Armenian-American Producer Sev Ohanian’s ‘Sinners’ Wins Two Golden Globes

The film Sinners, produced by Armenian-American producer Sev Ohanian along with Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler, has become one of the major winners at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. The movie won two Golden Globes during Sunday night’s ceremony, confirming its place as one of the most successful and talked-about films of the year.

Sinners won the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, a category introduced in 2024 to recognize films that achieve both strong ticket sales and wide audience appeal. The film also won Best Original Score – Motion Picture, with the award going to composer Ludwig Göransson for his work on Sinners.

The movie was nominated for seven Golden Globes, the third-highest number of nominations among all films this year. While it did not win in several major categories, its two victories highlighted its rare success as both a popular and critically praised film.

Sinners tells the story of twin brothers who return to their hometown to open a juke joint. Their plans are threatened by the Ku Klux Klan and by vampires, blending historical drama, social themes, and horror elements. The film uses supernatural elements to explore the impact of systemic racism and the challenges faced by the Black community.

The Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement recognized the film’s strong financial performance. Sinners earned almost $280 million at the domestic box office, finishing as the No. 7 film of the year in the United States. It also received outstanding reviews, earning a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, a rare achievement that shows both critical acclaim and audience approval.

The film’s second Golden Globe win came in the category of Best Original Score. Ludwig Göransson, a two-time Oscar winner, was honored for his music, although the broadcast cut away during the presentation, meaning many viewers may not have realized he won at the time.

Despite its success, Sinners did not take home awards in several categories where it was seen as a strong contender. It did not win Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor in a Drama, Best Screenplay, or Best Director. Ryan Coogler, who directed and co-wrote the film, lost both the screenplay and director awards to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another. The film’s song “I Lied to You” was nominated for Best Song but lost to “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters. The Best Motion Picture – Drama award went to Hamnet.

Actor Michael B. Jordan played a dual role as the twin brothers Smoke and Stack, delivering a performance that was widely praised. However, the Best Actor award went to Wagner Moura, who many critics saw as a surprise winner.

Sinners had a strong start at the box office, opening with $48 million in its first weekend. Unlike many films, it showed strong staying power, with only a small drop in ticket sales in its second weekend. Positive reviews and strong word of mouth helped the film maintain its momentum throughout its run.

Music played a major role in the film, helping to strengthen its emotional impact and themes. The use of horror elements allowed the story to address deep and serious issues in a symbolic way, using vampires as a metaphor for real-world threats and oppression.

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