The 98th Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026, delivered a night of cinematic triumphs, emotional speeches, and historic firsts. Paul Thomas Anderson’s compelling political epic, One Battle After Another, emerged as the night’s dominant force, taking home the coveted Best Picture award among its six total wins. This comprehensive recap unveils every winner, highlights groundbreaking achievements, and revisits the most poignant moments from a truly unforgettable ceremony.
A Historic Night for Cinema: The 98th Academy Awards Recap
Hollywood’s biggest night unfolded at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Comedian Conan O’Brien returned as host, guiding viewers through an evening that balanced celebration with powerful social commentary. The awards season culminated in a fiercely contested Best Picture race, creating palpable tension until the final envelope.
“One Battle After Another” Dominates Best Picture Race
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another secured the top honor, Best Picture, solidifying its critical and commercial success. This satirical action-thriller, praised for its “intense and timely exploration of American extremism,” chronicles a retired revolutionary’s return to action. The film garnered 13 nominations, ultimately winning six Oscars, including Best Director for Anderson himself.
The win for Best Picture capped a remarkable journey for the Warner Bros. production. It was a close contest against Sinners, another strong contender from the same studio. One Battle After Another had previously shown its strength, triumphing at the PGA Awards. Lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio and breakout star Chase Infiniti, who portrays Willa, were integral to the film’s success. Infiniti was affectionately called the “heart of this movie” by Anderson in a heartfelt dedication.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Long-Awaited Triumph
For Paul Thomas Anderson, the 98th Academy Awards marked a career-defining moment. After 14 previous nominations across nearly three decades, he finally secured his first-ever Oscar. Anderson received the Best Adapted Screenplay award for One Battle After Another, a loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel, Vineland.
In his acceptance speech, Anderson expressed immense gratitude to Pynchon for the inspiration. He delivered a deeply personal dedication to his family, particularly his children. He stated he wrote the film as an apology “for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world.” Anderson also voiced hope that his children’s generation would bring “common sense and decency.” Beyond screenplay, he also won Best Director for the film, emphasizing his comprehensive creative vision.
Adding to the film’s accolades was a groundbreaking win for Cassandra Kulukundis. She received the Academy’s inaugural award for Achievement in Casting for One Battle After Another. Kulukundis, a long-time collaborator with Anderson, expressed her appreciation for this overdue industry recognition. Sean Penn also earned Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, though he was notably absent from the ceremony, with Kieran Culkin accepting on his behalf.
Standout Performances and Craftsmanship Honored
The night saw a wide distribution of awards, acknowledging diverse talent across various categories. Esteemed actors and innovative filmmakers alike celebrated significant milestones.
Jordan, Buckley, and Madigan Shine in Acting Categories
Michael B. Jordan won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual portrayal of twins Smoke and Stack in the vampire movie Sinners. Jordan’s powerful performance earned him a roaring standing ovation backstage. He gratefully acknowledged the consistent support throughout his career. Jessie Buckley earned Best Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet. She shared a unique anecdote about her win coinciding with UK/Ireland Mother’s Day and her eight-month-old daughter getting her first tooth, calling it “crazy alchemy.” Amy Madigan also took home Best Supporting Actress for her role in Weapons.
“Sinners” Secures Key Craft Awards and Original Screenplay
Sinners proved to be a major winner of the night, securing four Oscars. Beyond Michael B. Jordan’s acting win, Ryan Coogler earned his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film. Coogler credited an English professor for inspiring his screenwriting path.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history by becoming the first woman and Black person to win Best Cinematography. She dedicated her groundbreaking award to women and girls everywhere, encouraging them to pursue their filmmaking dreams. Ludwig Göransson also won Best Original Score for Sinners, sharing how blues music profoundly influenced his family and his work. The film’s nominated song, “I Lied to You,” was performed live as a vibrant tribute to Black music’s enduring impact on American culture.
Global Voices and Urgent Messages on the Oscar Stage
Beyond the cinematic glitter, the 98th Academy Awards served as a vital platform for social and political commentary. Several award recipients used their moment to address pressing global issues.
International and Documentary Winners Address Critical Issues
Norway’s Sentimental Value won Best International Feature Film. Director Joachim Trier powerfully quoted James Baldwin, emphasizing that “All adults are responsible for all children.” He called for global collaboration to protect children amidst ongoing conflicts. Notably, France submitted Jafar Panahi’s dissident Iranian film It Was Just an Accident due to censorship in Iran. Tunisia’s submission, The Voice of Hind Rajab, offered a poignant focus on a child killed in Gaza.
The documentary categories also highlighted urgent global concerns. Mr. Nobody Against Putin won Best Documentary Feature Film. Its co-directors, David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin, delivered impactful speeches. Borenstein argued that countries are lost through “countless small, little acts of complicity.” He cited government murders and oligarchic media control as examples. Talankin, who filmed the documentary in a Russian school, passionately appealed to “stop all of these wars now” for the sake of future generations. All the Empty Rooms, a powerful short documenting children’s bedrooms frozen after school shootings, won Best Documentary Short Film. Gloria Cazares, mother of a Uvalde victim, accepted the award, underscoring the film’s heartbreaking relevance.
