Oscars 2026 Shockers: The Victory of ‘One Battle After Another’ Changes the Entire Game!

Oscars 2026 Shockers: The stage of the 98th Academy Awards in 2026 proved to be special in many respects. On Hollywood’s biggest cinematic night, while some films celebrated spectacular victories, many big names were met with disappointment. The film that garnered the most buzz throughout the ceremony was One Battle After Another. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this political thriller made history by winning 6 Oscars out of its 13 nominations.

However, the awards night was not entirely predictable. The ceremony featured several moments that took the audience by surprise. Lighthearted political commentary was also witnessed on stage; the ceremony’s host, Conan O’Brien, along with several presenters, took satirical jabs at the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump without explicitly naming him. These moments added an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings.

A Fierce Battle Between ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’

This year’s Oscar race was primarily a showdown between two films—Sinners and One Battle After Another. Sinners received a record-breaking 16 nominations this year, leading to expectations that it would sweep many of the major awards. On the other hand, Paul Thomas Anderson’s film stood as an equally formidable contender.

The directors of both films—Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson—went head-to-head in several key categories, including Best Picture and Best Director. Ultimately, Anderson’s film emerged victorious in both of these major categories.

In his acceptance speech, Anderson remarked that deeming a film “the best” often depends on the specific circumstances and the prevailing atmosphere of that particular day. Citing examples of classic cinema, he noted that multiple great films are often nominated in the same year, making the task of selecting just one winner an inherently difficult one.

Victories for Both Directors in the Screenplay Categories

Although One Battle After Another took the lead in the major categories, both directors secured victories in the screenplay categories. Paul Thomas Anderson received the award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as his film was inspired by the novel Vineland by author Thomas Pynchon. Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Sinners. The story was inspired by his family—specifically his uncle—and their shared love for blues music. This made it clear that both films succeeded in resonating with audiences and judges alike, albeit in different ways.

Michael B. Jordan’s Big Win

The most emotional moment for Sinners arrived when actor Michael B. Jordan won the Oscar for Best Actor. He faced stiff competition from young star Timothée Chalamet, who was nominated for the film Marty Supreme.

Although the Oscar race was incredibly close, Jordan ultimately emerged victorious. This win held special significance as director Ryan Coogler has cast Jordan in every single one of his films, dating back to his debut feature, Fruitvale Station.

This category also saw some discussion surrounding controversial statements made by Chalamet, in which he appeared to downplay the importance of art forms such as opera and ballet. Several presenters even made lighthearted jokes about the matter during the ceremony.

History Made: First Woman Wins Cinematography Award

A historic moment of the Oscar night occurred when cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw won the award for Best Cinematography for Sinners. It marked both her first nomination and her first win.

With this achievement, she became the first woman to win in this category. This victory is being hailed as a symbol of the growing participation and recognition of women in Hollywood.

Several Major Films Go Home Empty-Handed

While some films celebrated spectacular victories, several high-profile features met with disappointment. Director Guillermo del Toro’s film Frankenstein did secure three awards in technical categories, but it fell short in the major categories.

Meanwhile, the animated film KPop Demon Hunters took home the awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

The biggest disappointment of the night was Hamnet, which had received eight nominations. Director Chloé Zhao’s film managed to win only one award—Best Actress for Irish actress Jessie Buckley. Furthermore, films such as The Secret Agent—which had achieved significant success at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival—and Bugonia (directed by Yorgos Lanthimos) also failed to secure any major awards this time around.

A Category Ends in a Tie

Another interesting occurrence was witnessed this year. In the Best Live Action Short category, a tie was declared for the seventh time in history. This meant that two films—Two People Exchanging Saliva and The Singers—received an equal number of votes, and both were jointly awarded the Oscar.

Conclusion

All in all, the 98th Academy Awards proved to be a memorable night for Hollywood. While One Battle After Another garnered the most headlines, Sinners and its cast also delivered a stellar performance. A mix of unexpected results, historic victories, and entertaining moments ensured that this ceremony will remain memorable for a long time to come.

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