Ryan Coogler Wins First Oscar, Makes History at 2026 Academy Awards

Ryan Coogler just made history at the 2026 Academy Awards. The filmmaker won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his film Sinners, making him only the second Black American filmmaker ever to receive the award. It was also his very first Oscar win.

When Robert Downey Jr. announced the win, the room gave Coogler a standing ovation, led by his Sinners cast and crew. "Please sit down, I'm very nervous they're gonna play me off," he joked. "I grew up in Oakland, in Richmond, California...