The 98th Academy Awards: A Marathon of Memorable Moments
The 98th Academy Awards kicked off with Conan O'Brien sprinting for his life through scenes from the year's Best Picture nominees and concluded with Paul Thomas Anderson's political epic One Battle After Another claiming the top prize of the evening. Spanning approximately six and a half hours, the ceremony provided ample watercooler talking points, from hilarious monologues to emotional tributes. Before YouTube reconsiders its plan to stream the Oscars starting in 2029, here are the standout highlights from what O'Brien dubbed a real humdinger of an event.
Conan the Conqueror Delivers a Masterful Monologue
Drawing inspiration from past hosts like Billy Crystal, Conan O'Brien blended easy charm, sharp wit, and delightful absurdity to deliver one of the strongest opening monologues in over a decade. His cold open, featuring him in full Amy Madigan drag, was expertly crafted and edited. O'Brien's rapid-fire jokes targeted a range of subjects, from Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos to unnamed British actors, while also injecting sincerity with tributes to global artistry and optimism. The monologue culminated in a Josh Groban song and a puppet falcon, showcasing O'Brien's unique ability to keep things both heartfelt and weird.
One Battle After Another Dominates the Night
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another emerged as the evening's big winner, securing six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Anderson humorously noted his oversight in forgetting to thank his cast during his Best Director acceptance, later cradling the Best Picture statuette with a call for martinis. The film's success comes amid uncertainty at Warner Bros., recently sold to Paramount, which may not fully embrace Anderson's bold themes. This victory marks a significant moment in cinematic history, celebrating artistic vision in a changing industry landscape.
Canada Shines Bright at the Oscars
Canada enjoyed an unusually golden evening, starting with Conan O'Brien sparing the country from any 51st-state jokes. The wins began with Canadian director Maggie Kang of KPop Demon Hunters taking home Best Animated Feature. Montreal animators Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski followed, winning Best Animated Short for The Girl Who Cried Pearls and giving shout-outs to the National Film Board and other Canadian talents. Additionally, the made-in-Canada Frankenstein team nearly swept craft categories, with Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Tamara Deverell, and Shane Vieau earning awards for makeup, hairstyling, and production design.
Emotional Tributes and Surprising Ties
The "In Memoriam" segment was expanded into three distinct moments to honor the many industry losses over the past year, featuring heartfelt speeches from Billy Crystal, Rachel McAdams, and a serenade by Barbra Streisand. In a rare occurrence, a tie was announced for Best Live Action Short Film, with The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva sharing the award, leading to a humorous onstage reprimand from O'Brien. Another historic moment saw Autumn Durald Arkapaw become the first woman and first Black artist to win Best Cinematography, delivering a powerful acceptance speech.
Political Commentary and Family Themes
This year's Oscars took a more political stance compared to last year, with digs at U.S. President Donald Trump and critiques of media oligarchs. David Borenstein, director of Mr. Nobody Against Putin, used his Best Documentary acceptance speech to highlight issues of complicity and moral choices. Thematically, many Best Picture nominees explored men torn between family and glory, with winners like Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson emphasizing parental responsibility in their speeches.
Musical Performances and Absent Stars
The cast of Sinners delivered a standout performance of "I Lied to You," led by musicians Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq, though the song lost Best Original Song to KPop's "Golden." Notably absent was Sean Penn, who won Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another but skipped the ceremony, sparking speculation about his whereabouts. Overall, the 98th Academy Awards balanced celebration, critique, and innovation, leaving a lasting impression on Hollywood and audiences worldwide.
