Los Angeles, March 16, 2026 – The 98th Academy Awards wrapped up last night at the iconic Dolby Theatre, with Conan O’Brien returning as host for a night full of surprises, emotional speeches, and plenty of cinematic celebration. The ceremony honored the finest films and performances from 2025, and one movie stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious political epic One Battle After Another dominated the evening, securing six Oscars — the most of any film — and clinching the prestigious Best Picture award. Anderson himself finally took home Best Director, capping off a remarkable night for the acclaimed filmmaker.
Runner-up Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, picked up four awards, including a standout Best Actor win for Michael B. Jordan in a dual role that captivated audiences and critics alike. Meanwhile, Hamnet delivered a historic moment with Jessie Buckley becoming the first Irish actress to win Best Actress.
Other technical and creative categories saw strong showings from films like Frankenstein and Weapons.
Here is the full list of major category winners from the 98th Academy Awards:
- Best Picture: One Battle After Another (Producers: Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson)
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan – Weapons
- Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another
- Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another
- Best Casting (new category): Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein (Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey)
- Best Production Design: Frankenstein
- Best International Feature Film: (Not specified in highlights, but presented by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Javier Bardem)
The night also featured memorable moments, from heartfelt acceptance speeches to lighthearted hosting bits by O’Brien. Warner Bros. had a particularly strong showing, with wins spread across One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Weapons.
