The 98th Academy Awards delivered one of the most competitive Oscars in recent memory, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” ultimately taking home Best Picture and six awards overall.
Held March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the ceremony — hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second consecutive year — featured historic wins, major surprises, and a few unexpected omissions that had viewers talking long after the show ended.
While Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” entered the night with a record-setting 16 nominations, it was Anderson’s political drama that prevailed in the final moments of Hollywood’s biggest night.
‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates the Night
After a tight race throughout awards season, “One Battle After Another” emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, securing six Oscars including:
- Best Picture
- Best Director — Paul Thomas Anderson
- Best Adapted Screenplay — Paul Thomas Anderson
- Best Film Editing — Andy Jurgensen
- Best Supporting Actor — Sean Penn
- Best Casting — Cassandra Kulukundis
The Best Picture victory capped off a long-awaited Oscars moment for Anderson, who had previously been nominated multiple times but had never won an Academy Award before this year.
Penn’s win also made headlines, giving the actor his third acting Oscar and placing him in an elite group that includes Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Frances McDormand.
‘Sinners’ Makes History Despite Falling Short of Best Picture
Although “Sinners” did not win the top prize, the film still delivered some of the night’s most historic moments.
The biggest milestone came when Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography, becoming the first woman ever to win the category in the history of the Academy Awards.
Her work on the film also made her the first Black cinematographer to win the Oscar, marking a landmark moment for representation behind the camera.
The Ryan Coogler-directed film also secured additional wins including Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson, while Michael B. Jordan earned his first Oscar for Best Actor for his dual performance in the film.
Michael B. Jordan Scores His First Oscar
One of the night’s biggest crowd reactions came when Michael B. Jordan was announced as Best Actor for his performance as twin brothers in Sinners.
The win capped off a fiercely competitive race that included Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”) and Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”).
During his speech, Jordan paid tribute to Black Oscar winners who came before him, including Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith, ” I stand here because of the people that came before me”.
Jessie Buckley Completes Awards Season Sweep
The Best Actress race played out exactly as awards season predicted.
Jessie Buckley won for her emotional performance in “Hamnet,” completing a clean sweep after victories at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and BAFTAs.
Her speech focused on motherhood and the emotional themes of the film, which resonated with audiences throughout the awards season.
A Big Night for ‘Frankenstein’
While much of the Oscars buzz centered on the rivalry between Sinners and One Battle After Another, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” quietly had one of the strongest nights of the ceremony.
The film collected several technical awards including:
- Best Production Design
- Best Costume Design
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Despite being somewhat overlooked in the major categories, the film’s wins reinforced the Academy’s appreciation for its ambitious visual craftsmanship.
Timothée Chalamet and ‘Marty Supreme’ Shut Out
Another storyline of the night was the surprising absence of Timothée Chalamet and “Marty Supreme.”
Chalamet had been widely discussed in the lead-up to the ceremony — including becoming the subject of multiple jokes from host Conan O’Brien following his recent opera and ballet controversy.
However, despite the film receiving nine nominations, neither Chalamet nor the movie won any awards during the ceremony.
The shutout was one of the more surprising outcomes of the evening.
A Rare Oscar Tie
The ceremony also produced a rare piece of Academy Awards history.
The Best Live-Action Short Film category ended in a tie, with both “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” taking home Oscars.
It marked only the seventh tie in the 98-year history of the Academy Awards.
Other Notable Moments
The 2026 Oscars also featured several other memorable moments throughout the night:
- “KPop Demon Hunters” made history as the first K-pop-related song to win Best Original Song with “Golden.”
- The ceremony introduced the first-ever Oscar for Best Casting, recognizing casting directors for the first time in Academy history won by Cassandra Kulukundis for her work on One Battle After Another.
- The In Memoriam segment drew strong reactions, featuring tributes including Billy Crystal honoring Rob Reiner and a performance by Barbra Streisand remembering Robert Redford. There was notable omissions from the telecast including Brigitte Bardot, James Van Der Beek causing some discussion but some like Bud Curt made the long list on the website.
Key Winners at the 2026 Oscars
Best Picture — One Battle After Another
Best Director — Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor — Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress — Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Supporting Actor — Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actress — Amy Madigan (Weapons)
A Night of History and Surprises
From groundbreaking wins to unexpected shutouts, the 98th Academy Awards delivered one of the most memorable ceremonies in recent years.
While “One Battle After Another” ultimately took home the biggest prize of the night, the evening will likely be remembered just as much for the historic achievements of Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the breakout success of Michael B. Jordan, and the continued evolution of the Oscars themselves.
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