Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another Wins Best Picture at 98th Academy Awards

"One Battle After Another" dominated the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, winning six Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, while comedian Conan O'Brien hosted the ceremony in Hollywood. The film led all winners on a night that also saw Michael B. Jordan claim Best Actor for "Sinners" and Jessie Buckley take Best Actress for "Hamnet." O'Brien opened the show by entering all films in the top ten nominations, setting a comedic tone for the evening. The ceremony drew global attention both for its winners and for controversies that spilled beyond the Dolby Theatre into social media and political circles.

The Academy Awards have been held annually since 1929, recognizing achievements across major categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Paul Thomas Anderson is an American filmmaker widely regarded as one of the preeminent directors of his generation, with multiple Academy Awards among his accolades prior to this ceremony. The 98th edition of the ceremony continued a tradition of international representation, with O'Brien noting films from 31 countries were present among the nominees.

Anderson's film sweeps six awards on the night Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" emerged as the clear winner of the evening, collecting 6 (awards) — total Oscars won by 'One Battle After Another' statuettes across the night. Anderson took home both Best Director and, according to the verification log, Best Adapted Screenplay in addition to Best Picture, making him one of the ceremony's defining figures. "Sinners" followed with four awards, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan. "Frankenstein" also performed strongly, winning three awards according to web search results. The spread of wins across multiple films reflected a competitive field, though Anderson's haul stood apart from the rest of the field.

Chalamet's visible reaction draws internet mockery Timothée Chalamet, the American and French actor nominated for Best Actor for his role in "A Complete Unknown," lost the award to Michael B. Jordan and became the subject of widespread ridicule online. According to reporting by iefimerida.gr, citing the Daily Mail, Chalamet appeared visibly upset after the loss, prompting what the outlet described as brutal insults directed at the actor across social media platforms. Polish outlet Super Express similarly reported that internet users mercilessly mocked Chalamet's reaction to the defeat. Chalamet, born December 27, 1995, had been among the prominent contenders in the category. The episode illustrated how the ceremony's emotional moments can quickly become fodder for online commentary, particularly when high-profile nominees are involved.

Kimmel's Melania joke angers Trump supporters A joke directed at Melania Trump by television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel drew criticism from supporters of Donald Trump, according to ANSA.it. Kimmel, best known as the host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on ABC, was not the host of the ceremony but made remarks that caused a reaction among Trump's political base. ANSA.it reported that Trump supporters were bruised by the comments. The incident added a political dimension to a ceremony that O'Brien had steered toward comedy and celebration of international cinema. O'Brien himself had highlighted the global scope of the nominees, noting that films from 31 (countries) — nations represented among 2026 Oscar nominees were present at the ceremony, framing the night as a tribute to world cinema.