Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” was crowned best picture at the 98th Academy Awards, handing Hollywood’s top honour to a comic, multi-generational American saga of political resistance.

The ceremony, which also saw Michael B Jordan win best actor and “Sinners” cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw make Oscar history as the first female director of photography to win the award, was a long-in-coming coronation for Anderson, a San Fernando Valley native who made his first short at age 18 and has been one of America’s most lionised filmmakers for decades.

Before Sunday, Anderson had never won an Oscar.

"You make a guy work hard for one of these," said Anderson, who also won the best-director award for a film that tackles hot-button topics like immigration, race relations and the ⁠outsized political power of billionaires.

"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," said Anderson, who loosely adapted Thomas Pynchon’s "Vineland" novel.

"But also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency."

Immediately after Anderson's first Oscar, Ryan Coogler notched his first Academy Award, too.

The "Sinners" writer-director won best original screenplay, and earned his own standing ovation. ("Sinners" later added the award for best score.)

Jordan's win for his double-duty performance as the twins Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s "Sinners" was a triumphant moment for Jordan, one of Hollywood’s most widely loved young actors, whose ascent to Hollywood stardom began, partly, with Coogler’s feature debut, 2013’s "Fruitvale Station."

The Dolby Theatre rose to its feet in the most thunderous applause of the night.

"Yo, momma, what’s up?" said Jordan after staggering to the stage.

Later, Jordan added: "I stand here because of the people who came here before me," listing best actor winners from Sidney Poitier to Will Smith.

The Oscar night belonged to Warner Bros, the studio of "One Battle After Another" and Ryan Coogler’s vampire tale "Sinners".

It was an oddly poignant note of triumph for the fabled studio, which weeks earlier agreed to a sale to Paramount Skydance, David Ellison’s rapidly assembled media monolith.

The deal, which awaits regulatory approval, has Hollywood bracing for more layoffs.

"Sinners" and "One Battle After Another" were each Hollywood anomalies: big-budget originals born from a personal vision.

In a year where anxiety over studio contraction and the rise of artificial intelligence often consumed the industry, both films gave Hollywood fresh hope.

Jessie Buckley won best actress at the 98th Academy Awards for her performance as Agnes Shakespeare in "Hamnet", making her the first Irish performer to ever win in the category.

At an Oscars where no other acting award seemed a sure thing, Buckley cruised into Sunday’s Oscars at the Dolby Theatre as the overwhelming favourite.

But in the last decade, Buckley has quickly established herself as a widely admired actor, on stage and screen, and her anguished performance in "Hamnet" was arguably the defining tearjerker of 2025.

In her seat, Buckley immediately plunged her head into her hands.

"It's Mother's Day in the UK," said Buckley on the stage. "I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother's heart."

"One Battle After Another" also won the first award for best casting, for Cassandra Kulukundis, and best supporting actor for Penn.

Penn, a previous two-time Oscar winner, had skipped other recent award ceremonies, too.

Arkapaw's win made her the first female director of photography to win the award in the 98-year history of the Academy Awards.

The win was a long-in-coming triumph for women behind the camera.

Arkapaw was just the fourth woman ever nominated in the category; the first was Rachel Morrison in 2018 for "Mudbound”".

The Dolby Theatre audience rose to a standing ovation as she took the stage.

"I really want all the women in room to stand up," said Arkapaw.

"Because I don't feel like I get here without you guys."

Moving tributes were also paid to industry legends Robert Redford, Diane Keaton and Rob Reiner who died last year.


Edited by Tony Sabine