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Stars descend on ‘red rock’ carpet as Academy Awards honor cinema’s finest
LOS ANGELES — The film industry’s most celebrated night has arrived, with stars streaming down the earthy brown-colored “red rock” carpet at the 98th Academy Awards. As attendees gather at the Dolby Theatre under perfect sunny skies, all eyes are on two acclaimed filmmakers poised to take home their first Oscar.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” enters as the favorite, while Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” leads all films with a record 16 nominations. Industry observers largely view the best picture race as a showdown between these two theatrical releases from Warner Bros., a studio currently awaiting regulatory approval for its $111 billion merger with Paramount Skydance.
The acting categories remain highly competitive this year. The best actor race has narrowed to a tense battle between Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet, with Jordan gaining momentum despite Chalamet’s early frontrunner status for his performance in “Marty Supreme.” Chalamet’s campaign hit turbulence following controversial comments perceived as dismissive of ballet and opera.
Jessie Buckley appears positioned to win best actress for her work in “Hamnet,” potentially becoming the first Irish performer to claim the award. The supporting categories remain too close to call, with Amy Madigan (“Weapons”) holding a slight edge over Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”) and Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”) for supporting actress, while the supporting actor race remains wide open.
Conan O’Brien returns to host for the second consecutive year, promising an entertaining show despite the somber backdrop of the recently launched war in Iran. “Let’s have fun with it, is my attitude,” O’Brien told reporters earlier this week. He pledged to channel the spirit of legendary hosts like Bob Hope and Johnny Carson, though he also promised a “very powerful” tribute to recently deceased Hollywood icons Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Robert Duvall.
Security has been intensified at this year’s ceremony, coming just two weeks after the United States initiated military action against Iran. “Of course, every year we monitor what’s going on in the world,” said Raj Kapoor, executive producer of the show. “We have the support of the FBI and the LAPD, and it’s a close collaboration.” Some attendees arrived wearing pins reading “Artists for cease fire.”
The geopolitical tensions hold particular significance for filmmaker Jafar Panahi, whose Iranian revenge drama “It Was Just an Accident” is nominated for best international feature and best screenplay. Despite repeated imprisonment and restrictions in his home country, Panahi has continued making films clandestinely. While promoting his Oscar-nominated work, he was sentenced to a year in prison, and at least one of his co-writers, Mehdi Mahmoudian, was unable to leave Iran to attend the ceremony.
This year marks several firsts for the Academy, including the introduction of a best casting category. Additionally, Academy members were required to certify they had watched all nominees before voting in each category, a new measure implemented through the organization’s streaming platform.
The ceremony also appears to continue the Academy’s preference for theatrical releases over streaming content in its top categories. Despite Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” becoming the platform’s most-watched film ever with 325 million views, Apple’s “CODA” remains the only streaming release to win best picture. Instead, the night seems likely to honor big-budget original films born from personal artistic visions.
The telecast will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern, with the official red carpet coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT. This marks one of the final years on ABC, as YouTube will become the Oscars’ new broadcast home starting in 2029.
As Hollywood navigates an industry in transition—marked by studio mergers, the streaming revolution, and global political tensions—tonight’s ceremony stands as both a celebration of artistic achievement and a reflection of cinema’s evolving place in an uncertain world.
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8 Comments
Interesting that Warner Bros. is behind both of the frontrunners for best picture. Speaks to their strength in prestige filmmaking. I wonder if the Paramount merger will shake up the studios’ awards strategy.
The acting races seem particularly tight this year. Always fun to see who emerges victorious in those highly competitive categories. Buckley’s potential win for best actress is one I’ll be keeping an eye on.
An all-Warner Bros. showdown at the Oscars? Fascinating. I wonder how the industry’s merger mania will impact the awards going forward. Definitely a high-stakes night for Hollywood’s elite.
A showdown between two Warner Bros. films for best picture – the industry must be thrilled to have that kind of marquee matchup on Hollywood’s biggest night. Curious to see how it all plays out.
Sixteen nominations for ‘Sinners’ – that’s an impressive feat. Coogler has really cemented himself as a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. Looking forward to seeing if he can pull off the upset over the presumed favorite.
Ah, the Oscars – where the glitz and glamor of the film industry are on full display. I’m curious to see if the best actor race lives up to the hype between Jordan and Chalamet.
The controversy around Chalamet’s comments makes that category even more intriguing. I’ll be watching closely to see how that plays out on the big night.
The ‘red rock’ carpet sounds like an interesting twist on the traditional red carpet. Curious to see how the venue and backdrop will impact the pageantry of the Oscars this year.