“One Battle After Another” Secures Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” was awarded Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, marking a significant win for the filmmaker and Warner Bros. Studio. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti, also secured awards for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, despite his absence from the ceremony.

A Comic Saga of Political Resistance

The film is described as a comic, multi-generational American saga of political resistance. Anderson, a long-time celebrated filmmaker, had previously not won an Oscar before this victory. He dedicated the award to his children, expressing a desire to apologize for “the housekeeping mess that we left in this world.”

Apple’s “F1” and Other Nominees

Although “One Battle After Another” dominated the night, Apple’s “F1,” a sports film centered around Formula One racing, also received recognition, winning Best Sound. However, it was surpassed in the other three categories for which it was nominated. “F1” has proven to be a lucrative venture for Apple, generating over $630 million in worldwide revenue and serving as a promotional tool for the Formula One championship on Apple TV+.

Other Apple Productions at the Oscars

Two other Apple TV+ productions, “Come Observe Me in the Good Light” (nominated in the documentary category) and “The Lost Bus” (nominated for visual effects), did not win awards at the ceremony. A sequel to “F1” has been confirmed, though casting details remain unannounced.

Gaza War Films Fall Short

Three films addressing the Gaza war and hostage crisis—including two Israeli films, Hilla Medalia’s documentary short “Children No More: Were and are Gone” and Meyer Levinson-Blount’s live action short film “Butcher’s Stain,” and Tunisian docudrama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”—did not secure wins in their respective categories.

Pro-Palestinian Statement at the Awards

During the ceremony, actor Javier Bardem made a statement advocating for peace, declaring “No to war and Free Palestine” while presenting the award for Best International Film.