Los Angeles — The 98th Academy Awards unfolded on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre, marking a revitalized chapter for Hollywood's marquee event amid ongoing industry challenges. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony celebrated cinematic achievements while navigating a landscape of technological shifts and cultural divides, with Warner Bros. emerging as a major winner through its films One Battle After Another and Sinners.
The evening's top honor, Best Picture, went to Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, which also secured the Best Director award for Anderson and the inaugural Best Casting Award for Cassandra Kulukundis. According to reports from the event, Kulukundis brought five actors from the film onstage during her acceptance, creating a poignant moment despite some onstage unsteadiness. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his role in Ryan Coogler's Sinners, delivering a speech that honored predecessors like Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith, emphasizing "patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities today, optimism."
Jessie Buckley took home the Best Actress prize for her performance in Hamnet, where she spoke movingly as both a mother and a storyteller, cutting through the typical awards-season rhetoric. In her remarks, Buckley highlighted the personal stakes of her work, according to attendees. Ryan Coogler received a standing ovation for his Best Original Screenplay win for Sinners, compelling the cast to stand with him in a show of unity that resonated throughout the theater.
The show, produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, ran for more than three hours and 40 minutes, a duration that tested viewers' endurance but was praised for its engaging pace and reduced moments of awkwardness compared to past years. O’Brien opened with a monologue that teased Timothée Chalamet and transitioned into a serious tone, wishing the film industry and the world "patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities today, optimism." His hosting included a Beastie Boys tune in the opening skit, described as the best use of the band in Oscars history, along with a meme referencing Leonardo DiCaprio and a pointed dig at former President Donald Trump, quipping about "hasasmallpenis."
Early highlights featured Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, which won Best Original Song for "Golden," though the victory speeches were marred by a technical glitch where microphones were cut and lights dimmed, drawing criticism from observers. The film also earned multiple nods, underscoring Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos's growing influence, as O’Brien jokingly dubbed him the "real King of Hollywood" in his opening remarks. A performance of Sinners' Best Song nominee "I Lied To You" brought the crowd to its feet, featuring Miles Caton, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, and ballerina Misty Copeland in a star-studded, feverish rendition that evoked American history and cinema's power.
Autumn Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for Sinners, using her acceptance speech to call out the women in the audience, saying, "Stand up … I don’t get here without you guys." The moment highlighted themes of support and collaboration in a male-dominated field. Meanwhile, the ceremony introduced surprises like a tie for Best Live Action Short Film between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Salvia, an outcome that caught many off guard, with initial bets favoring other contenders.
Production design by Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley was lauded for its visual appeal on the ABC broadcast, contributing to a polished look despite live TV hiccups, such as the microphone issue during the KPop Demon Hunters speeches. O’Brien's pre-recorded closing bit, where he was humorously "killed off" in a nod to Sean Penn's character in One Battle After Another, tied into the Best Picture win just minutes earlier. Reports suggested a similar gag was prepared for Sinners had it prevailed.
The event touched on broader political undercurrents, with Javier Bardem's cheered statement "No to War, Free Palestine" and Jimmy Kimmel's earlier swipe at MAGA supporters on CBS providing context for the night's subtle commentary. O’Brien's Trump reference added to the mix, though the ceremony aimed to balance levity with substance. Delroy Lindo, a nominee from Sinners, described the film as "a living breathing world of their own in a often bleak world," a sentiment echoed in Coogler's ovation-inducing moment.
In the In Memoriam segment, the Academy paid tribute to several industry luminaries, including filmmakers Rob Reiner and his daughter Michelle Reiner, whose passing was handled with emotion by Billy Crystal, a longtime family friend and star of their collaboration When Harry Met Sally. Catherine O’Hara, Diane Keaton, and Robert Redford also received spotlight moments in a segment that, while not without reported omissions, was calibrated for respect and outpouring of emotion. Crystal's involvement added a layer of heartfelt nostalgia to the proceedings.
A lighter reunion featured Moulin Rouge co-stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, who riffed on love with charm and lyrical callbacks, keeping the segment concise and engaging. The red carpet beforehand showcased standout looks, with galleries capturing the glamour outside the Dolby Theatre. Behind the scenes, biggest moments not aired included interactions involving Chalamet and Kidman, as per post-event reports.
The Oscars come at a pivotal time for Hollywood, with the industry still recovering from strikes, the rise of AI, and corporate mergers like the potential Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Viewership has declined over the past 15 years due to fractured habits and cultural shifts, but this year's event was seen as a step toward relevance, especially with YouTube set to replace ABC as the broadcaster starting in 2029—a move announced to drag the show into the 21st century.
Warner Bros.' double triumph with One Battle After Another and Sinners underscored the studio's strong year, contrasting with Netflix's wins and the broader gloom of a sector battling public favor and technological upheaval. SAG-AFTRA's extension of studio talks ahead of the WGA window, set to resume in June, signals ongoing labor tensions that could impact future productions.
As the ceremony concluded, O’Brien's epitaph-like wish for optimism lingered, reflecting not just the night's triumphs but the resilience needed in an era of global conflicts, domestic authoritarianism threats, and industry woes. With only three years until the YouTube era, the Academy's balancing act—straddling divides with surgical swipes and joyous celebration of cinema—offered a steady path forward. As former President Joe Biden might say, it was a win worth taking.
The event's humanity, from Arkapaw's shoutout to Buckley's maternal candor, shone through, reminding audiences of film's power to resist and inspire. While not flawless, the 98th Oscars proved entertaining and heartfelt, a beacon in a challenging landscape.