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On Jan. 22, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” broke Oscar records with 16 nominations, including a Best Picture nomination. While this milestone may signal a long-overdue shift, it also reveals a deeper problem within the entertainment industry.

In its 97-year history, only eight horror films have been nominated for Best Picture, and only “The Silence of the Lambs” has won. Historically, horror is rewarded for how successfully it distances itself from the genre.

When Louis B. Mayer first founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1929, he sought to create an unbiased, all-inclusive awards show celebrating excellence in film. But, almost a century later, one genre still stands on the outskirts of that celebration: horror.

The horror films awarded by the Academy are rarely discussed as horror at all. “The Silence of the Lambs” is framed as a detective story. “Black Swan” is framed as a psychological drama. “Get Out” is praised as a satirical political black comedy that offers sharp social commentary. “The Substance” was praised for its critique of the beauty standards imposed on aging women in the entertainment industry. Horror is an afterthought in these films. They aren’t honored for being horror;........

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