Hollywood glittered with excitement on Sunday night as the 98th Academy Awards lit up the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, honouring the most outstanding films and talents of 2025.
The ceremony, hosted by comedian and television personality Conan O’Brien, delivered a night of memorable victories, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another emerging as the biggest triumph of the evening.
The film swept six major awards, including the coveted Best Picture and Best Director, cementing Anderson’s dominance at this year’s ceremony. Meanwhile, powerful performances also took centre stage, as Michael B. Jordan claimed Best Actor for his role in Sinners, while Jessie Buckley earned Best Actress for her acclaimed performance in Hamnet.
The awards night highlighted a fierce competition between One Battle After Another and Sinners, two productions that had dominated the awards season. While Sinners entered the Oscars with a leading 16 nominations and eventually secured four wins, One Battle After Another finished the night with the highest number of awards — six.
Major Awards
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
Screenplay Awards
Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Technical and Craft Categories
Best Cinematography: Sinners – Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another – Andy Jurgensen
Best Production Design: Frankenstein – Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
Best Costume Design: Frankenstein
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
Best Sound: F1
Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Music Categories
Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
Best Original Song: “Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters
International, Animation and Documentary
Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value (Norway)
Best Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Best Documentary Short Film: All the Empty Rooms
Short Film Category
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Best Live Action Short Film: The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva (tie)
From powerful performances to technical brilliance, the 2026 Oscars delivered a night that celebrated the diversity and creativity of global filmmaking. With One Battle After Another leading the winners and Sinners making a strong impact across several categories, this year’s Academy Awards once again underscored Hollywood’s enduring influence on the world of cinema.
