The 2026 movie awards season went out with a massive bang on Sunday night at the 98th Academy Awards. Hosted by Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre, the night was a celebration of historic firsts, emotional speeches, and a few undeniable cinematic juggernauts.
While the ceremony featured highly competitive categories, two films ultimately controlled the narrative: Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking vampire-gangster thriller Sinners.
Here is your complete recap of who took home the gold and the final awards tally.
The Night’s Biggest Heavyweights
1. One Battle After Another (6 Wins) Entering the night with 13 nominations, Paul Thomas Anderson’s three-hour masterpiece proved unstoppable. The film took home the ceremony’s most coveted prize—Best Picture—along with a Best Director win for Anderson. Sean Penn captured Best Supporting Actor, and the film made history by winning the very first Academy Award for Best Casting.
2. Sinners (4 Wins)Ryan Coogler’s Sinners made Oscar history before the envelopes were even opened, boasting an all-time record of 16 nominations. The film converted four of those into major wins. Michael B. Jordan delivered the emotional highlight of the night, winning Best Actor for his dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. Additionally, Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to ever win Best Cinematography.
3. Frankenstein (3 Wins)Guillermo del Toro’s visually stunning take on the classic monster tale dominated the craft categories, sweeping Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design.
Major Category Winners at a Glance
If you missed the broadcast, here is the quick breakdown of the night’s most prestigious honors:
- Best Picture: One Battle After Another
- 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: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
- Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
Historic Milestones
The 98th Academy Awards will be remembered for breaking several long-standing industry barriers:
- Michael B. Jordan became only the sixth Black actor in history to win the Academy Award for a leading role.
- Autumn Durald Arkapaw shattered the glass ceiling for cinematographers, taking home the gold for her atmospheric work on Sinners.
- The Best Casting Category made its official debut, honoring the unsung heroes who assemble the perfect ensembles.
Also Read : Mormon Wives Star Mikayla Matthews Splits from Jace Terry Amid Intimacy Issues
