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

Paul Thomas Anderson's film "One Battle After Another" dominated the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, taking home six Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, while Michael B. Jordan claimed Best Actor for his performance in "Sinners." The ceremony, held at its traditional Hollywood venue, marked a landmark night for Anderson, whose producers Sarah Murphy, Anthony Carlino, Will Weiske, Andy Jurgensen, and Teyana Taylor shared the Best Picture award alongside him, according to Variety. "Sinners" finished close behind with four wins, according to Hollywood Reporter. Television host and comedian Conan O'Brien presided over the evening, opening the show with a tribute to world cinema and noting that films from 31 (countries) — nations represented in this year's Oscar nominees were represented among the year's nominees.

O'Brien enters every top-ten film in his opening O'Brien's hosting style drew immediate attention when he staged a comedic bit in which he inserted himself into all the films in the top ten, according to ANSA. His opening segment paid tribute to international cinema, framing the ceremony as a global celebration of filmmaking. The evening also featured a reunion moment tied to "The Devil Wears Prada," which drew audience reaction, according to ANSA. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made comments during the broadcast directed at Donald and Melania Trump, according to plotek.pl. The ceremony blended Hollywood nostalgia with contemporary political commentary, a combination that generated discussion both inside and outside the Dolby Theatre. The Academy Awards, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, reached their 98th edition in 2026. Paul Thomas Anderson is described by critics as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation, with his accolades prior to this ceremony including multiple Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards. Michael B. Jordan had previously accumulated an Actor Award and a Producers Guild Award among his accolades before his 2026 Best Actor win.

Betting pools upended by an unexpected category winner One of the more talked-about moments of the night came from an unexpected winner in a category that, according to 20 minutos, reportedly "ruined 22 million betting pools." The report described the outcome as a scandal within the awards-season betting community, though no confirmed information is available on which specific category triggered the reaction. The upset underscored how unpredictable the 2026 ceremony proved to be beyond the headline categories. Betting on Oscar outcomes has grown into a significant online activity in recent years, making surprise wins in even secondary categories a matter of wide public interest. The identity of the unexpected winner was not confirmed in available source articles.

Italian critics split: Anderson praised, O'Brien called a bore Critical reaction to the ceremony was divided, particularly in European media. Corriere della Sera issued a pointed assessment of the evening's key figures, awarding O'Brien a grade of 5 and describing his hosting as a bore, while filmmaker Wes Anderson received a grade of 9, with the Italian newspaper suggesting his recognition was long overdue. Actor Timothée Chalamet also received a 5 from the same publication, described as careless. The divergence in grades reflected a broader split in how the ceremony was received — with the artistic achievements of the night drawing more praise than the hosting itself. O'Brien's performance as host, while generating moments of audience engagement inside the theater, did not translate into universal critical approval from international reviewers.