The 98th Academy Awards delivered one of the most talked-about nights in modern cinema, with major wins for One Battle After Another and several standout performances from Hollywood’s biggest stars.
The biggest award of the evening, Best Picture, went to One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film received widespread praise from critics for its storytelling, ambitious direction, and emotional depth.
Paul Thomas Anderson also won the Oscar for Best Director, marking one of the most important achievements of his career. The filmmaker had previously earned recognition for movies such as There Will Be Blood and Licorice Pizza.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his performance in Sinners. The role was widely considered one of the strongest performances of the year and helped elevate Jordan into the top tier of Hollywood actors.
The Best Actress award went to Jessie Buckley, whose emotional acceptance speech became one of the ceremony’s most memorable moments.
The event took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and was broadcast live to audiences around the world. Fans followed the ceremony through television broadcasts, streaming platforms, and live online updates as winners were announced throughout the night.
This year’s Oscars highlighted a strong year for cinema, with critics and audiences praising both major studio productions and more character-driven films. Many analysts believe the 2026 winners will shape the direction of Hollywood storytelling for years to come.