A Night of Historic Wins and Industry Change…

On March 15, 2026, the film industry gathered at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the 98th Academy Awards, the annual ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) honoring the best achievements in cinema for films released in 2025.

The ceremony — commonly known as the Oscars — recognized artistic and technical excellence across 24 competitive categories. The broadcast aired in the United States on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and was simultaneously streamed on Hulu, reflecting the Academy’s continued shift toward hybrid television and streaming audiences.

Returning as host was comedian and late-night television icon Conan O’Brien, who presided over the ceremony for the second consecutive year following widespread praise for his hosting performance at the previous Oscars. The telecast was produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, both returning as executive producers for the third year in a row, with veteran live-event director Hamish Hamilton directing the broadcast.

Together, the returning production team aimed to deliver a streamlined and modernized ceremony that balanced traditional Hollywood pageantry with evolving viewing habits.

A Dominant Night for One Battle After Another…

The biggest winner of the evening was One Battle After Another, the critically acclaimed black-comedy action thriller directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Inspired by the 1990 novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon, the film tells the story of a former revolutionary forced back into conflict when pursued by a corrupt military officer. Anderson had long hoped to adapt the novel — an ambition dating back to the early 2000s — and eventually incorporated his own narrative elements into the screenplay.

At the 98th Oscars, the film emerged as the night’s clear frontrunner, winning six Academy Awards, including:

Its victory for Best Casting was particularly historic. The category was introduced for the first time at the 98th Academy Awards, making One Battle After Another the inaugural recipient of the honor.

The film’s dominance confirmed its status as the defining film of the 2025 awards season.

Other Major Winners

Although One Battle After Another led the ceremony, several other films enjoyed strong showings.

The horror drama Sinners captured four awards, cementing its reputation as one of the most successful genre films of the year.

Meanwhile, Frankenstein earned three Oscars, and the animated action-fantasy KPop Demon Hunters secured two wins.

Several additional films each received one award, including:

The diversity of winners reflected a year in which blockbusters, international cinema, documentaries, and independent films all competed successfully within the Academy system.

A Major Change to Oscar Voting…

One of the most significant developments surrounding the 98th Academy Awards was a new voting rule implemented by AMPAS.

For the first time in Oscar history, Academy voters were required to watch every nominated film in a category before casting a final ballot. If members had not seen all nominees in a given category, they were required to abstain from voting in that category.

The rule was designed to address a longstanding criticism of the Oscars: that some voters admitted they had not watched all nominated films before voting.

By enforcing verified viewing through the Academy’s internal screening platform, AMPAS hoped to ensure more informed voting and greater credibility in the awards process.

Musical Performances and Telecast Changes…

The ceremony also reflected broader attempts to streamline the Oscars broadcast, which has frequently faced criticism for running long.

As part of those structural changes, only two of the five nominated songs for Best Original Song were performed live during the ceremony:

Reducing the number of performances allowed producers to maintain a tighter runtime while still showcasing key musical nominees.

Emotional Moments: The In Memoriam Tribute…

One of the most moving portions of the ceremony was the annual In Memoriam segment, honoring film industry figures who had died during the previous year.

The tribute included special segments dedicated to:

These tributes were introduced by prominent figures in the industry, including:

During the tribute to Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal was joined on stage by a large group of collaborators and colleagues, including actors and filmmakers who had worked with Reiner across decades of filmmaking.

The segment served as a reminder of the enduring legacy of artists whose work helped shape modern cinema.

The Governors Awards: Honoring Lifetime Achievement…

Earlier in the awards season, the Academy held its 16th annual Governors Awards on November 16, 2025, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom inside the Ovation Hollywood complex.

Several major honorary awards were presented.

Academy Honorary Awards

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

Looking Ahead: Scientific and Technical Awards…

The Academy’s awards season will conclude with the Scientific and Technical Awards, scheduled for April 28, 2026, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

These honors celebrate technological innovations that advance filmmaking, from visual effects tools to camera and sound engineering breakthroughs.

---

Why the 98th Oscars May Be Remembered

The 98th Academy Awards may ultimately be remembered as a turning point in several ways.

The ceremony celebrated the sweeping success of One Battle After Another, introduced a brand-new category recognizing casting directors, and implemented significant reforms to the Academy’s voting system.

Together, these changes reflect an industry that is continuously evolving—balancing tradition with reform while adapting to new audiences and new forms of filmmaking.

You can check out my Complete List for the 98th Academy Awards 2026 winners below!

BEST PICTURE:

BEST DIRECTOR:

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM:

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM:

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

BEST FILM EDITING:

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

BEST SOUND:

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM:

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM:

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM:

BEST CASTING: