The 98th Academy Awards delivered an unpredictable night, blending celebrated triumphs for standout films like One Battle After Another and Sinners with shocking upsets. Directors Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler claimed their first Oscars, highlighting bold storytelling that captures unique cultural narratives.
Amy Madigan Claims First Oscar 40 Years After Debut Nod
Horror claimed an early victory as Amy Madigan won for her chilling portrayal of Gladys Lilly in the thriller Weapons. The 75-year-old actor reflected on the milestone in her acceptance speech, four decades after her initial nomination for Twice in a Lifetime. She thanked her husband, actor Ed Norris, adding, “The most important is my beloved Ed, who’s been with me forever and that’s a long ass time. And none of this would mean anything if he wasn’t by my side.”
K-Pop Demon Hunters Achieves Hollywood Milestone
Netflix’s animated blockbuster KPop Demon Hunters secured Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.” Director Maggie Kang dedicated the wins onstage, stating, “This is for Korea and Koreans everywhere. I’m sorry it took so long for us to see ourselves in a film like this, but it’s here now, and that means future generations no longer have to yearn for it.” Lead writer EJAE, accepting Best Song, shared, “Growing up, people made fun of me for like K-pop, but now everyone is singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud. I realize the song, this award is not about success. It’s about resilience.”
Cassandra Kulukundis Wins Inaugural Best Casting Oscar
Casting director Cassandra Kulukundis made history with the first Best Casting award for assembling the ensemble in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. The film starred legends like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro, while launching Teyana Taylor (nominated for Best Supporting Actress) and newcomer Chase Infiniti. Infiniti, 25, presented the award onstage.
Barbra Streisand Delights with Surprise In Memoriam Song
Legendary performer Barbra Streisand appeared during the In Memoriam segment to tribute her friend and co-star Robert Redford, who passed away in 2025. After recalling his nickname for her, “Babs,” she captivated the audience with an acoustic rendition of “The Way We Were.”
Michael B. Jordan Stuns with Best Actor Victory
Michael B. Jordan echoed his recent Actor Awards success by winning Best Actor for his dual roles as twins Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. In an emotional speech, he honored Black Hollywood pioneers including Sidney Poitier, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, and Will Smith.
One Battle After Another Sweeps Key Categories
One Battle After Another dominated, with Paul Thomas Anderson earning Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture—his first Oscars. Sean Penn took Best Supporting Actor, Cassandra Kulukundis won Best Casting, and the film claimed Best Editing. Anderson told the crowd during an acceptance, “I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world—we’re handing off to them. But also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency.”
