98th Academy Awards: ‘One Battle’ Claims Best Picture as Jordan Bests Chalamet and Penn Wins with Subdued Campaigning
The 98th Academy Awards took place on Sunday evening at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, concluding a challenging awards season. Despite significant changes in the Academy’s membership over the past decade, the results aligned closely with historical patterns. The ceremony showcased the ongoing evolution of the Academy, which now features a more diverse group of voters, while traditional indicators of Oscar success remained relevant.
‘One Battle’ Claims Best Picture
In a highly anticipated outcome, One Battle secured the Best Picture award, continuing its winning streak from other major ceremonies, including the Gothams, Golden Globes, and BAFTA Awards. The film’s success was underscored by its victories at every notable event this season, with the exception of the Actor Awards held two weeks prior.
Speculation surrounding a late surge for Sinners had raised hopes among its supporters. However, the Best Cast award at the Actor Awards has historically been a weak predictor of the Best Picture winner, with only 15 out of 32 instances aligning with the Oscar victor. The timing of this year’s Actor Awards coincided with the final voting period for the Oscars, leading to misplaced optimism among Sinners fans.
Factors Behind the Victory
One Battle‘s triumph over Sinners, both Warner Bros. releases that bypassed the festival circuit, can be attributed to several factors. While Sinners received more nominations and achieved a higher box office gross, the importance of being the most-nominated film has diminished in recent years. Historical examples include Emilia Pérez versus Anora and The Power of the Dog versus CODA, where the film with fewer nominations ultimately prevailed.
Additionally, One Battle benefited from its genre appeal. The Academy has expanded its acceptance of diverse films, awarding Best Picture to unconventional choices like The Shape of Water and Parasite. However, a zombies-themed film competing against a dramedy/thriller may have been too unconventional for the Academy’s current preferences.
Acknowledgment of Filmmakers
The recognition of One Battle also signifies overdue acknowledgment for its director, Paul Thomas Anderson. With a distinguished career that includes films such as Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood, Anderson had previously gone 0-for-11 at the Oscars. This year, One Battle provided voters with a compelling reason to rectify that oversight.
Early in the ceremony, it became evident that Sinners faced hurdles in securing the Best Picture award. The film’s Best Supporting Actress nominee, Wunmi Mosaku, did not win, and it lost the inaugural Oscar for Best Casting to One Battle. By the time Sinners‘ Delroy Lindo lost the Best Supporting Actor award to a nominee from One Battle, the outcome appeared inevitable.
Awards Breakdown
Both films received recognition during the ceremony. Anderson won Best Adapted Screenplay, while Sinners‘ Ryan Coogler took home Best Original Screenplay. The acting awards were split, with Sinners winning Best Actor and One Battle claiming Best Supporting Actor. The final tally stood at One Battle with six awards and Sinners with four.
The Actor Awards were the only group to accurately predict all four individual acting Oscar winners this year. Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet, Michael B. Jordan took Best Actor for Sinners, Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for Weapons, and Sean Penn secured Best Supporting Actor for One Battle.
Unique Paths to Victory
The paths to victory for the acting winners varied significantly. Penn, who did not actively campaign, delivered a memorable performance that resonated with voters. His win at both the BAFTA and Actor Awards positioned him favorably for the Oscars, making him one of the few actors to achieve three Academy Awards in the male acting category.
Madigan’s early win at the Critics Choice Awards helped build momentum leading to her Oscar victory, despite a competitive field. Conversely, Jordan initially appeared to be trailing Timothée Chalamet, who had won at the Critics Choice and Golden Globe awards. However, the Academy’s preferences ultimately favored Jordan, as Marty Supreme failed to secure any wins at the Oscars.
Buckley emerged as a frontrunner from the moment Hamnet premiered, with her performance garnering widespread acclaim. Her genuine persona and talent contributed to her success, suggesting a promising future ahead.
Netflix’s Dominance
In other categories, the Best Documentary Feature award went to Mr. Nobody Against Putin, while Netflix excelled across various categories. The streaming giant secured wins for Best Costume Design, Makeup/Hairstyling, and Production Design for Frankenstein, as well as Best Animated Feature and Original Song for KPop Demon Hunters. Netflix’s total of seven awards matched its previous record.
Observations on the Ceremony
The telecast received positive feedback, featuring Conan O’Brien as host and a well-executed In Memoriam segment. However, some aspects of the show drew criticism, including the handling of the Marvel reunion and the decision-making regarding presenters.
The final Feinberg Forecast accurately projected 21 out of 24 categories, reflecting a strong understanding of the awards landscape. The season concluded with gratitude expressed towards colleagues, friends, and family for their support throughout the rigorous awards journey.
As reported by famedelivered.com.
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Published on 2026-03-16 15:02:00 • By Editorial Desk
