Sama Farrag Hollywood’s biggest night delivered both expected victories and surprise wins as the 98th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre on March 15, celebrating the most outstanding achievements in film over the past year.
Leading the night was One Battle After Another, which emerged as the evening’s biggest winner. The film took home Best Picture, while its director Paul Thomas Anderson earned Best Director, cementing the project as the defining cinematic achievement of the year. The film also secured Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, alongside awards for editing and casting.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his performance in Sinners, marking a major career milestone. The film also picked up wins for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, the latter awarded to acclaimed composer Ludwig Göransson.
Beyond Michael B. Jordan’s standout performance, Sinners was celebrated for its daring storytelling and striking visuals, earning praise as one of the most ambitious films of the year. Its mix of emotional depth and cinematic flair helped it resonate with both the Academy and audiences, solidifying its place as a defining film of 2026.
Jessie Buckley earned the Best Actress award for her role in Hamnet, delivering one of the night’s most celebrated performances. Meanwhile, Amy Madigan took home Best Supporting Actress for Weapons.
Beyond the major categories, the ceremony also highlighted international and animated cinema. Norway’s Sentimental Value won Best International Feature Film, while the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters claimed Best Animated Feature and delivered the night’s winning Original Song, “Golden.”
Technical categories recognized ambitious filmmaking across genres. The high-octane racing drama F1 won Best Sound, while One Battle After Another continued its sweep with Best Film Editing and the newly introduced Best Casting award.
With sweeping victories for One Battle After Another and standout performances from actors like Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley, the 2026 Oscars reflected a year of bold storytelling and powerful performances—proving once again that cinema remains as dynamic and unpredictable as ever.
