The 98th Academy Awards brought a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 film awards season, celebrating some of the most acclaimed movies of the year. Held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 15, 2026, the ceremony honoured outstanding achievements in filmmaking across 24 categories. The event was hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, who returned for the second consecutive year.
Among the many celebrated films of the night, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest winner, taking home multiple trophies including the prestigious Best Picture award.
‘One Battle After Another’ Leads the Night
Paul Thomas Anderson’s political epic dominated the ceremony with a total of six Oscars, making it the most awarded film of the evening.
In addition to Best Picture, Anderson himself won Best Director, marking a significant milestone in his career. The film also won Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Best Film Editing and the newly introduced Best Casting award.
The movie had been widely praised throughout awards season for its layered storytelling and strong performances. It also triumphed over a competitive Best Picture lineup that included films such as Sinners, Hamnet, Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, Bugonia, Train Dreams, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value and F1.
‘Sinners’ Shines With Major Wins
Although it didn’t secure the top prize, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners had a strong presence at the ceremony. The film entered the Oscars with the highest number of nominations — a remarkable 16 — and eventually walked away with four awards.
Michael B. Jordan won the Best Actor award for his performance in the film, one of the most celebrated wins of the night.
The film also earned awards for Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler, Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson, and Best Cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw. Notably, Arkapaw made history as the first Black woman to win the Oscar for cinematography.
Jessie Buckley Wins Best Actress
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley secured the award for her performance in Hamnet. Her victory was historic as she became the first Irish actress to win the Oscar in this category.
Buckley’s performance in the Shakespearean-era drama received widespread acclaim for its emotional intensity and depth. The film itself was also one of the most talked-about titles during the awards season.
Supporting Categories and Other Highlights
The supporting acting categories also delivered notable moments. Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Battle After Another, adding to the film’s impressive tally of awards.
Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Weapons, another standout moment during the ceremony.
In the animation category, the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature. The film also picked up the Best Original Song award for the track “Golden.”
Meanwhile, the Norwegian drama Sentimental Value secured the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, while Mr. Nobody Against Putin won Best Documentary Feature.
Technical categories also delivered big wins for several major productions. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein claimed three awards for production design, costume design and makeup and hairstyling.
The racing drama F1 won Best Sound, while Avatar: Fire and Ash secured the Best Visual Effects award.
A Memorable Night for Hollywood
Overall, the 98th Academy Awards highlighted a diverse range of storytelling styles, from political epics and historical dramas to animated adventures and documentaries.
With One Battle After Another dominating the ceremony and Sinners delivering several standout wins, the night celebrated both large-scale filmmaking and powerful performances.
The ceremony also reinforced how modern cinema continues to evolve, bringing together stories that resonate with audiences across genres and cultures.
Major Oscars 2026 Winners
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Best Picture: One Battle After Another
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Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
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Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
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Best Actress: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
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Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
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Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan – Weapons
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Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
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Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value
The 98th Academy Awards once again proved why the Oscars remain the most prestigious celebration of global cinema.
