Complete list of 2026 Academy Awards winners

“One Battle After Another” Dominates Oscars with Best Picture Win; Michael B. Jordan Claims First Oscar

LOS ANGELES — In a memorable night celebrating cinematic excellence, “One Battle After Another” emerged as the dominant force at the 98th Academy Awards, claiming several major honors including best picture, best director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and the inaugural casting award.

The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, showcased a diverse array of talent and storytelling, with Michael B. Jordan earning his first-ever Oscar for best actor in “Sinners,” a film that entered the night as a frontrunner with an unprecedented 16 nominations.

Jessie Buckley took home the best actress award for her compelling performance in “Hamnet,” adding to the evening’s celebration of breakthrough performances and artistic achievement.

The night began with Amy Madigan winning best supporting actress for her role in “Weapons,” setting the tone for what would become an evening of both expected wins and surprising outcomes. Sean Penn added to “One Battle After Another’s” impressive haul by securing the best supporting actor trophy.

In the screenplay categories, Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay for “Sinners,” while Paul Thomas Anderson doubled his personal tally with a win for adapted screenplay for “One Battle After Another,” further cementing the film’s critical acclaim.

The Academy made history this year by introducing the casting category, with Cassandra Kulukundis becoming the first recipient of this recognition for her work on “One Battle After Another.” This new award acknowledges the crucial role casting directors play in bringing cinematic visions to life.

International cinema received recognition with Norway’s “Sentimental Value” winning best international film, while “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” claimed the documentary feature prize, highlighting the Academy’s continued recognition of politically relevant storytelling.

In the animation category, “KPop Demon Hunters” claimed the top prize, also securing a win for original song with “Golden,” composed by a collaborative team including EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, and several Korean composers. This dual win underscores the growing global influence of Korean entertainment in mainstream Western media.

Technical categories saw “Frankenstein” sweep several awards including production design, makeup and hairstyling, and costume design, recognizing the film’s stunning visual achievements. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” predictably dominated the visual effects category, continuing the franchise’s technical excellence.

In a rare occurrence, the Academy declared a tie in the live action short film category, with both “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” sharing the honor.

Ludwig Göransson added to “Sinners” impressive showing by winning best original score, while cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw was also recognized for her striking visual work on the film.

The sound category went to the team behind “F1,” acknowledging the complex audio engineering required to capture the intensity of motorsport racing on screen.

This year’s ceremony reflected the film industry’s continued recovery from recent production challenges, with a strong showing of diverse stories, technical innovation, and powerful performances across all categories.

For Anderson, the best director win represents a career milestone after multiple previous nominations, while Jordan’s best actor victory signals his evolution from promising young talent to established industry leader.

The wins for “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” highlight the Academy’s recognition of both intimate character studies and ambitious storytelling, reinforcing cinema’s power to captivate audiences through varied approaches to the craft.

As the curtain falls on the 98th Academy Awards, the evening’s distribution of honors across multiple films demonstrates the healthy creative diversity currently driving the industry forward.