‘One Battle After Another’ triumphs at 98th Academy Awards in coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Radovan Sibrt, from left, Alzbeta Karaskova, David Borenstein, and Pavel Talankin, winners of the award for documentary feature film for "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Ryan Coogler accepts the award for writing (original screenplay) for "Sinners" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**CORRECTION 98th Academy Awards - Show** CORRECTS SPELLING OF MICHELE- Billy Crystal presents a tribute about Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Joachim Trier arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Paul Thomas Anderson accepts the award for directing for "One Battle After Another" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Paul Thomas Anderson, left center, Sara Murphy, right center, and the team from "One Battle After Another" accept the award for best picture during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Ryan Coogler, winner of the award for writing (original screenplay) for "Sinners," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Jessie Buckley accepts the award for actress in a leading role for "Hamnet" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Joachim Trier, winner of the award for international feature film for "Sentimental Value," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Paul Thomas Anderson accepts the award for writing (adapted screenplay) for "One Battle After Another" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Joong Gyu Kwak, from left, EJAE, and Mark Sonnenblick, winners of the award for music (original song) for "Golden" from "K-pop Demon Hunters," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Michael B. Jordan, winner of the award for actor in a leading role for "Sinners," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Michael B. Jordan, left, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw, winner of the award for cinematography for "Sinners," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Michael B. Jordan, left, winner of the award for actor in a leading role for "Sinners," and Ryan Coogler, winner of the award for writing (original screenplay) for "Sinners," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Jessie Buckley, winner of the award for actress in a leading role for "Hamnet," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Sara Murphy, left, winner of the award for best picture for "One Battle After Another," and Paul Thomas Anderson, winner of the awards for writing (adapted screenplay), directing, and best picture for "One Battle After Another," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Press Room** Jessie Buckley, left, winner of the award for best actress in a leading role for "Hamnet," and Michael B. Jordan, winner of the award for best actor in a leading role for "Sinners," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Timothee Chalamet arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**Oscars-Our Awards** This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Leonardo DiCaprio in a scene from "One Battle After Another." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

**APTOPIX 32nd Annual Actor Awards - Press Room** Michael B. Jordan poses with the awards for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role and outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture for "Sinners" during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**Warner Bros** FILE - The Warner Bros. water tower appears at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** A general view of atmosphere inside the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Liza Powel O'Brien, left, and Conan O'Brien arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Chase Infiniti arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Roaming Arrivals** Neckwav, from background left, Kevin Woo, Andrew Choi, Danny Chung, and SamUIL Lee pose for a photograph as they arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)

**98th Academy Awards - Roaming Arrivals** Bella Thorne arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)

**98th Academy Awards - Red Carpet Roll Out** Academy Awards host Conan O'Brien poses atop a roll of red carpet during the annual Oscars red carpet roll out on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Ryan Coogler, left ,and Zinzi Evans arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Teyana Taylor arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Kate Hudson arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Arrivals** Amy Madigan arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Amy Madigan accepts the award for actress in a supporting role for "Weapons" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Host Conan O'Brien performs during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Show** Miles Caton, far left, performs 'I Lied to You' from "Sinners" with Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, and Wunmi Mosaku during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

**98th Academy Awards - Roaming Arrivals** Timothee Chalamet arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Paul Thomas Anderson鈥檚鈥淥ne Battle After Another鈥� was handing Hollywood鈥檚 top honor to a comic, multi-generational American saga of political resistance.

The ceremony Sunday, which also saw Michael B. Jordan win best actor and 鈥淪inners鈥� cinematographer as the first female director of photography to win the award, was a long-in-coming coronation for Anderson, a San Fernando Valley native who made his first short at age 18 and has been one of America鈥檚 most lionized filmmakers for decades. Before Sunday, Anderson had never won an Oscar.

But the favorite coming in, won six Oscars, including best director and best adapted screenplay for Anderson, the Oscars’ first trophy for best casting and best supporting actor for an absent Sean Penn.

鈥淚 wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world 鈥� we鈥檙e handing off to them,鈥� said Anderson while accepting the screenplay trophy. 鈥淏ut also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency.鈥�

Ryan Coogler’s Jim Crow-set, which came in with a record 16 nominations, also landed some big and even historic wins. Coogler, the widely loved filmmaker, won the first Oscar in an unblemished career that started out with Jordan in 2013’s 鈥淔ruitvale Station.鈥�

Arkapaw was also the first Black person to win for best cinematography. Only the fourth female cinematographer ever nominated, her win was a long-in-coming triumph for women behind the camera.

鈥淚 really want all the women in room to stand up,鈥� said Arkapaw. 鈥淏ecause I don鈥檛 feel like I get here without you guys.鈥�

And Jordan, one of Hollywood’s most liked leading men, The Dolby Theatre rose to its feet in the most thunderous applause of the night.

鈥淵o, momma, what鈥檚 up?鈥� said Jordan after staggering to the stage.

The Oscar night belonged to Warner Bros., the studio of 鈥淥ne Battle After Another鈥� and 鈥淪inners,鈥� which scored a record-tying 11 wins. It was an oddly poignant note of triumph for the fabled studio, which weeks earlier agreed to a sale to Paramount Skydance, David Ellison鈥檚 rapidly assembled media monolith. The $111 billion deal, which awaits regulatory approval, has Hollywood bracing for more layoffs.

But 鈥淪inners鈥� and 鈥淥ne Battle After Another鈥� 鈥� the much-acclaimed heavyweights of the season 鈥� were each Hollywood anomalies: big-budget originals born from a personal vision. In a year where anxiety over studio contraction and the rise of artificial intelligence often consumed the industry, both films gave Hollywood fresh hope.

