The 2026 Academy Awards, held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, celebrated the year’s biggest films with major wins and historic moments. From standout performances to memorable speeches, the night highlighted both talent and progress in the film industry.

One of the most memorable moments came when Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his role in Sinners. His win marked a historic milestone, as he became the sixth Black actor to receive the award, making it a significant achievement for representation in Hollywood.

The film Sinners stood out as one of the most successful of the night, with awards across multiple categories. 

According to the Los Angeles Times, “Sinners, won four awards, including Michael B. Jordan for best actor in a leading role, Ryan Coogler’s original screenplay, his first, original score, and cinematography, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw making history as the first woman to win an Oscar in the category.”

The biggest award, Best Picture, went to One Battle After Another, which led with the most wins. The film’s success demonstrated a strong impact on both critics and audiences.

 Paul Thomas Anderson also earned Best Director, adding to its dominance. 

According to the Los Angeles Times, “Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another,’ taking home six Oscars, including best picture, best director and adapted screenplay at the 98th Academy Awards.”

Supernatural and dark stories were prominent themes among the recognized films.

According to Vanity Fair, “Was 2025 the year of the monster? In addition to Frankenstein’s creature and Sinners’ vampires, there were the demons of KPop Demon Hunters.”

Other major winners included Jessie Buckley, who took home Best Actress for Hamnet, and “Golden,” by KPop Demon Hunters, won Best Original Song. Overall, films like Sinners and One Battle After Another stood out as the most recognized projects of the ceremony.

However, while the awards themselves were widely televised, the viewership of the ceremony slightly declined compared to previous years. 

According to Variety, “The 98th annual Academy Awards drew 17.86 million viewers. The number is down 9% from last year’s 19.7 million viewers, which had been a five-year high for the telecast.”

In the acting categories, there were both expected and unexpected wins. 

Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Weapons, which some viewers did not expect.

According to Vanity Fair, “Madigan’s win was a surprise to some, as a number of supporting actresses had taken home trophies this season.”

Jessie Buckley’s Best Actress win for Hamnet was predictable following a strong award season.

Vanity Fair explained, “The Hamnet star had won pretty much every award she was eligible for this cycle.”

The night also had a rare moment in one of the smaller categories. The Academy announced a tie for Best Live-Action Short, making it the seventh time in Oscars history that two winners have shared the same award.

CHS sophomore Anais Kak shared her thoughts on this year’s ceremony and its films.

“I think the Oscars are a highlight of every year,” Kak said. “This year was really great, especially with Conan O’Brien hosting, and all the movies that were nominated were really good.”

Kak also commented on one of the films she watched, Frankenstein, which won three Oscars. 

“I thought Frankenstein was pretty good, but I didn’t think it was anything revolutionary,” she said.

She also noted a viral moment following the ceremony when Michael B. Jordan was spotted celebrating at In-N-Out.

“It was such a sweet way to end the night,” Kak said. “It was spontaneous and very Californian.”

Another CHS student, senior Ali Shirloo, shared her perspective after watching Sinners.

“I thought it really represented that time and Black culture, and how it connects to people today,” Shirloo said. “It was eye-opening and inspiring to see those communities come together.”

Shirloo also believed the movie fully deserved its success at the awards.

“I think it deserved all the awards it got,” she said. “It shows a lot of different experiences, and the music was great.”

She also reacted to the viral moment of Michael B. Jordan being seen at In-N-Out after the ceremony.

“I thought it was hilarious,” Shirloo said. “It was relatable and funny, I wish I were there to see it.”

The 2026 Oscars honored the best in film while showing how the entertainment industry grows through its storytelling and representation.