‘One Battle After Another’ Triumphs at Oscars 2026, ‘Sinners’ Shatters Records But Falls Short of Sweep
Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic wins Best Picture and Best Director in a night of historic firsts, tied awards, and a dominant feather-filled red carpet
HOLLYWOOD — March 16, 2026 — Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling dark comedy “One Battle After Another” emerged as the night’s biggest winner at the 98th Academy Awards, taking home six Oscars including the coveted Best Picture and Best Director honors, while Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed thriller “Sinners”—which entered the ceremony with a record-breaking 16 nominations—secured four wins, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan .
The ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and hosted for the second consecutive year by comedian Conan O’Brien, celebrated a year of extraordinary cinematic achievement while delivering several unexpected moments, including a rare tie in the live-action short film category and the first Oscar ever awarded to a K-pop song .
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A Night of Two Titans
The 2026 Oscars were widely anticipated as a showdown between two cinematic powerhouses. Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” a vampire drama blending horror with profound meditations on faith and redemption, made history when nominations were announced in January, earning 16 nods and surpassing the previous record of 14 held by “Titanic,” “All About Eve,” and “La La Land” . Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” a three-hour ensemble piece examining modern American dysfunction, followed closely with 13 nominations .
What ultimately unfolded was a balanced evening that honored both films while distributing accolades across a wide range of productions. “One Battle After Another” claimed Best Picture, Best Director for Anderson, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Casting, and a Best Supporting Actor trophy for Sean Penn . “Sinners” responded with Best Original Screenplay for Coogler, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson .
“I wrote this for my babies that are at home watching, I apologize for all the time away,” Coogler said during his acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay, asking the audience to hold their applause so he would not be cut off by the orchestra .
Historic Wins and First-Time Achievements
The evening marked several significant milestones in Academy history. Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman ever to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography for her work on “Sinners,” a stunning visual achievement that saw her break a barrier that had stood since the category’s inception .
The song “Golden” from the animated sensation “KPop Demon Hunters” won Best Original Song, becoming the first K-pop track ever to receive the honor . The film, which became Netflix’s most-watched movie in the streamer’s history, also won Best Animated Feature, cementing its place as a global cultural phenomenon . During the telecast, performers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI delivered a spectacular rendition of “Golden” incorporating traditional Korean instruments and dance, celebrating the folklore and culture that inspired the film .
Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor victory for “Sinners” represented his first Oscar nomination and win, while Jessie Buckley claimed Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s grief-stricken wife, in the period drama “Hamnet” . Buckley looked regal accepting her award in a red Chanel off-the-shoulder bodice and flowing pink ball skirt, having entered the ceremony as the favorite in her category .
Sean Penn’s Supporting Actor win for “One Battle After Another” placed him in rarefied company. The 65-year-old actor became only the fourth man in Academy history to win three acting Oscars, joining the ranks of Jack Nicholson, Walter Brennan, and Daniel Day-Lewis . Notably absent from the ceremony, Penn has a well-documented history of skipping awards events and previously gave one of his Oscars to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy .
Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her chilling portrayal of Aunt Gladys in Zach Cregger’s horror film “Weapons,” delivering what many critics hailed as the performance of her career .
The Curious Case of the Tie
In a moment that stunned the audience at the Dolby Theatre and created chaos for online prediction markets, the Academy announced a tie in the Best Live Action Short category. “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” both received Oscars, marking the first tie in an Oscar category in 14 years .
The unusual outcome created immediate complications for prediction platform Polymarket, which resolved the result alphabetically based on the listed film names, awarding the win to “The Singers” according to site rules .
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Technical Achievements and International Recognition
Guillermo del Toro’s ambitious adaptation of “Frankenstein” dominated the craft categories, winning Best Costume Design for Kate Hawley, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design . The film’s visual grandeur and meticulous period detail earned recognition across multiple technical disciplines.
Norway’s “Sentimental Value,” directed by Joachim Trier, won Best International Feature Film, capping an impressive awards season run for the poignant family drama . The film also received nominations in multiple categories, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for both Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas .
“F1,” the high-octane racing drama, secured the Best Sound Oscar, while “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continued James Cameron’s franchise dominance by winning Best Visual Effects . The documentary feature prize went to “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” a searing examination of Russian opposition .
The Feather Takes Flight on the Red Carpet
Before the statues were handed out, the red carpet provided its annual spectacle of fashion, and this year’s dominant trend was unmistakable: feathers dominated the arrivals .
Personal stylist Tana Pokarier noted the trend’s origins in spring/summer 2026 runway collections from designers including Chanel, Dior, Schiaparelli, and Balenciaga . “What we saw was a runway trend translating to the red carpet,” she observed.
Teyana Taylor turned heads in a black and white feathered sleeveless Chanel gown with a sheer panel, continuing her reign as one of awards season’s most consistently striking fashion presences . Nicole Kidman, a red carpet veteran since the 1990s, demonstrated timeless elegance in pale pink Chanel Haute Couture with plumes bursting from both hem and bodice .
Demi Moore offered a darker interpretation of the trend in Gucci, with a sculptural scaled bodice featuring feathers bursting skyward in a look reminiscent of Natalie Portman’s “Black Swan” aesthetic . Bella Thorne opted for a more restrained approach, contrasting a sheer slip dress with voluminous feathered cuffs .
Spring hues provided welcome color throughout the evening. Chase Infinity, who plays Leonardo DiCaprio’s daughter in “One Battle After Another,” made her red carpet debut in a lilac sleeveless Louis Vuitton gown with a dramatic cascade of ruffles . Rose Byrne, nominated for Best Actress for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” embraced both the season and the feather trend in a strapless black Dior gown covered in white blooms . Emma Stone shimmered in white Louis Vuitton, while Priyanka Chopra turned heads in Dior with synthetic feather-adjacent tulle embellished with beaded accents .
A Memorable Ceremony
O’Brien, hosting for the second year running, navigated the ceremony with his characteristic wit, keeping the proceedings moving smoothly through the evening’s 24 competitive categories. The telecast, which aired live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, featured a moving “in memoriam” segment opened by former Oscar host Billy Crystal, honoring filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, who were killed in December .
The 98th Academy Awards ultimately celebrated a year of extraordinary cinematic achievement while writing new chapters in Oscar history. “Sinners” may not have achieved the record-breaking sweep some predicted, but its 16 nominations and four wins—including its historic cinematography victory—cemented its place in Academy lore. And “One Battle After Another” proved that Paul Thomas Anderson, after decades of acclaimed work, could finally claim the industry’s highest honor.
As the final awards were distributed and the stars dispersed into the Los Angeles night, one conclusion stood clear: Hollywood’s biggest night had delivered drama, history, and more than a few surprises.
SOURCES / INPUTS
BBC: Oscars 2026: Winners list in full
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