One Battle After Another Wins Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards

"One Battle After Another" claimed six Academy Awards at the 98th Oscars ceremony, held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, including Best Picture, making it the dominant film of the night. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his performance in "Sinners," while Jessie Buckley took Best Actress for her role in "Hamnet." Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor, according to Reuters. Conan O'Brien hosted the ceremony, paying tribute to global cinema by noting that films from 31 countries were represented at the event. The evening unfolded against a backdrop of heightened security and recurring political commentary from presenters and guests alike.

The Academy Awards, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, have a long history of political statements from the stage, particularly during periods of international conflict or domestic political tension. The ceremony has been held at the Dolby Theatre since 2002. The 98th edition continued a pattern of the film industry using the platform to address geopolitical issues, a practice that has drawn both praise and criticism in recent years.

Bardem breaks silence on Palestine and Iran The most explicitly political moment of the night came from Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who used his time presenting the Best International Feature Film award to make a direct statement about ongoing conflicts. „No to war and free Palestine” — Javier Bardem via Reuters Bardem wore a patch and a pin reading "Palestine" on the red carpet and onstage, making him, according to reporting by Xataka, the only presenter to explicitly address both the situation in Palestine and the conflict in Iran during the ceremony. "Sentimental Value" won the Best International Feature Film award, becoming the first Norwegian film to claim that prize, according to the verification log. Jimmy Kimmel, a multi-time Oscar host appearing as a presenter rather than host this year, also drew attention by directing criticism at Donald Trump and taking a dig at the documentary "Melania," according to reporting by SAPO and Reuters.

O'Brien jokes about Netflix chief and Kid Rock Conan O'Brien's hosting monologue drew on topical targets from the entertainment and media industries. O'Brien made jokes at the expense of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and referenced an "alternative" halftime show associated with Kid Rock, according to the verification log. The Wall Street Journal noted in an opinion piece that Trump was a pervasive presence throughout the night, reflecting the broader political climate in which the ceremony took place. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on a sense of unease in Hollywood, framing the question of whether fear was spreading through the industry. Security at the Dolby Theatre was described as notably tight, with O'Brien himself joking from the stage that he had heard many people were worried about potential disruptions from the opera and ballet community, a quip reported by the Portuguese outlet Jornal Expresso.

"Sinners" and "Frankenstein" trail the night's big winner Beyond the headline winner, "Sinners" secured on the night, with Michael B. Jordan's Best Actor win forming the centerpiece of its haul. "Frankenstein" claimed three awards, rounding out the top three most-decorated films of the evening. The ceremony featured films representing 31 countries, a figure O'Brien highlighted in what ANSA described as a tribute to world cinema. Blesk.cz characterized the evening as a mix of glamour and awkward moments, reflecting the tension between the industry's celebratory instincts and the political pressures bearing down on the event. The 98th ceremony thus balanced traditional Hollywood spectacle with a series of pointed interventions from those on stage, leaving political commentary woven through an otherwise conventional awards night.