Jessie Buckley for her performance as Agnes Shakespeare in 鈥淗amnet,鈥� making her the first Irish performer to ever win in the category. At an Oscars where no other acting award seemed a sure thing, Buckley cruised into Sunday鈥檚 Oscars at the Dolby Theatre as the overwhelming favorite.

鈥淚t’s Mother’s Day in the U.K.,鈥� said Buckley on the stage. 鈥淚 would like to dedicated this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.鈥�

鈥楰Pop鈥� and 鈥楩rankenstein鈥� win for Netflix

From the start, when through the year’s nominees as Amy Madigan’s character in the horror thriller 鈥淲eapons鈥� in a pre-taped bit, Sunday’s ceremony was quirky, a little clunky and preoccupied with the shifting place of movies in culture. There was, of all things, a tie for best live-action short film.

As expected, the Netflix sensation 鈥淜Pop Demon Hunters,鈥� 2025鈥檚 most-watched film, , as well as best song for 鈥淕olden.鈥� It was a big win for Netflix but a more qualified victory for the movie鈥檚 producer, Sony Pictures. Though it developed and produced the film, Sony sold 鈥淜Pop Demon Hunters鈥� to the streaming giant instead of giving it a theatrical release.

On Netflix, 鈥淜Pop Demon Hunters鈥� became a cultural phenomenon and the streaming platform鈥檚 biggest hit. It has more than 325 million views and counting.

鈥淭his is for Korea and Koreans everywhere,鈥� said co-director Maggie Kang.

Another Netflix release, Guillermo del Toro鈥檚鈥淔rankenstein鈥� picked up three awards for , for costume design, makeup and hairstyling and for production design.

Amy Madigan for her performance in the horror thriller 鈥淲eapons,鈥� a win that came 40 years after the 75-year-old actor was first nominated, in 1986, for 鈥淭wice in a Lifetime.鈥� Letting out a giant laugh as she hit the stage, Madigan exclaimed, 鈥淭his is great!鈥�

O’Brien presides over a ceremony shadowed by politics

O’Brien began the Dolby Theatre show alluding to 鈥渃haotic and frightening times.鈥� But he argued that the current geopolitical climate made the Oscars all the more resonate as a globally unifying force.

鈥淲e pay tribute tonight, not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities today 鈥� optimism,鈥� O’Brien said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to celebrate. Not because we think all is well, but because we work, and hope, for better.鈥�

Throughout the show, O’Brien hit a number of targets, like Timoth茅e Chalamet 鈥� who again missed out on winning his first Oscar, this time for 鈥淢arty Supreme鈥� 鈥� for his diss of opera and ballet. But the ceremony seldom wasn’t shadowed by politics, whether in references to changes under U.S. President Donald Trump or the recently launched war in Iran.

Joachim Trier, whose Norwegian family drama 鈥淪entimental Value鈥� , quoted James Baldwin in his acceptance speech: 鈥淎ll adults are responsible for all children,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 not vote for politicians that don鈥檛 take this seriously into account.鈥�

Presenter Jimmy Kimmel, whose late-night show last year was suspended after comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing, was among the most blunt.

鈥淭here are some countries that don鈥檛 support free speech,鈥� said Kimmel. 鈥淚鈥檓 not at liberty to say which. Let鈥檚 just leave it at North Korea and CBS.鈥�

Shortly after, 鈥淢r. Nobody Against Putin,鈥� a film about a Russian primary schoolteacher who documents his students’ indoctrination to support Russia’s war with Ukraine,

鈥�’Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ is about how you lose your country,鈥� co-director said. 鈥淎nd what we saw when working with this footage is that you lose it through countless, small, little acts of complicity.鈥�

鈥淲e all face a moral choice,鈥� he added, 鈥渂ut, luckily, a nobody is more powerful than you think.鈥�

Tributes to Reiner, Redford and others

Elegy also marked the Oscars. following a year that featured the deaths of so many Hollywood legends, including Keaton, Robert Duvall and Redford. Barbra Streisand spoke about Redford, her 鈥淭he Way We Were鈥� co-star.

鈥淏ob had real backbone,鈥� said Streisand, who called Redford 鈥渁n intellectual cowboy鈥� before singing a few bars of 鈥淭he Way We Were.鈥�

Billy Crystal paid tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner, who were killed in their home in December. Crystal, a close friend of Rob Reiner’s who memorably starred in 1989’s 鈥淲hen Harry Met Sally…鈥� and 1987’s 鈥淧rincess Bride.鈥� In his moving remarks, Crystal quoted the latter.

鈥淎ll we can say is: Buddy, how much fun we had storming the castle,鈥� said Crystal.

Theatrical bests streaming, again

Yet again, the night鈥檚 final award again didn’t go to a streaming release; remains the only streaming film to achieve that distinction. 鈥淪inners鈥� and 鈥淥ne Battle After Another鈥� were both theatrical releases .

Apple’s top contender this time, the Formula One race drama 鈥淔1,鈥� a movie that it partnered with Warner Bros. to distribute theatrically, won for best sound. The lone blockbuster of the year to go home with a win was 鈥淎vatar: Fire and Ash,鈥� for visual effects.

Some of O鈥橞rien鈥檚 best digs came at the expense of the streamers. Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, he joked, was in a theater for the first time. The host also lamented the lack of nominees for Amazon MGM: 鈥淲hy isn鈥檛 the website I order toilet paper from winning more Oscars?鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to be the last human host of the Academy Awards,鈥� said O鈥橞rien. 鈥淣ext year it鈥檚 going to be a Waymo in a tux.鈥�

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