LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s biggest night delivered drama, surprises and long awaited triumphs as the 98th Academy Awards crowned Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping political epic One Battle After Another as Best Picture, cementing the film as the dominant force of the evening.
The film ultimately captured six Oscars, including Best Director for Anderson, marking a defining moment in the filmmaker’s career after decades of nominations and critical acclaim. The ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles also delivered major acting victories, with Michael B Jordan winning Best Actor and Jessie Buckley claiming Best Actress in a night that reshaped the awards season narrative.
Industry watchers had anticipated a fierce contest heading into the ceremony, particularly after a dramatic awards season and an intense Best Actor race that insiders said had divided voters across Hollywood.
Ultimately, the Academy delivered a decisive outcome as One Battle After Another wins Best Picture, solidifying the film’s momentum after months of festival acclaim and critics’ awards.
A Dominant Night for One Battle After Another
The film’s sweeping victory reflected the Academy’s embrace of Anderson’s ambitious storytelling. Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, the film explores the political and social upheaval of modern America through the lives of former revolutionaries navigating a changed world.
In addition to Best Picture and Best Director, the film won Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Best Film Editing and the Academy’s newly introduced Best Casting category.
The triumph also echoed the film’s earlier success during awards season. The movie had already drawn attention from critics and industry groups, including recognition at international festivals and awards ceremonies that often serve as predictors for Oscar outcomes.
The film’s awards momentum began months earlier as the Hollywood awards season unfolded, including debates during the BAFTA Film Awards, where controversies and competitive races helped shape the narrative leading into the Oscars.
Michael B Jordan Finally Wins His First Oscar
One of the most emotional moments of the night came when Michael B Jordan secured the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the supernatural drama Sinners.
The performance, in which Jordan portrays twin brothers navigating violence and supernatural forces in Depression era Mississippi, was widely praised for its intensity and complexity.
According to reporting on the Oscars 2026 winners list, the film also captured awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, making it one of the most celebrated films of the evening.
Jordan’s victory marked a major milestone in a career that has spanned more than two decades, beginning with television roles before rising to international prominence through films such as Fruitvale Station, Creed and Marvel’s Black Panther.
News outlets reported that Michael B Jordan wins Best Actor for Sinners after a tight competition against several major nominees, including Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Jessie Buckley’s Breakthrough Moment
Jessie Buckley delivered another defining moment of the evening by winning Best Actress for her powerful performance in Hamnet, a historical drama centered on grief and family in the household of William Shakespeare.
Critics had long predicted Buckley’s performance could dominate the awards circuit, and the Oscar confirmed her emergence as one of the most compelling actors of her generation.
Her win was greeted with a standing ovation inside the Dolby Theatre as she thanked collaborators and reflected on the emotional themes that shaped the film.
Supporting Winners and Technical Triumphs
The supporting categories added further highlights to the ceremony. Veteran actor Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Battle After Another, while Amy Madigan took Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Weapons.
Technical categories also delivered notable wins across the industry. The science fiction spectacle Avatar Fire and Ash secured the award for Best Visual Effects, continuing the franchise’s reputation for groundbreaking cinematic technology.
The film’s success comes as analysts continue to examine its performance after release, including box office reactions and critical reception surrounding Avatar Fire and Ash.
Meanwhile the gothic drama Frankenstein dominated several craft categories, winning Oscars for Production Design, Costume Design and Makeup and Hairstyling.
Global Cinema Gains Recognition
The Academy also highlighted international cinema during the ceremony. Norway’s Sentimental Value won Best International Feature Film, while the documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin captured Best Documentary Feature.
Animated cinema also enjoyed a strong night as KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the track “Golden.”
The global scope of the awards demonstrated how the Oscars continue to reflect an increasingly international film industry, with stories and filmmakers emerging from every corner of the world.
The Oscars and Hollywood’s Changing Landscape
The Academy Awards remain one of the most influential cultural events in the entertainment industry, even as streaming platforms and global audiences reshape how films are produced and consumed.
The road to this year’s ceremony was shaped by a long awards season that included major festivals and industry events such as the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where many Oscar contenders first built their momentum.
Last year’s nominations race also helped set the stage for the current awards season, as detailed in coverage of the 97th Academy Awards nominations.
With major wins for One Battle After Another, breakthrough victories for Michael B Jordan and Jessie Buckley, and recognition for a diverse range of films, the ceremony once again demonstrated how the Oscars remain a defining moment for the global film industry.
As critics and audiences continue debating the full list of winners, one conclusion appears clear: Hollywood’s awards season ended with a night that will be remembered as one of the most decisive and dramatic Oscar ceremonies in recent memory.
