When Culture Takes Center Stage
How the 2026 Oscars reveals a deeper story about culture, identity, and the unifying power of music on Hollywood’s biggest stage.
by Hannah Corbitt ★ March 31st, 2026
Design by: Maisy Wood
Each year, the Academy Awards reflects not just the film industry’s technical achievements, but also the kinds of stories that resonate with audiences. This year, Sinners and K-Pop Demon Hunters were two of some of the most standout films, and captured attention for their creativity, originality, and ability to bring to life the celebration of culture, identity, and the power of music.
Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and introducing Miles Caton, was released in April 2025 and immediately became a hit. Set in Mississippi in 1932, the film follows twins Smoke and Stack who are returning from Chicago back to their hometown and complicated pasts. When they return, they use their money to open a juke joint with their cousin, Sammie, who is a talented blues musician with a passion for performing.
Jordan plays both Smoke and Stack, and despite the fact that two different characters are played by the same person, the differing backstories of the characters paired with Jordan’s striking performance makes for a clear distinction between the twins. The main premise of the movie was the importance of the juke joint, which was created so that the Black community in Mississippi could have a place to enjoy music and freely express themselves without discrimination and aggression, which is later threatened by the appearance of vampires, or “haints.”
The film also features a variety of cultures and practices. Annie, played by Wunmi Mosaku, is a Hoodoo conjurer and the mother of Smoke’s child, who passed away before the events of the film took place. Her knowledge of Hoodoo is central to her helping the characters prepare for and defend against the vampires.
Hailee Steinfeld plays Mary, Stack’s “ex” lover who, despite being white, still experiences feelings of disconnect from her community and even discrimination within her own family. Her grandfather was half-Black, which is similar to Steinfeld’s own lineage as her grandfather was half-Black, half-Filipino. Her character is a representation of those who long to be connected to their culture and ancestry, yet still cannot fully feel like they belong.
Even characters like Remmick, the leader of the vampires who longs to ravage the community and make them members of his undead, displays his own culture through Irish folk music, hinting at the long history of British colonization of Ireland and trying to rebuild his own community by oppressing an existing one.
When characters like Sammie and Pearline perform, music is described as a connection to the ancestors. As Sammie sings his original song, “I Lied to You,” people appear to dance throughout the juke joint representing the different eras in Black history and culture. We even get a glimpse of Chinese opera dancers in traditional costumes when characters Bo and Grace Chow join in with the group.
In Sinners, music acts as a bridge between generations. It connects characters to their ancestors, traditions, and spiritual roots. The songs in the film are not just part of the background, they are helping characters confront inner struggles and even external forces tied to spiritual unrest. Music becomes a form of protection and healing, showing how cultural traditions can guide people through hardship.
K-Pop Demon Hunters is an animated action-fantasy film released in June 2025. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are members of a globally-famous K-Pop girl group named HUNTR/X who secretly live double lives as demon hunters. By day, they perform and deal with the pressures of fame, and by night they fight evil spirits threatening the human world by using their music as a way to channel the power to defeat demons.
In contrast, the Saja Boys are a five-member K-Pop boy group that are actually demons in disguise, working under the control of Gwi-Ma, a powerful entity with the purpose to steal human souls and weaken threats like the demon hunters. Their music is also a way of channeling their power, using their appeal as celebrities and musical abilities to lure unsuspecting fans into a trance and drain their energy.
K-Pop Demon Hunters takes a more fantastical approach to the power of music but delivers a similar message. In the film, music is literally weaponized by being used to fight off evil spirits and protect the world while also highlighting the global influence of K-pop and Korean culture.
These two films target very different audiences. Sinners is grounded, emotional, and rooted in spiritual and cultural reflection, while K-Pop Demon Hunters is energetic, kid-friendly, and action-packed. Both movies center minorities and their cultures while exploring how music can serve as a connection to heritage and a tool for resistance against darkness.
The popularity and recognition of these films at the Oscars is especially significant. When movies centered around minority cultures reach mainstream audiences, they create opportunities for education and understanding. Viewers who may not be familiar with these traditions are introduced to them in engaging and meaningful ways.
This matters now more than ever. In a time when conversations about identity, representation, and inclusion are increasingly important, the arts play a crucial role. Movies like Sinners and K-Pop Demon Hunters show that storytelling can celebrate diversity while also bringing people together. They remind us that culture is not something distant or separate, but instead is something to be shared, respected, and appreciated.
Edited by: Alexa Murland