What's happened
The 98th Academy Awards took place in Los Angeles, with 'One Battle After Another' winning six awards, including best director for Paul Thomas Anderson. 'Sinners' led nominations with 16, winning four, and starred Michael B. Jordan. Other highlights included Jessie Buckley's sweep as best actress and a record-breaking number of nominations for 'Sinners'.
What's behind the headline?
The Oscars 2026 highlight a shifting landscape in Hollywood, with 'Sinners' gaining momentum despite being a horror film rooted in cultural themes, and 'One Battle After Another' solidifying its status as a critical favorite. The awards reflect ongoing industry debates about genre recognition and diversity, especially with the historic win for a woman cinematographer. The close race for major categories indicates a year of unpredictability, with potential surprises in acting and directing. The event also signals a transition in broadcasting, with the Oscars moving from traditional TV to digital platforms by 2029, hinting at future changes in how audiences engage with the ceremony. Overall, the night underscores a Hollywood at a crossroads—balancing tradition with innovation, and recognition with controversy.
What the papers say
The Scotsman reports that 'One Battle After Another' was the big winner, earning six awards including best director, with Leonardo DiCaprio missing out on best actor. SBS highlights Australian nominees like Rose Byrne and Jacob Elordi, emphasizing the international competition. The New York Times discusses the unpredictability of the awards race, noting 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another' as frontrunners, with Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet as key contenders. The coverage underscores the industry's evolving landscape, with new categories and a shift toward digital broadcasting, reflecting broader trends in entertainment and media consumption.
How we got here
The 98th Oscars occurred amid a competitive season with 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another' leading in nominations and awards. 'Sinners' broke records with 16 nominations, while 'One Battle After Another' was the frontrunner for best picture. The event was hosted by Conan O'Brien, returning for a second year, and included new categories like casting. The ceremony reflected a broader industry focus on diversity and recognition of technical achievements, such as Autumn Durald Arkapaw's historic win for cinematography.
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Ryan Kyle Coogler is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. His first feature film, Fruitvale Station, won the top audience and grand jury awards in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
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Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor, producer, philanthropist, and environmentalist. He has often played unconventional parts, particularly in biopics, drama, crime, romance, and period films.
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Jessie Buckley is an Irish actress and singer. Her career began in 2008 as a contestant on the BBC TV talent show I'd Do Anything in which she placed second. In the same year she appeared in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.
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Michael Bakari Jordan ( bah-KAR-ee; born February 9, 1987) is an American actor, producer, and director. His accolades include an Academy Award, three Actor Awards, and a Producers Guild Award, in addition to nominations for a British Academy Film Award.
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Timothée Hal Chalamet is an American actor. He began his acting career in short films, before appearing in the television drama series Homeland in 2012.
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Ethan Green Hawke is an American actor, writer, musician, and director. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards and a Tony Award. Hawke has directed three feature films, three Off-Broadway plays, and a documentary. He has also written three novels a
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Jacob Elordi (born 26 June 1997) is an Australian actor. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Movie Award and two AACTA Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, three British Academy Film Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
Elordi rose.
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Mary Rose Byrne is an Australian actress. She made her screen debut in the film Dallas Doll, and continued to act in Australian film and television throughout the 1990s.