Oscars 2026: Hollywood Roars Back as ‘One Battle After Another’ Conquers the Night

The glittering lights of Hollywood burned bright on March 15 as the 98th Academy Awards popularly known as the Oscars unfolded at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles . Hosted with sharp humor by Conan O’Brien , the ceremony celebrated the best films of 2025 with a night filled with emotional speeches, historic wins and moments of surprise that reminded audiences why the Oscars remain cinema’s most watched celebration.

The biggest triumph of the evening belonged to One Battle After Another , which dominated the ceremony with six Academy Awards including Best Picture . The film delivered a landmark moment for director Paul Thomas Anderson , who finally broke his long Oscar drought by winning three awards in a single night Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay after years of nominations without a win. The film also won Best Film Editing , Best Casting , and Best Supporting Actor , making it the undisputed champion of the night.

Veteran actor Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in One Battle After Another , but he was not present at the ceremony . Presenter Kieran Culkin , announcing the win, joked about Penn’s absence, telling the audience: “Sean Penn couldn’t be here tonight or he didn’t want to be here.” The remark drew laughter from the crowd and quickly became one of the night’s memorable moments.

While One Battle After Another ruled the winners’ list, the dark drama Sinners remained one of the most talked-about films of the evening. Entering the ceremony with 16 nominations the highest of the year the film ultimately won four Oscars . Among its victories was Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan , whose demanding dual-role performance earned a roaring ovation. The film also secured Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler , Best Cinematography , and Best Original Score for composer Ludwig Göransson .

In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley won for her performance in Hamnet , continuing her strong awards-season run. Amy Madigan captured Best Supporting Actress for the horror drama Weapons , marking the first Oscar of her career and earning one of the evening’s warmest standing ovations.

Elsewhere, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein dominated the design categories, winning Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Costume Design . Blockbuster spectacle also found recognition as Avatar: Fire and Ash won Best Visual Effects , while the racing drama F1 took home Best Sound .

By the end of the night, the 2026 Oscars had delivered both spectacle and substance. With One Battle After Another sweeping the awards and long-overdue recognition for Paul Thomas Anderson, the ceremony signaled a vibrant moment for Hollywood and a reminder of cinema’s enduring power.