The 98th Oscars, held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, saw One Battle After Another emerge as a standout, winning six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson.
Michael B. Jordan took home the award for Best Actor for his performance in Sinners, while Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet. Sean Penn received the Best Supporting Actor award for his work in One Battle After Another.
In addition to its major wins, One Battle After Another also secured awards for Best Editing and the inaugural award for Casting. This film tackles pressing social issues, including immigration raids and white supremacy.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s victory was particularly notable as it marked his first Oscar win after 11 previous nominations. “You make a guy work really hard for one of these,” he remarked during his acceptance speech.
Anderson expressed his motivations for creating the film, stating, “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,” adding that he hopes they will be the generation that brings “common sense and decency.”
One of the film’s plotlines features a pot-addled ex-revolutionary, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who faces off against the terrifying Colonel Lockjaw, portrayed by Sean Penn.
The 98th Oscars highlighted the competitive nature of this year’s nominations, with films like Sinners and Frankenstein also receiving multiple accolades. Sinners won four awards, while Frankenstein took home three.
This year’s ceremony not only celebrated cinematic achievements but also underscored significant social themes, making it a memorable event in the history of the Oscars.
As the film community reflects on the outcomes of this year’s Oscars, the impact of these films and their messages will likely resonate for years to come.
