Oscars 2026: Amy Madigan Secures First Academy Award at Age 75
The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony has commenced with significant triumphs, as the winners are being announced in a highly anticipated event. The evening began on a historic note when Amy Madigan clinched the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in the horror film Weapons. This marks the first Oscar win for the esteemed actress, who is 75 years old, adding a poignant milestone to her illustrious career.
Madigan's Triumphant Moment and Competition
In Weapons, Madigan portrayed Aunt Gladys, a role that earned her critical acclaim. She faced stiff competition in the category, which included nominees such as Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value, Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, and Elle Fanning for Sentimental Value. During her acceptance speech, Madigan graciously acknowledged her fellow nominees and gave a heartfelt shout-out to her husband, actor Ed Harris. Notably, Harris has received four Oscar nominations throughout his career but has yet to secure a win, making Madigan's victory a particularly emotional family achievement.
Early Winners and Animated Success
Following Madigan's win, the animated feature KPop Demon Hunters claimed the award for Best Animated Film. This popular movie had garnered multiple nominations, including one for Best Song, but ultimately triumphed in this key category, highlighting its impact in the animation sphere.
Sinners Sets New Oscars Nominations Record
The horror film Sinners has emerged as a major contender, already breaking the record for the most Oscar nominations in a single year with an impressive 16 nods. This surpasses the previous record of 14 nominations held jointly by La La Land, Titanic, and All About Eve. The film, directed by Ryan Coogler, follows the story of 1930s twins Smoke and Stack, both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, as they confront supernatural evil upon returning to their hometown in the American South. Its extensive recognition across categories positions it as a potential big winner of the night.
Other Notable Contenders and Controversies
Expectations are high for One Battle After Another, which is a frontrunner for Best Picture, and its director, Paul Thomas Anderson, is favored to win Best Director. Additionally, Jessie Buckley is anticipated to have a successful evening after sweeping awards leading up to the Oscars; she is nominated for Best Actress for her role as Agnes in Hamnet.
In contrast, Timothee Chalamet's chances for Best Actor have diminished due to controversy. Nominated for his role as Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme, Chalamet faced backlash after stating in a town hall that "no one cares" about opera and ballet, sparking online debate that many believe could cost him the award.
Complete List of Nominations and Winners So Far
Here is a detailed overview of the categories, nominees, and winners announced up to this point in the 2026 Oscars:
- Best Supporting Actress: Winner: Amy Madigan - Weapons. Nominees: Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value, Wunmi Mosaku - Sinners, Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value.
- Best Animated Feature Film: Winner: KPop Demon Hunters. Nominees: Zootopia 2, Arco, Elio, Little Amelie or the Character of Rain.
- Best Animated Short Film: Winner: The Girl Who Cried Pearls. Nominees: Butterfly, Forevergreen, Retirement Plan, The Three Sisters.
- Best Supporting Actor: Nominees: Stellan Skarsgard - Sentimental Value, Benicio del Toro - One Battle After Another, Sean Penn - One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi - Frankenstein, Delroy Lindo - Sinners.
- Best Picture: Nominees: One Battle After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, Bugonia, The Secret Agent, F1.
- Best Director: Nominees: Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another, Ryan Coogler - Sinners, Chloe Zhao - Hamnet, Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme, Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value.
- Best Actress in a Leading Role: Nominees: Jessie Buckley - Hamnet, Rose Byrne - If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value, Emma Stone - Bugonia.
- Best Actor in a Leading Role: Nominees: Michael B. Jordan - Sinners, Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another, Timothee Chalamet - Marty Supreme, Wagner Moura - The Secret Agent, Ethan Hawke - Blue Moon.
- Best Original Screenplay: Nominees: Sinners, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident, Blue Moon.
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Nominees: One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Train Dreams, Bugonia, Frankenstein.
- Best Live Action Short Film: Nominees: Butcher's Stain, A Friend of Dorothy, Jane Austen's Period Drama, The Singers, Two People Exchanging Saliva.
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Nominees: Kokuho, Frankenstein, Sinners, The Smashing Machine, The Ugly Stepsister.
- Best Original Score: Nominees: Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, Sinners.
- Best Casting: Nominees: Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sinners.
- Best Cinematography: Nominees: Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Train Dreams.
- Best Documentary Feature Film: Nominees: The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cutting through Rocks, Mr Nobody against Putin, The Perfect Neighbor.
- Best Short Film: Nominees: All the Empty Rooms, Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud, Children No More: Were and Are Gone, The Devil Is Busy, Perfectly a Strangeness.
- Best Film Editing: Nominees: One Battle After Another, Sinners, Marty Supreme, F1: The Movie, Sentimental Value.
- Best International Feature Film: Nominees: Brazil - The Secret Agent, France - It Was Just an Accident, Norway - Sentimental Value, Spain - Sirat, Tunisia - The Voice of Hind Rajab.
- Best Original Song: Nominees: Dear M from Diane Warren: Relentless, Golden from KPop Demon Hunters, I Lied To You from Sinners, Sweet Dreams Of Joy from Viva Verdi!, Train Dreams from Train Dreams.
- Best Costume Design: Nominees: Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Frankenstein, Sinners.
- Best Production Design: Nominees: Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners.
- Best Original Sound: Nominees: F1, Frankenstein, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Sirat.
- Best Visual Effects: Nominees: Avatar: Fire and Ash, F1, Jurassic World Rebirth, The Lost Bus, Sinners.
The 2026 Oscars continue to unfold with more awards to be announced, promising an evening filled with celebration, surprises, and cinematic excellence.
