Men's Lifestyle March 16, 2026 0 Comments

How One Battle After Another Finally Broke Through to Win Best Picture – The Surprising Story Behind the Victory

Ever wonder how a night that kicks off with star-studded glamour and a flurry of predictions ends with a twisty thriller crowned as the ultimate victor? Well, buckle up because the 98th Academy Awards just dropped the mic on the 2025 movie season, crowning One Battle After Another as Best Picture in a ceremony that was anything but predictable . From surprise wins to heartfelt speeches that remind us there’s never really a “best” — just moments frozen in time — this year’s Oscars proved they still know how to keep us on our toes. And hey, isn’t it kind of comforting to remember that even the biggest names can forget their thank-yous in the heat of the moment? Pull up a seat, because the race was packed with fierce contenders and unforgettable stories that’ll have you rethinking your own “best of” lists. Ready to dive into the drama, the glitz, and the surprise sweep? LEARN MORE

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Don’t miss Hollywood insider Anthony Breznican’s coverage of the 2026 Academy Awards.

At long last, the best picture of the 2025 movie season is decided. At the 98th Academy Awards, the final honor of the evening belonged to One Battle After Another, which won the Oscar for Best Picture.

On a night filled with expected victories (like Kpop Demon Hunters taking Best Animated Feature Film) and some surprising wins (like Amy Madigan winning Best Supporting Actress for Weapons), it was Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest picture that closed out the ceremonies by taking the ultimate prize.

In his brief speech, Anderson reminded everyone that there is no “best” anything. “In 1975, the Oscar nominees for Best Picture were Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Jaws, Nashville, and Barry Lyndon,” Anderson said. “There is no ‘best’ among them. There is just what the mood might be that day. But we’re happy to be part of this. A wonderful, wonderful journey with our fellow nominees, our fellow filmmakers, our fellow filmmakers that weren’t recognized by the Academy.”

Anderson then made up for forgetting to thank his cast after he won Best Directing earlier in the evening. “I really blew it when I won a ‘Best Director’ award, and I forgot to thank my cast,” he said. He then named his One Battle After Another stars one by one. “You are the heart of this movie, this entire team. What a night.”

This year’s race has been an unusually heated contest, even by awards season standards. On the Best Picture front, it was Marty Supreme and One Battle After Another that seemed like the two most surefire winners. That is, until Sinners saw reinvigorated momentum in recent weeks.

Tonight’s ceremonies were indeed a mini-sweep of sorts for Sinners, with writer/director Ryan Coogler taking Best Original Screenplay, director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw winning Best Cinematography, Ludwig Göransson awarded for Music (Original Score), and Michael B. Jordan recognized for Best Actor in a Leading Role. But its nomination for Best Picture, alongside Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, opened up the possibility for it being the first horror film to win in the coveted category since The Silence of the Lambs back in 1991.

In the end, Best Picture was still One Battle After Another‘s trophy to own. This year’s race was a crowded field with acclaimed dramas like Train Dreams, Hamnet, and Sentimental Value mixing it up with crowd-pleasers like F1 (another summer box office juggernaut) and the aforementioned horror flicks. Also in the running were the Brazilian political thriller The Secret Agent and Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest bizarro satire Bugonia, because every Best Picture race needs a few dark horses to raise the stakes.

Finally, awards season is over. As the summer draws near and next year’s race too far out in the future to pay any mind to, it’s time to admit to your friends that you only watched half of this year’s categories.