The 98th annual Academy Awards were held on March 15th, 2026, where the best films of 2025 were honored along with the individuals who dedicated effort and time to make these films possible. This night also marked Comedian Conan O’Brien’s second time hosting the Academy Awards ceremony.
One of the most notable films of 2025 that earned a great deal of recognition was Sinners, which starred Michael B. Jordan. Sinners had 16 nominations in total, which was the most nominations a film had received at this year’s Oscars. The film won four Oscars by the end of the night with Michael B. Jordan winning Best Actor for his outstanding portrayal of two distinct brothers in Sinners.
Additionally, Ryan Coogler was recognized for Best Original Screenplay along with Ludwig Göransson winning Best Original Score. Sinners also won in the Best Cinematography category, making it one of the most highlighted films at the Academy Awards this year. “Sinners was definitely my favorite movie that came out in 2025 because it had such a unique concept,” Faith Saba (12) explains.
Another film that was highly recognized at the Oscars this year was One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It was also the film that took the most awards home that night as it won 6 of the categories. Paul Thomas Anderson, the film’s director, won the Best Director category after years of being in the cinema industry. One Battle After Another also won awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Casting.
An actress that was highly praised for her amazing performance in Hamnet was Jessie Buckley, where she gave a heartfelt speech to the audience as she accepted the award. Amy Madigan won in the Best Supporting Actress category for her great performance in Weapons, marking her first Oscar after years of being in the acting industry. Sean Penn claimed the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in One Battle After Another. Precious Hoang (12) says, “Jessie Buckley delivered one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in a film, so I believe her award was well-deserved.”
Overall, the 2026 Oscars recognized many individuals for their great efforts in making these stories come to life for others to enjoy. The Oscars continue to be one of the most anticipated award ceremonies in the film industry with millions of viewers turning on their TVs to see the results of the nominations.
