The Dolby Theatre pulsed with cinematic glory on March 15, 2026, as the 98th Oscars unfolded amid Hollywood’s battles over AI ethics and studio mergers. Leading the charge, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners racked up 16 nominations and key victories, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan’s gripping portrayal of a tormented soul.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another waged a fierce Best Picture battle against Yorgos Lanthimos’ sci-fi hit Bugonia, Guillermo del Toro’s haunting Frankenstein, and the heartfelt Hamnet. In acting showdowns, Timothée Chalamet stunned with Best Actor for Marty Supreme, upsetting Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another) and Jordan (Sinners). Jessie Buckley claimed Best Actress for her raw Hamnet performance, narrowly topping Emma Stone’s electric Bugonia role.
Animation dazzled with Weapons winning Best Animated Feature, paired with Amy Madigan’s Supporting Actress Oscar for the same film. Supporting Actor went to Willem Dafoe for Frankenstein, while Zendaya shone in Supporting Actress for Bugonia.
Technical awards celebrated craft: Sinners nabbed Best Director for Coogler and Best Cinematography, Frankenstein took Visual Effects and Production Design, and One Battle After Another scored Original Screenplay. Best Original Score honored Ludwig Göransson’s haunting Sinners work, with Bugonia clinching Film Editing.
This resilient ceremony spotlighted bold storytelling, proving Hollywood’s enduring spark.
