The 98th Academy Awards make history with new category and monumental wins

The 98th Academy Awards, or Oscars, were held on March 15. The ceremony was hosted by former late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien.

The Academy Awards highlight outstanding work in cinema from the previous year, so this ceremony focused on films released in 2025. As many predicted, “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” swept this season.

It was also a big year for horror, a genre that usually goes uncelebrated by major awards.

This year, the Oscars introduced a new category: best casting. Cassandra Kulukundis took home the award for her work on “One Battle After Another,” making her the first casting director to be awarded by The Academy for her work.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw also made history at the Oscars this year as the first woman to ever take home the award for best cinematography for her work on “Sinners.” In the 98 years of the Academy Awards, no woman has ever won for cinematography.

The best supporting actress category was stacked this year, with performers such as Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku and Teyana Taylor nominated. Madigan took home the Oscar for her work in “Weapons,” a horror film where she played the witchy antagonist, Aunt Gladys.

Sean Penn won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his performance in “One Battle After Another,” one of the most awarded films this season. This was another highly-contested category.

As usual, the best actress category was filled with fantastic performances from the year. The nominees included Kate Hudson, Emma Stone, Renate Reinsve, Jessie Buckley and Rose Byrne. Buckley took home the award for her performance in “Hamnet.” I have yet to see the film, but I have heard fantastic things and this win has me wanting to watch it even more.

In another win for “Sinners,” Michael B. Jordan won the Oscar for best actor for his performances in the film. He beat Timothée Chalamet —who has recently been under fire for his comments about ballet and opera —as well as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura. Jordan played twin characters Smoke and Stack in the film, delivering fantastic performances in both roles.

Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay for his work on “Sinners,” and Paul Thomas Anderson won best adapted screenplay for “One Battle After Another.” Anderson also won best director. These were two of the most talked-about films this season, so these wins were not surprising.

Best animated feature went to “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” a film that was popular among people from all generations. This was another win that didn’t surprise me at all, as everyone was raving about it.

Last but certainly not least, the award for best picture went to “One Battle After Another.” Other nominated films were “Sinners,” “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value” and “Train Dream.” Not only did “One Battle After Another” win best picture, but it also took home six Oscars total, making it the most awarded film of the night.