The Intelligence Series | The Diagnostic
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: Ryan Coogler (C) and cast and crew of “Sinners” accept the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award onstage during the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/CBS via Getty Images)
Institutional Excellence: Ryan Coogler at the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Ryan Coogler’s unapologetically Black and unquestionably brilliant horror film—one of the most talked-about movies of 2025—received seven Golden Globe nominations for the 2026 awards. Specifically, it was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor. Consequently, the culture expected a coronation.
The film walked away with two statues. In short, it was a systemic shut-out. While it won for Cinematic Achievement and Original Score, it was erased from the lead categories. Specifically, the industry signal was clear: “We see your money, and we hear your music, but we do not recognize your humanity or your craft.”
The Golden Globes have a long and illustrious history of not recognizing Black films. Malcolm X didn’t win. Nor did Selma or Black Panther. Indeed, knowing the history doesn’t make the present any less criminal. For Sinners to lose Best Actor and Best Picture is a laughable erasure of technical craft.
The shift isn’t about winning their awards. Therefore, the real shift for KMOB1003 is withdrawing the need for their validation entirely. Every time we wait for them to do better, we delay doing better for ourselves.
