Los Angeles/IBNS-CMEDIA: Leonardo DiCaprio-starrer One Battle After Another dominated the 98th Academy Awards, bagging six wins including Best Picture at the Dolby Theatre on Monday.
The black comedy action-thriller secured five other honours—Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Best Film Editing for Andy Jurgensen, and Best Casting for Cassandra Kulukundis, a category introduced for the first time.
On receiving his award, Anderson said, “I wrote this movie for my kids, to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we’re handing off to them. But also for the encouragement…”
Paul Thomas Anderson’s acceptance speech for his first-ever Oscar.
“I wrote this movie for my kids, to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we’re handing off to them. But also for encouragement…” pic.twitter.com/zDXzeL7lFq— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 16, 2026
The film had earlier won six awards at the 83rd Golden Globes. Loosely inspired by the 1990 novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon, the movie blends political satire, drama and dark humour.
The story follows a radical former activist navigating a chaotic political and social landscape decades after his revolutionary past. Moving between past and present timelines, the narrative explores political paranoia, generational conflict and the lingering impact of counterculture movements in the United States.
American horror film Sinners secured four awards, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, who played dual roles in the film.
“I stand here because of the people who came before me,” Jordan said while accepting the award.
Michael B. Jordan accepting the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as the Smokestack twins in SINNERS. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/0lCv9LM1fe— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 16, 2026
Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win Best Cinematography for Sinners, which also won Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson and Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler.
Directed by Coogler, the film blends elements of crime drama, social commentary and psychological tension. The story follows a morally conflicted man navigating crime, redemption and systemic injustice in a deeply divided society, forcing him to confront personal guilt and the consequences of choices that ripple through his community.
Meanwhile, Hamnet star Jessie Buckley scripted history by becoming the first Irish actor to win the Best Actress.
Accepting her award, Buckley said: “To get to know this incandescent woman and journey to understand the capacity of a mother’s love is the greatest collision of my life. It’s Mother’s Day in the UK today… so I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.”
And the Oscar for Best Actress goes to… Jessie Buckley! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/KD8FmUox95— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 16, 2026
Norwegian drama Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier, won the Best International Feature Film award.
The film explores the complex relationship between a filmmaker father and his daughter as they confront unresolved emotions, memories and personal history. Known for its intimate storytelling and emotional depth, the movie received widespread critical acclaim on the international festival circuit.
