One Battle After Another Triumphs at the 98th Academy Awards with Six Oscars
The 98th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 15, 2026, witnessed a historic night as One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, dominated the ceremony with an impressive haul of six Oscars. The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, secured top honors including Best Picture and Best Director, solidifying its place as a cinematic masterpiece.
Major Wins and Close Competition
Following closely behind was Michael B. Jordan's film Sinners, which garnered four Oscars after receiving a historic 16 nominations. Among the standout moments, Michael B. Jordan's emotional win for Best Actor in Sinners captivated the audience, with the actor exclaiming, "God is good." Ryan Coogler, the creative mind behind Sinners, clinched the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, while Paul Thomas Anderson earned the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another.
In his acceptance speech, Anderson shared a heartfelt message: "I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we're handing off to them, but also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency."
Notable Performances and Awards
Jessie Buckley was named Best Lead Actress for her powerful portrayal in Hamnet, a role that depicted a woman coping with the loss of her young son. Supporting actor prizes went to Sean Penn for his performance in One Battle After Another and Amy Madigan for her role in Weapons. Notably, Penn did not attend the ceremony to collect his award, becoming only the fourth male performer to win three Oscars, joining the ranks of Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Walter Brennan. Presenter Kieran Culkin humorously remarked, "He couldn't be here this evening or didn't want to," referencing Penn's aversion to awards.
Diverse Categories and Milestones
The awards ceremony highlighted a range of achievements across various categories:
- Best Documentary Feature: Mr Nobody Against Putin, a film examining Vladimir Putin's crackdown on free expression during the Russo-Ukrainian war, won this category. Co-director David Borenstein used his acceptance speech to denounce autocracy.
- Best Animated Feature and Original Song: Netflix's popular film KPop Demon Hunters secured both awards, with its anthem Golden winning Best Original Song. Co-director Maggie Kang, fighting back tears, emphasized the importance of representation, stating, "I'm so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this. But it is here. And that means that the next generations don't have to go longing. This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere."
- Historic Firsts: Cassandra Kulukundis made history by winning the inaugural Academy Award for casting for her work on One Battle After Another. Additionally, Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win Best Cinematography for Sinners.
- Rare Tie: A rare tie occurred in the Best Live Action Short category, with both Two People Exchanging Saliva and The Singers sharing the prize.
Political Undertones and Host Highlights
The ceremony was marked by political moments, with presenters like Jimmy Kimmel mocking former President Donald Trump and stars advocating for various causes. Javier Bardem, while presenting the Best International Feature prize to Sentimental Value, declared, "No to war and free Palestine."
Conan O'Brien returned as host for the second year, opening the show with a humorous video parody and a monologue that poked fun at Timothee Chalamet's controversial comments, Netflix's business moves, and the titles of nominated films.
Complete List of Key Winners
- Best Picture: One Battle After Another
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
- Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
- Best Original Song: Golden from KPop Demon Hunters
- Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
- Best International Film: Sentimental Value
- Best Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
- Best Casting: Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another)
- Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)
- Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
The 98th Academy Awards celebrated cinematic excellence while reflecting the diverse and politically charged landscape of the film industry, making it a memorable event for audiences worldwide.
