The 98th Academy Awards ended with a major victory for the gripping drama One Battle After Another, which took home the coveted Best Picture award. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, the film capped off an impressive night at the Oscars, securing multiple major wins and establishing itself as the most awarded film of the evening.
The film tells the story of a once-powerful revolutionary who must confront his troubled past while trying to protect his daughter from lingering enemies. Its emotional storytelling, layered characters and powerful direction resonated strongly with audiences and critics throughout the awards season.
In addition to winning Best Picture, Anderson also earned the Best Director award for his work on the film. The project also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor, among other categories, bringing its total number of Oscars to six. The wins marked one of the biggest triumphs of Anderson’s career and reinforced his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected storytellers.
Throughout the awards season, One Battle After Another built strong momentum thanks to its compelling narrative and powerful performances. By the time the Oscars arrived, it had already become one of the most talked-about films of the year, and its success on Hollywood’s biggest night only solidified its legacy.
Although several films were strong contenders, One Battle After Another ultimately stood above the rest, closing the night with the Academy’s highest honor.
While Best Picture went to another film, Sinners emerged as one of the biggest highlights of the 2026 Academy Awards thanks to its groundbreaking achievements and cultural impact.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film blends horror, history and music into a unique cinematic experience. Set against the backdrop of the American South, the movie explores themes of identity, folklore and the origins of Blues music while telling the story of a mysterious vampire threat haunting a community.
One of the biggest moments of the night came when cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw won the Oscar for Best Cinematography. Her victory was historic, making her the first woman and the first woman of color to ever win the award. The achievement was widely celebrated across the film industry as an important milestone for representation behind the camera.
Another major highlight came when the film’s lead star, Michael B. Jordan, won Best Actor for his performance. The award marked the first Oscar win of Jordan’s career and was greeted with huge applause from fans and fellow actors.
Sinners also won Best Original Screenplay, further recognizing the film’s creativity and storytelling. Altogether, the movie walked away with four Academy Awards, making it one of the most successful films of the night.
Although it did not win Best Picture, Sinners left a lasting impression at the ceremony, with its artistic achievements and historic wins marking a significant moment in modern cinema.
