On March 15, the annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, were held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and streamed to the public on ABC and Hulu. For 98 years, this awards ceremony has recognized the various achievements of the worldwide film industry, with this year no different.
By far, the most controversial moment of the night was the winner of Best Actor in a Leading Role, with Michael B. Jordan taking the win for his role in "Sinners." The victory was both significant for Jordan as his first Oscar win and the Oscars as a whole, with Jordan being the sixth African-American to ever win this award.
However, Jordan’s victory is not the only reason the media has been discussing these results. Timothée Chalamet, a fellow nominee for his lead role in "Marty Supreme," recieved major backlash recently for his comments regarding public disinterest in classical arts, such as ballet and opera. Although Oscar voting ended before Chalamet's comments, some believe the controversy may have contributed to his loss.
Another two wins worth mentioning are “KPop Demon Hunters” and its hit track "Golden," winning Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song respectively. The wins made history as the first K-Pop centered film and K-Pop song to have ever won Oscars.
Even more firsts were gained this year, with Jessie Buckley winning the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role. For her role in “Hamnet,” Buckley officially became the first Irish actress to ever win the award. The category is considered one of the most competitive at the Oscars, making this win huge for Buckley.
Another frequently discussed award is Best Picture, and this year, “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, took the award home. Due to its immense popularity and sixteen nominations, "Sinners" was expected to take home this prize. However, both films got to shine, with “Sinners” securing four wins and “One Battle After Another” scoring six.
Other films got their time in the spotlight as well. The newest adaptation of "Frankenstein" was recognized for its historically accurate style by securing Best Costuming and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” took home Best Visual Effects for its use of CGI.
The 98th Academy Awards was a huge night for many, full of different cultures being represented where they haven’t been before and talented artists bringing their first Oscars home. Many amazing films have been and will be released in 2026 and the list only grows, leaving many talented artists awaiting nominations.
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Amelia Gatzke, freshman majoring in psychology, is from Huntsville, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
