One Battle After Another was crowned the big winner at the 2026 Oscars. Paul Thomas Anderson’s film arrived at Sunday’s ceremony with 13 nominations and took home six awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn.
This was Penn’s third Oscar, following Mystic River and Milk, but he did not attend to accept it.
With a record-breaking 16 nominations, the supernatural thriller Sinners was its main contender at the 98th Academy Awards.
Ryan Coogler’s vampire film won awards for best original screenplay, best cinematography, and best original score, and its star, Michael B. Jordan, was crowned best actor.
Jessie Buckley was recognized as best actress.
It was also a successful night for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, with three awards.
The Secret Agent, by Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, and Sirāt, by Spanish director Oliver Laxe, were vying for best international film. An award that went to Sentimental Value.
The category was presented by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Javier Bardem. Before announcing the winning film, the Spanish actor said in English: “No to war. Free Palestine.”
Here is the complete list of winners:
The Winners
- Best Film: One Battle After Another
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan – Weapons
- Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
- Best Original Screenplay: Sinners
- Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another
- Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value – Norway
- Best Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
- Best Documentary Short Subject: All the Empty Rooms
- Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters (K-Pop Warriors)
- Best Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
- Best Live Action Short Film (tie): The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva
- Best Editing: One Battle After Another
- Best Cast: One Battle After Another
- Best Cinematography: Sinners
- Best Costume Design: Frankenstein
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
- Best Production Design: Frankenstein
- Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Best Sound: F1
- Best Original Score: Sinners
- Best Original Song: Golden – K-Pop Demon Hunters
Political References
“Tonight might get political,” Conan O’Brien said as soon as the ceremony began. After mentioning that there was more security than usual in the building. “If that makes you uncomfortable, there’s an alternative show hosted by Kid Rock,” he continued.
The comedian was thus referencing the Super Bowl in February. When representatives of President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement staged another show as a protest against Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.
They also crowned him on stage as a medieval king, perhaps a reference to “No Kings.” The slogan under which tens of thousands of Americans took to the streets across the country to show their rejection of Trump and his style of politics.
With his comment before presenting the Oscars for Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Subject. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel also chose to let the audience read between the lines.
“We hear a lot about courage at these awards shows, but real courage is telling a story you could be killed for.” “As you know, there are some countries whose leaders do not support freedom of expression,” he said.
“I’m not at liberty to say which ones. Let’s just say North Korea and CBS,” he added. Alluding to a decision by the American network regarding The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
Colbert accused his network of refusing to air an interview with a Democratic politician for fear of retaliation from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
But no reference has been more politically explicit than Javier Bardem’s.
Before presenting the award for Best International Feature Film alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The Spanish actor declared in English: “No to war. Free Palestine.” Before the ceremony, when asked on the red carpet about the pins he wore on his lapel—one reading “No to War” in blood-red letters and the other with a drawing of a Palestinian child—he explained:
“It’s the same thing I wore 23 years ago. It’s the same lies. In 2023, it was weapons of mass destruction. And now they’re trying to overthrow a regime, and all they’re doing is radicalizing it.”
“I don’t know if it’s going to be a protest ceremony. I’ll do what I can and know how to do,” he told Movistar Plus+.
Many of the award winners used their time on stage to reflect on current events and the decisions of political leaders, at a ceremony held while the war against Iran intensifies.
Paul Thomas Anderson, upon receiving the Oscar for Best Director for “Battle After Battle,” took the opportunity to send a message to his children and the generation to which they belong, offering a glimmer of hope. “I made this film to tell my children how sorry I am for this messed-up world we’ve left them. Also to encourage them to be a generation that brings some common sense and decency.”
With information from Leire Ventas, BBC News Mundo Correspondent in Los Angeles
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