‘One Battle After Another’ Wins Best Picture Oscars/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ One Battle After Another won Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards, marking a major career milestone for director Paul Thomas Anderson. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor, while Jessie Buckley took Best Actress honors. The ceremony also featured historic wins and highlighted tensions in Hollywood amid political and industry changes.
One Battle After Another Oscars 2026 Quick Looks
- “One Battle After Another” wins Best Picture at the Oscars.
- Director Paul Thomas Anderson earns first Academy Award wins.
- Film takes six Oscars, including Best Director and Adapted Screenplay.
- Michael B. Jordan wins Best Actor.
- Jessie Buckley wins Best Actress for Hamnet.
- Autumn Durald Arkapaw becomes first female cinematographer winner.
- Warner Bros. films dominate the ceremony with 11 awards.
- Netflix films score major wins in animation and technical categories.
Deep Look: ‘One Battle After Another’ Wins Best Picture Oscars
The 98th Academy Awards crowned One Battle After Another as Best Picture on Sunday night, delivering a long-awaited victory for acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.
The sweeping, politically charged drama — a multi-generational story about activism and resistance in America — emerged as the biggest winner of the evening, collecting six Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Anderson.
For Anderson, who has long been considered one of Hollywood’s most influential directors, the win marked his first Oscar despite decades of critical acclaim.
Accepting the screenplay award, Anderson reflected on the inspiration behind the film.
“I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world,” he said. “But also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency.”
Historic Night for Filmmakers and Performers
The ceremony also delivered several historic wins.
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for Sinners, becoming the first female director of photography ever to win the category. She is also the first Black cinematographer to receive the honor.
In her emotional acceptance speech, Arkapaw invited women in the audience to stand.
“I really want all the women in the room to stand up,” she said. “I don’t feel like I get here without you.”
Actor Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor in one of the night’s closest races. The crowd at the Dolby Theatre erupted into applause as he walked to the stage.
“Yo, momma, what’s up?” Jordan said with a laugh as he accepted the award.
Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley captured the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Hamnet, becoming the first Irish performer ever to win the category.
Buckley dedicated the award to mothers.
“It’s Mother’s Day in the U.K.,” she said. “I’d like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.”
Warner Bros. Dominates the Night
The evening was especially successful for Warner Bros., which produced both One Battle After Another and Sinners. Together, the studio’s films collected 11 Oscars, tying a record for a single company in one ceremony.
The triumph came at a moment of uncertainty for the studio.
Just weeks earlier, Warner Bros. agreed to be acquired by Paramount Skydance in a massive $111 billion merger, a deal still awaiting regulatory approval. The proposed consolidation has raised concerns about layoffs and the future of major Hollywood studios.
Despite those worries, the success of One Battle After Another and Sinners offered a rare bright spot for the industry.
Both films were large-budget original projects driven by strong creative visions rather than franchise or sequel properties.
Streaming Platforms Score Major Wins
Streaming services also played a major role in the awards.
The animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, distributed by Netflix, won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.”
The film became Netflix’s biggest global success, attracting more than 325 million views worldwide.
Co-director Maggie Kang celebrated the win by dedicating it to Korean audiences.
“This is for Korea and Koreans everywhere,” Kang said.
Netflix also earned recognition for Frankenstein, which won Oscars for costume design, makeup and hairstyling, and production design.
Acting Honors and Emotional Moments
Veteran actor Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the thriller Weapons.
The victory came 40 years after her first Oscar nomination, making it one of the most emotional moments of the evening.
“This is great!” Madigan exclaimed after reaching the stage.
Sean Penn earned Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, though he was not present to accept the award.
Politics and Global Issues Loom
The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, unfolded against a backdrop of global political tensions.
O’Brien acknowledged the moment in his opening monologue.
“We’re living in chaotic and frightening times,” he said. “But tonight we celebrate global artistry and optimism.”
Throughout the night, several speeches referenced political issues including freedom of expression and ongoing international conflicts.
Director Joachim Trier, whose film Sentimental Value won Best International Feature, quoted writer James Baldwin while urging voters to hold leaders accountable.
The documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin, about a Russian teacher documenting wartime propaganda, also won an Oscar.
Tributes to Hollywood Legends
The ceremony included an expanded “In Memoriam” segment honoring several legendary figures who died over the past year.
Singer and actor Barbra Streisand paid tribute to her former co-star Robert Redford, performing a brief portion of their iconic song from The Way We Were.
Comedian Billy Crystal also honored director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner, who died earlier in the year.
Theatrical Films Still Dominate Top Prize
Despite the growing influence of streaming platforms, the Oscars’ top prize once again went to a theatrical release.
Streaming services have struggled to capture the Best Picture award. The only streaming film to do so remains CODA, which won the honor in 2022.
Other notable winners included F1, which won Best Sound, and Avatar: Fire and Ash, which captured the award for Best Visual Effects.
Closing the ceremony with humor, O’Brien joked about the increasing role of technology in Hollywood.
“I’m honored to be the last human host of the Academy Awards,” he quipped. “Next year it’s going to be a Waymo in a tux.”
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