During the ceremony, Javier Bardem, presenting the Best International Feature Film award, made a direct political statement: “No to war and free Palestine.” These moments reflected a growing awareness among filmmakers and artists of their platform’s potential for advocacy.
Celebrating Diverse Genres: Animation, Shorts, and Technical Mastery
The Academy also recognized excellence across a spectrum of genres and technical achievements, showcasing the breadth of cinematic artistry.
Animated Features and Shorts Make Their Mark
Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters was honored as Best Animated Feature Film. Co-director Maggie Kang dedicated the award to “Korea and Koreans everywhere.” Its original song, “Golden,” performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, also won Best Original Song. EJAE emphasized the honor of integrating Korean traditional music into their performance. The Girl Who Cried Pearls took home the award for Best Animated Short Film.
Technical Triumphs: From “Frankenstein” to “Avatar”
The 98th Academy Awards celebrated the intricate craftsmanship behind cinematic magic. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein garnered multiple technical awards, including Achievement in Production Design, Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling, and Achievement in Costume Design. Avatar: Fire and Ash won for its stunning Achievement in Visual Effects. F1 received the award for Achievement in Sound, and One Battle After Another earned the Oscar for Achievement in Film Editing.
Full List of Winners (Key Categories)
Here’s a snapshot of the major winners at the 98th Academy Awards:
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Achievement in Directing: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Amy Madigan, Weapons
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Best Animated Feature Film: KPop Demon Hunters
Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value, Norway
Achievement in Cinematography: Sinners
Achievement in Film Editing: One Battle After Another
Achievement in Sound: F1
Original Score: Sinners, Ludwig Goransson
Best Documentary Feature Film: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Best Documentary Short Film: All the Empty Rooms
Best Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Best Live Action Short Film (Tie): The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva
Achievement in Casting: One Battle After Another, Cassandra Kulukundis
Achievement in Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Achievement in Production Design: Frankenstein
Writing (Original Screenplay): Sinners, written by Ryan Coogler
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): One Battle After Another, written by Paul Thomas Anderson
Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
Achievement in Costume Design: Frankenstein
Original Song: “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
Unforgettable Moments and Tributes
Beyond the awards themselves, the ceremony delivered several memorable segments and heartfelt tributes.
Conan O’Brien’s Irreverent Hosting and Emotional In Memoriams
Conan O’Brien, hosting for the second consecutive year, kept the audience entertained with his signature irreverent humor. His opening skit and pre-taped segments, including a humorous take on phone-optimized film viewing, added lightheartedness. The show concluded with a bizarre pre-taped epilogue featuring O’Brien being replaced by “Mr. Beast.”
The ceremony also featured powerful and emotional tributes. Barbra Streisand honored the late Robert Redford, highlighting his legacy in defending press freedoms and environmental causes. Rachel McAdams paid tribute to Diane Keaton with a unique Girl Scout song. Billy Crystal led a deeply moving In Memoriam segment for his best friend, Rob Reiner. Crystal was joined onstage by numerous actors from Reiner’s films, following the tragic news of Reiner’s death and his son’s charges. These moments underscored the deep personal connections within the film community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What major records or firsts were set at the 98th Academy Awards?
The 98th Academy Awards celebrated several historic firsts. Paul Thomas Anderson secured his inaugural Oscar win after 14 previous nominations, taking home awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another. A brand new category, Achievement in Casting, was introduced, with Cassandra Kulukundis becoming its very first recipient for her work on One Battle After Another. Additionally, Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman and Black person to win Best Cinematography for Sinners, marking a significant moment for diversity in craft categories. The Live Action Short Film category also saw a rare tie, the seventh in Oscar history, between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva.
Where can I stream “One Battle After Another” and other winning films from the 2026 Oscars?
One Battle After Another, the Best Picture winner, is currently available to stream on HBO Max. As for other winning films from the 2026 Oscars, availability varies by title and distributor. Many major award-winning films typically become available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, or through digital rental and purchase services a few months after their theatrical release and awards season run. For the most up-to-date information on where to watch specific films like Sinners, Hamnet, or KPop Demon Hunters, it is recommended to check their official distributor websites or reliable movie streaming guides.
What were the most impactful political statements made during the 2026 Oscar ceremony?
The 98th Academy Awards became a significant platform for political discourse. Javier Bardem, while presenting, declared a powerful “No to war and free Palestine.” The co-directors of the winning documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin, David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin, delivered compelling speeches. Borenstein highlighted how countries are lost through “countless small, little acts of complicity” and the dangers of complicity in government murders and oligarchic media control. Talankin passionately called for an end to “all of these wars now” for children’s futures. Additionally, Joachim Trier, director of Norway’s Sentimental Value, quoted James Baldwin, urging global collaboration to protect children amid conflicts, further emphasizing the ceremony’s role in addressing urgent social issues.
Conclusion
The 98th Academy Awards will undoubtedly be remembered as a night that celebrated both groundbreaking cinematic achievements and the powerful voices behind them. From Paul Thomas Anderson’s long-awaited triumphs and the historic introduction of the Achievement in Casting award to the impassioned calls for peace and justice, the ceremony resonated on multiple levels. As the credits roll on another Oscars night, the impact of these films and the messages shared on stage will continue to inspire discussion and reflection in the year to come. What were your favorite winning films or most memorable moments from the 2026 Oscars?
