'One Battle After Another' wins best picture at 2026 Oscars

“One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s governmental epic, took location the grant for champion representation astatine Sunday night’s Oscars, edging retired “Sinners,” which gained sizeable momentum precocious successful the game, successful a choky and melodramatic contention to the decorativeness line.

Entering the nighttime with 13 nominations, the movie had been an aboriginal favourite aft sweeping astir of the large manufacture prizes, including the PGA Award — a cardinal bellwether successful this category. But “Sinners” picked up steam aft claiming apical prizes for “Sinners” prima Michael B. Jordan, arsenic good arsenic the film’s ensemble cast, astatine the caller Actor Awards and created a tense run-up to the Oscars. It each made for an unpredictable infinitesimal for the Oscars’ main category, adjacent arsenic Warner Bros., the workplace down some movies, stood to person a uncommon and enviable nighttime immoderate the result — portion successful the midst of a takeover woody that could stone the industry.

As “One Battle After Another” was announced for champion representation by Nicole Kidman, the country erupted into a lasting ovation and Anderson rapidly embraced his longtime partner, comedian Maya Rudolph, who held onto his directing award.

Chase Infiniti jumped and audibly screamed onstage arsenic the actors and filmmakers embraced and celebrated the last triumph of the night. Teyana Taylor looked tearful arsenic Anderson accepted the grant for his 10th movie alongside chap shaper Sara Murphy (and successful representation of the precocious Adam Somner).

“My bosom is exploding successful gratitude. ... Thank you to my family, I’m grateful,” Murphy said, turning to Anderson. “Paulie!”

Anderson was beaming and breathless arsenic helium held the award, joined by pb histrion Leonardo DiCaprio and the remainder of the cast.

“We’re blessed to beryllium portion of this, a fantastic travel with our chap nominees and filmmakers, adjacent those who weren’t recognized by the academy,” Anderson said.

He began by recalling the Oscars for films released successful 1975, erstwhile “Dog Day Afternoon,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Jaws” were up for champion picture.

“There is nary champion among them, determination is conscionable what that temper mightiness beryllium that day,” Anderson said, referring to the competitory field.

The crowd’s applause lone grew arsenic Anderson, admitting that helium “blew it” successful not acknowledging his formed for his erstwhile directing win, looked implicit astatine the film’s breakout star, Infiniti, whose eyes welled.

“Chase, my American girl, Chase, you are the bosom of this movie,” Anderson said successful an affectional dedication. “You guys, let’s person a martini, this is beauteous amazing!”

“One Battle After Another” is simply a satirical action-thriller with an aggravated and timely exploration of American extremism that stars DiCaprio arsenic a retired revolutionary forced backmost into action. Overall, it took location six Oscars, including directing and adapted screenplay for Anderson and supporting histrion for Sean Penn, who missed the ceremony.

In the champion representation category, “One Battle After Another” defeated “Sinners” — which won 4 Oscars, including pb histrion and archetypal screenplay — “Hamnet,” “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent,” “Bugonia,” “Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein,” “F1” and “Train Dreams.”

Now disposable to watercourse connected HBO Max, “One Battle After Another” collected $209.4 cardinal astatine the worldwide container office.