Big Wins, Emotional Tributes at the 98th Academy Awards
By • March 16, 2026 0 214
A movie with a title much like the state of today’s world won best picture at the 98th Academy Awards. One Battle After Another, the film starring big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Regina Hall took home not only the big prize of the night, but honors for Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), and three additional awards.
Another highlight included Michael B. Jordan, who took home the Best Actor award for playing twins in the Ryan Coogler horror film Sinners. Sinners also took home three other Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay by Ryan Coogler, who is not yet 40. Autumn Durald Arkapaw received the award for Best Cinematography for Sinners, making her the first woman to win in the category. Arkapaw’s touching speech had all the women in the room stand up, saying she felt that she “doesn’t get here without you guys.” It was a perfect moment, especially given it is Women’s History Month.
Conan O’Brien hosted the event for the second time, in a relatively tame yet entertainingly funny time full of bits that elicited chuckles. He began the show dressed as the terrifying Aunt Gladys from the movie Weapons, where kids chased him all the way into the Dolby Theatre. Funny enough, Amy Madigan, who played Aunt Gladys, won the Best Supporting Actress award shortly after.
Most awards shows always include an “In Memoriam” segment, which is a solemn moment where attendees and viewers at home remember actors, producers, crew and more in film that passed away during the previous year. This year’s In Memoriam was especially sad, as Hollywood lost many icons in 2025, including Diane Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Robert Redford and Virginia’s own Robert Duvall.
What brought tears to the audience’s eyes (and this writer’s), was Rachel McAdams’ tribute to her The Family Stone co-star Keaton, and Billy Crystal’s moving speech to his good friend, director Rob Reiner. Reiner and his wife Michele were murdered by their son Nick in December 2025. After a eulogy of sorts, Crystal brought out cast members from Reiner’s movies, including When Harry Met Sally…, The Princess Bride, Stand By Me, Misery and others.
Just some of the casts from Rob Reiner’s movies pay tribute to the late director. Photo courtesy Instagram/justjared.
Fashion-wise, Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley, who took home the Best Actress award, wore a classy pink and red Chanel gown, channeling a version worn by the late, great Grace Kelly in 1956. Emma Stone was also a hit in an ethereal Louis Vuitton, as well as the pregnant Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku, who wore a sparkly emerald Louis Vuitton. Misses included Nicole Kidman in just a bit too many feathers, Timothée Chalamet in an all-white Givenchy (with boots?!) and Melissa McCarthy, who looked like she was wearing a black turtleneck underneath her gorgeous dress.;
Also, since 2024, the Oscars began at 7 p.m., a continual welcome time change to accommodate the hours-long ceremony. Starting an hour earlier is a welcome change, as East Coasters can get to bed before midnight.
