The 98th Academy Awards felt like a fever dream for film lovers. Hosted for the second year in a row by the ever-wry Conan O’Brien, the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre managed to balance prestige with genuine fan-favorite surprises. The big story of the night? The total dominance of One Battle After Another. After decades of being the “greatest director without an Oscar,” Paul Thomas Anderson finally broke the seal, taking home trophies for both Directing and Adapted Screenplay, while his epic drama secured the coveted Best Picture title.
But it wasn’t just a one-movie show. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners carved out its own place in history, with Michael B. Jordan delivering a powerhouse performance to nab Best Actor. History was also made behind the camera as Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman ever to win Best Cinematography for her work on Sinners. From a rare tie in the Short Film category to the infectious energy of KPop Demon Hunters winning Best Animated Feature, the 2026 Oscars winners list proves that the Academy is finally embracing a wider, more vibrant spectrum of cinema.
The Big Winners: Best Picture, Director, and Acting
The evening’s acting categories provided some of the most emotional moments of the broadcast. Jessie Buckley solidified her status as a generational talent with a Best Actress win for Hamnet, while Sean Penn—absent from the ceremony—set a new record with his Best Supporting Actor win for One Battle After Another. We also saw the introduction of the Best Casting category, the first new Oscar added since 2002, which appropriately went to Cassandra Kulukundis for assembling the massive ensemble of One Battle.
Full List of 98th Academy Award Winners:
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
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler — Sinners
Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
Best Casting: Cassandra Kulukundis — One Battle After Another
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw — Sinners
Best Costume Design: Frankenstein
Best Film Editing: Andy Jurgensen — One Battle After Another
Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson — Sinners
Best Original Song: “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
Best Production Design: Frankenstein
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
Best Sound: F1
Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best International Feature: Sentimental Value (Norway)
Best Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Best Live-Action Short: (TIE) The Singers & Two People Exchanging Saliva
Best Animated Short: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Best Documentary Short: All the Empty Rooms
Nostalgia and New Horizons
Between the awards, the Academy leaned heavily into fan service. We saw a hilarious Bridesmaids reunion with Rose Byrne, Kristen Wiig, and Melissa McCarthy, plus a “super” moment when Marvel legends Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans shared the stage. However, the night also paused for reflection, with a moving In Memoriam tribute to icons we lost this year, including Rob Reiner, Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Catherine O’Hara. Whether you came for the K-pop performances or the high-stakes drama of the Best Picture race, the 98th Oscars proved that movies are well and truly back.
What do you think of the results?
Did Paul Thomas Anderson deserve the sweep, or were you rooting for Sinners to take the top prize? And how do we feel about that rare tie in the Short Film category? Drop a comment below and let’s debate the snubs and surprises!
