‘One Battle After Another' wins best picture at Oscars
The darkly comic thriller One Battle After Another captured the prestigious best picture award at the 2026 Academy Awards, edging out strong competition from the vampire drama Sinners. The ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrated some of the most acclaimed performances and films of the year.
The film’s success was further boosted when Sean Penn won the best supporting actor award for portraying an obsessive military officer in One Battle After Another. It marked Penn’s third Oscar win. However, the actor was not present at the ceremony, and presenter Kieran Culkin accepted the award on his behalf.
Michael B. Jordan took home the best actor trophy for his dual performance as twin brothers in Sinners, a role widely praised by critics for its emotional depth and complexity.
The best actress award went to Jessie Buckley for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, in the historical drama Hamnet.
Veteran performer Amy Madigan won best supporting actress for her role as the eccentric Aunt Gladys in the horror film Weapons. The win came four decades after her first Oscar nomination, marking a major milestone in her long career.
Meanwhile, Netflix’s animated hit KPop Demon Hunters secured the best animated feature award after becoming a global streaming sensation.
The ceremony also paid tribute to legendary filmmakers Robert Redford and Rob Reiner. Actor Billy Crystal praised Reiner’s iconic films including A Few Good Men and This Is Spinal Tap.
Singer and actress Barbra Streisand honoured Redford, recalling their work together in The Way We Were and performing part of its famous theme song.
Hosted by Conan O'Brien, the ceremony mixed humour with reflection, as he joked about artificial intelligence potentially replacing human hosts in Hollywood.
The awards took place under heightened security due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Organisers worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police to monitor potential threats, though officials said no credible danger had been identified.
Nearly 10,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences vote for the winners each year, and the academy introduced new measures this year to ensure voters actually watch the nominated films before casting their ballots.
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