The 98th Academy Awards took place Sunday, bringing an end to this year’s awards season with a nominee list dominated by ambitious, director-driven films and major star performances.
Leading the field was Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s blues-influenced vampire drama, which entered the ceremony with 16 nominations, the highest total of the year and one of the largest nomination counts in recent Oscars history. Close behind was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which secured 13 nominations and positioned itself as one of the night’s main competitors.
Both films were nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, setting up one of the most closely watched rivalries of the ceremony.
The Best Picture category reflected a mix of genres and filmmaking styles. Alongside Sinners and One Battle After Another, the category included Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams.
The lineup balanced large-scale productions with more character-driven films, reflecting the Academy’s ongoing effort to recognize both commercial and prestige cinema.
Sinners also made a strong showing in the acting categories. Michael B. Jordan received a Best Actor nomination for his performance, while Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku were both recognized in supporting categories. The film also received nominations in Original Screenplay, Original Song, Original Score, and several technical categories.
One Battle After Another matched that momentum with nominations for Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor. Anderson also received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for his interpretation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, while longtime collaborator Jonny Greenwood earned recognition for his score.
Three other films, Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, and Sentimental Value, each collected nine nominations, placing them among the year’s strongest contenders.
Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie, brought Timothée Chalamet another Best Actor nomination, his second in consecutive years. Based on results from earlier awards shows, industry speculation suggested the Best Actor race could come down to Chalamet and Jordan. The category also included Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent, making it one of the more competitive acting lineups in recent years.
A New Oscar Category
This year also marked the introduction of Best Casting, the first new competitive Oscar category in more than 20 years. The inaugural nominees were Hamnet, Marty SupremeOne Battle After AnotherThe Secret Agent, and Sinners.
The addition reflects long-standing efforts within the industry to recognize the role casting directors play in shaping films.
Comedian Conan O’Brien returned as host after positive reactions to his work leading the 2025 ceremony. His return suggested the Academy was aiming for stability after several years of experimenting with different hosting formats.
Check below for the full list of winners:
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