If you needed proof that the “old guard” of cinema can still throw a punch while making room for the new, Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre was it. The 98th Academy Awards didn’t just crown winners; they felt like a coronation for a generation of talent that has been knocking on the door for years.
The evening’s big winner, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, lived up to its title, fighting off stiff competition from Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic Sinners to take home Best Picture. It was a massive night for Anderson, who finally secured the Best Director trophy—a “long-overdue” sentiment that echoed through the room during his standing ovation.
The Big Wins: Buckley and Jordan Take Center Stage
While the Best Picture race was a clash of titans, the acting categories provided the night’s most emotional beats.
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
In what many considered the most competitive race of the year, Jordan edged out Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. His portrayal of identical twins in Sinners wasn’t just a technical feat; it was the performance that finally bridged the gap between “movie star” and “Oscar winner.” His speech was a heartfelt tribute to his parents and the actors of color who paved his way.
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Buckley made history as the first Irish woman to win Best Actress. Her performance as Agnes Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet was a masterclass in subtlety. Delivering her speech on what happened to be Mother’s Day in the UK, she dedicated the win to “the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.”
A Night of History and High Spirits
Host Conan O’Brien kept the energy high, leaning into his signature self-deprecating wit. Whether he was taking lighthearted jabs at AI’s role in the industry or appearing in a pre-taped bit as a horror character, he managed to make a nearly four-hour ceremony feel relatively brisk.
Key Highlights and Surprises:
A Historic “First”: Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first female Director of Photography to win Best Cinematography for her lush, moody work on Sinners.
The Absent Winner: Sean Penn took home Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, though he was notably absent from the ceremony. Presenter Kieran Culkin accepted on his behalf with a dry, “He couldn’t be here… or didn’t want to.”
Technical Dominance: While One Battle took the top honors (6 wins total), Sinners dominated the craft categories, proving that Ryan Coogler’s vision resonated deeply with the Academy’s technical branches.
| Category | Winner | Film |
| Best Picture | Paul Thomas Anderson & Sara Murphy | 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 |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | One Battle After Another |
The Final Word
As the curtain fell on the 98th Oscars, the mood in Hollywood felt surprisingly optimistic. Despite the industry’s anxieties over streaming mergers and shifting tech, the night belonged to original, big-budget stories born from personal visions. Paul Thomas Anderson summed it up best during his final speech: “I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the mess we left… but with the hope they’ll be the generation that brings back some common sense.”
If the talent on stage Sunday night is any indication, the future of film is in very capable hands.
