Paul Thomas Anderson’s counter-culture caper One Battle After Another dominated the 2026 Oscars, taking home six awards including best picture. The film, inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, also won best director, supporting actor for Sean Penn, adapted screenplay, editing, and the inaugural Oscar for casting.
Anderson, accepting his first Oscars, dedicated the film to his children, apologising “for the housekeeping mess we left in this world”. He expressed hope for a younger generation to restore “common sense and decency”. Sean Penn, absent, was joked about by presenter Kieran Culkin.
The heavily tipped Sinners, which entered with a record 16 nominations, secured four awards: Michael B Jordan won best actor, his first Oscar, becoming the sixth Black winner in the category. Ryan Coogler won original screenplay, only the second Black winner, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as first female and first Black cinematography winner.
Jessie Buckley became the first Irish winner of best actress for her role in Hamnet, dedicating the award to “the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart”. Amy Madigan won best supporting actress for Weapons, setting a record for longest gap between nominations and win. Best international feature went to Norway’s Sentimental Value, while Mr Nobody Against Putin won best documentary. KPop Demon Hunters earned two Oscars for animated feature and original song.
