The 57th NAACP Image Awards closed out a week of celebrations with a dominant showing from Sinners, which capped its run with 13 total wins across five nights of events. During Saturday’s live broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, airing on BET and CBS, the Ryan Coogler-directed film picked up three major honors: Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for Michael B. Jordan and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance for newcomer Miles Caton.
Over the course of the week, Sinners had already secured 10 awards in non-televised ceremonies, including recognition for its soundtrack and score. The film entered the awards with a leading 18 nominations and leaves as the clear standout of this year’s Image Awards. Coogler, who has now directed three films that have won outstanding motion picture at the Image Awards, used his acceptance speech to reflect on representation.
“Since our people have been here over four centuries, there’s always been a lot of lies told about us,” he said. “And a lie, no matter how powerful the person saying it is, is still a lie and the truth, no matter how little power the person saying it has, is still the truth, and the truth is y’all are loved, y’all are beautiful and y’all are powerful and mighty. And bless y’all. Thank y’all so much.”
Jordan, who also earned Entertainer of the Year, dedicated his acting win to his late friend and Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman, underscoring the ceremony’s theme of legacy and community. “I was thinking about what “lead actor” meant to me. And honestly, I gotta dedicate this award to Chadwick Boseman,” Jordan said to the audience. “…Our time on this planet is short. I was watching the ‘In Memoriam’ and seeing how fast these careers go by and people’s lives go by, and what we do while we’re here on Earth. And I just want to be here and be present with you guys as much as possible.”
Other major film winners included Cynthia Erivo, who took home Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Wicked: For Good. On the television side, Angela Bassett claimed Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for 9-1-1, and Abbott Elementary emerged as a strong performer overall, winning five awards during the week. Sterling K. Brown, who won outstanding actor in a drama series for Paradise, used his time on stage to address the current political climate.
“We are living under an administration that has an attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, is trying to erase critical race theory but they can’t erase us because, as Sam[uel L. Jackson] said, ‘There’s no America without us,’” Brown said.
In music, Cardi B won Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Album for Am I the Drama?, and Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song for “ErrTime.” She became the first hip-hop artist to win Outstanding Female Artist since Lauryn Hill in 1999. Kendrick Lamar also added to his tally earlier in the week when The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar won Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special in the Reality and Documentary field, placing him in a tie with Cardi B for the most music wins this year.
The ceremony, hosted by Deon Cole (who delivered an amazing monologue, and touched on topics like the current administration, ICE, and BAFTA-gate), also honored cultural icons. Colman Domingo received the President’s Award. Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella were inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. Viola Davis was presented with the Chairman’s Award. In a moving tribute led by Samuel L. Jackson, the organization honored the late Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17 at age 84.
Take a look at the full list of winners for the 57th NAACP Image Awards below.
Entertainer of the Year
Michael B. Jordan
Outstanding Motion Picture
Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown – “Paradise” (ABC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (ABC)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch – “Number One on the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
“Number One On the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)
Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)
Taraji P. Henson – “Straw” (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)
Tyler Lepley – “Ruth & Boaz” (Netflix)
Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)
“Straw” (Netflix)
Outstanding Talk Series
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Don Lemon – “The Don Lemon Show” (YouTube)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“The Don Lemon Show” (YouTube)
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
“Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Aisha Hinds – “9-1-1” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Motion Picture
Naya Desir-Johnson – “Sarah’s Oil” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Delroy Lindo – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Wunmi Mosaku – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Outstanding Digital Creator- Art/Comedy
Tee Sanders – @teesanderscomedy
Outstanding Digital Creator- Political/Culture
Lynae Vanee – @lynaevanee
Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award
Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant
NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award
Dr. Mary Anne Franks
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
Outstanding New Artist
Monaleo – “Who Did the Body?” (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
Cardi B – (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Kendrick Lamar – (pgLang under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song
“ErrTime” – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Masterworks, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)
Outstanding International Song
“Is It” – Tyla (Epic Records)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“We Insist! 2025” – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Do it Again” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/Tribl Records)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Tasha” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Motown Gospel)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) 803Fresh feat. Fantasia – “Boots on the Ground Remix” (Snake Eyez Music Group/Artist Partner Group)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – “It Depends (Remix)” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film “Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score)” (Proximity Media LLC, under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a label of Sony Music Entertainment)
Outstanding Album
“Am I The Drama?” – Cardi B (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form
“Interesting Things with JC” (Jim Connors LLC)
Outstanding Podcast – News and Information
“The Don Lemon Show” (Lemon Media Network)
Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help
“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” (Higher Ground)
Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports and Entertainment
“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” (Higher Ground)
Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture
“The Don Lemon Show” (Lemon Media Network)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography
“The Look” – Michelle Obama (Crown)
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics” – Juanita Tolliver (Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Who Better Than You?” – Will Packer (Penguin Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism
“On Borrowed Time” – Anissa Durham (Online)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
Charles B. Fancher – “Red Clay” (Blackstone Publishing)
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Death of the Author” – Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems” – Patricia Smith (Scribner)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark” – Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi” – Angie Thomas (HarperCollins/Clarion Books)
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel
“Parable of the Talents: A Graphic Novel Adaptation” – Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damien Duffy, Illustrated by John Jennings and David Brame (Abrams ComicArts)
Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary
The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar – (Fox)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech
Berlin Edmond Jr. – @Berleezy
Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food
Keith Lee – @keith_lee125
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Animated Series
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Kyla Pratt – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney+)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)
Quinta Brunson – “Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (Television or Motion Picture)
“Sinners” – Andy Gill (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Love, Brooklyn” (Greenwich Entertainment)
Outstanding International Motion Picture
“Souleymane’s Story” (Kino Lorber)
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
“Being Eddie” (Netflix)
Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special
Deanna Nowell – “Ironheart” (Disney+)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
Cassandra Mann – “Unexpected Christmas” (3 Diamonds Entertainment LLC)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, Yao – “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons” (YouTube/Moment PPV)
Outstanding Guest Performance
Malcolm-Jamal Warner – “Murder in a Small Town” (Fox)
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Aisha Muharrar – “Hacks” – “Clickable Face” (HBO Max)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Cynthia Adarkwa – “The Pitt” -“12:00 P.M.” (HBO Max)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Aireka Muse – “Friends & Lovers” (Lifetime Movie Network)
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary” – “The Science Fair” (ABC)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Mario Van Peebles – “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” – “Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself” (Starz)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Olatunde Osunsanmi – “Star Trek: Section 31” (Paramount+)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Chinaka Hodge – “Ironheart” (Disney+)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Teyana Taylor – “Straw” (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Glynn Turman – “Straw” (Netflix)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)