Hollywood gathers at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 98th Academy Awards on this unseasonably warm Oscar Sunday. The ceremony shapes up as a showdown between visionary directors Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler.
How to Watch and Stream the Oscars
The live telecast begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Viewers can catch the full show and stream it live. Following the awards, tune in for coverage of the night’s most exclusive star-studded parties.
Host Conan O’Brien and Heightened Security
Conan O’Brien returns as host for his second consecutive year. Amid the ongoing war in Iran and rising global tensions—sparked two weeks ago by U.S. actions under President Donald Trump—he promises a lighthearted evening reminiscent of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson. “Let’s have fun with it, is my attitude,” O’Brien stated earlier this week.
Security measures reach new heights this year. Executive producer Raj Kapoor noted, “Of course, every year we monitor what’s going on in the world. We have the support of the FBI and the LAPD, and it’s a close collaboration.”
Live Performances and Category Highlights
Two best original song nominees take the stage: “I Lied to You” from Sinners, featuring Miles Cato, Raphael Saadiq and others; and “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters.
Best Picture: Theatrical Triumphs Over Streaming
Despite KPop Demon Hunters—a Sony Pictures film acquired by Netflix—topping 2025 with 325 million views as the platform’s most-streamed movie ever, theatrical releases lead the pack. Apple’s CODA stands alone as the only streaming winner in best picture history.
Contenders Sinners and One Battle After Another, both Warner Bros. productions shot on film, represent rare big-budget originals. Warner Bros. eyes a merger with David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance in a $111 billion deal pending approval, amid industry shifts like Amazon’s MGM buyout and Disney’s 20th Century Fox acquisition.
In Memoriam and New Academy Rules
The emotional in memoriam segment honors figures including Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Robert Duvall. O’Brien, who hosted a party attended by Rob and Michele Reiner before their passing, describes it as a “very powerful” tribute.
This year introduces a best casting category. Voters must now confirm viewing all nominees on the Academy’s streaming platform before casting ballots.
Acting Races: Tight Contests Ahead
Best actor pits Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) against Michael B. Jordan, whose bold campaign edged ahead despite controversy over ballet and opera remarks. Voting had just wrapped when the buzz peaked.
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) leads best actress, poised for Ireland’s first win. Supporting actress favors Amy Madigan (Weapons), with Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) and Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) close behind.
Sean Penn emerges as best supporting actor frontrunner without heavy promotion, though Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) and Delroy Lindo (Sinners) challenge strongly.
Politically Charged Nominees
Films addressing current events shine, including One Battle After Another (opening with an immigration raid), Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent, and Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident. The Iranian director, a prior Palme d’Or winner, filmed covertly despite imprisonment and bans. Promoting the film earned him a one-year sentence; co-writer Mehdi Mahmoudian remains in Iran.
History echoes: The 2003 Oscars aired days before the Iraq War, with Hollywood protests amid Chicago‘s best picture victory.
