable to him.

“My award is the opportunity to have this job. The opportunity to go write a script, get a crew together, hire union jobs, contribute to people’s health care, insurance, and their families,” he said. 

“The fact that I have this job and continue to have it is the greatest gift,” he added. 

While he feels gratitude for his nomination in the Best Director category, Coogler has also spoken about experiencing a sense of "survivor’s remorse." So, more than the honor, he says he is focused on contributing meaningfully to the film industry, his family, and the world as a whole. Although he remains a strong contender at the Oscars, Coogler is also aware of the intense competition, especially after losses at the DGA and BAFTA to Warner Bros.’ filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another.

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Despite the recent calls upon the Best Director winners which did not include his name, Coogler is not ready to give up on the Oscar award possibility just yet.

In more than nine decades of Oscars history, Ryan Coogler is only the seventh Black director to be nominated in the Best Director category, and he could become the first to win if he takes home the award. Before him, the other nominees were John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood), Lee Daniels (Precious), Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Jordan Peele (Get Out), and Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman). Despite their groundbreaking work, none of them ultimately won the Best Director honor. 

So, when asked about this statistic and the possibility of making history, Coogler had a fascinating and thoughtful response.

“The biggest danger is, something like that can dampen your hope, make you disillusioned, or feel like what you do isn’t worth it,” Coogler said in the same interview. “I try to protect my love for what I do. If I know statistics are going to make me feel sad, I don’t think about it.”

While the possibility of making history at the Oscars is undeniable, Coogler has his faith and focus on the craft and the people his work supports. Clearly, for him, the real win lies in continuing to tell stories and creating opportunities through the films he makes. However, an Oscar win could be career defining moment.

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What do you think about Ryan Coogler's opinion on the Oscar nomination. Let us know in the comments.