OK, So I Didn’t Call Best Picture — But Wow, What a Ride
If you read my SW Newsmagazine Oscar predictions this year — like “Why I Think Hamnet Will Win Best Picture at the 2026 Oscars” — you know I was all in on Hamnet. And just like I said in “My Heart Belongs to Train Dreams — An Underdog’s Oscar Journey”, I confidently predicted that Train Dreams wouldn’t take home the big prize. Well, turns out Hamnet didn’t land Best Picture either — though it did deliver a stunning Best Actress win for Jessie Buckley — and Train Dreams came up short.
But in a night full of surprises, nothing stole the spotlight like Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which dominated the 98th Academy Awards with a six-Oscar sweep that reminded everyone why cinema still surprises us — and why the Oscars always keep us guessing.
Biggest Winner: One Battle After Another
One Battle After Another was the evening’s powerhouse, taking home six Oscars:
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Paul Thomas Anderson
- Best Adapted Screenplay – Paul Thomas Anderson
- Best Supporting Actor – Sean Penn
- Best Casting – Cassandra Kulukundis
- Best Editing – Andy Jurgensen
“I’m incredibly honored to be part of this history,” Paul Thomas Anderson said after accepting the Best Director Oscar, a moment many called a career-defining recognition.
The political satire, featuring powerhouse performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, and Joaquin Phoenix, anchored razor-sharp storytelling with human complexity, making it the centerpiece of the evening.
Major Wins for Sinners
“This moment isn’t just mine — it’s for every storyteller who believed in bold ideas and big hearts,” Coogler said after accepting the Oscar. “Thank you to the cast, crew, and audiences who made *Sinners* feel alive every step of the way.”
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners also made waves, walking away with three Oscars:
- Best Director – Ryan Coogler
- Best Original Screenplay – Ryan Coogler
- Best Actor – Michael B. Jordan, for his dual role
After winning Best Actor, Michael B. Jordan said: “Thank you for betting on me,” thanking his family, collaborators, and everyone who supported his journey.
Jordan’s emotionally charged performance earned him his first Oscar, while Coogler’s dual recognition as both director and writer cemented Sinners as one of the year’s most acclaimed films.
“I stand here because of the people who came before me—Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith,” said Michael B. Jordan in his acceptance speech.
Acting Honors
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet, for her heartbreaking portrayal of Agnes. “I dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of motherhood,” Buckley told the audience.
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners, celebrated for his layered, dual performance.
“I dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of motherhood,” Buckley told the audience.
Directorial Spotlight
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler, Sinners
The night celebrated not just acting and directing, but also the storytelling power of film itself, with One Battle After Another and Sinners representing the pinnacle of cinematic craft this year.
Full Awards Recap – Key Wins
- Best Picture: One Battle After Another
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
- Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
- Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
- Best Casting: Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another)
- Best Editing: Andy Jurgensen (One Battle After Another)
From powerhouse performances to visionary direction, the 98th Academy Awards were a night of triumphs, surprises, and storytelling mastery that reminded the world why cinema continues to captivate audiences everywhere.
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