Hollywood’s film industry turns attention Sunday to the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, with intense competition between “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” for Best Picture—cinema’s most prestigious honor. Film critics suggest the competition for Best Picture this year remains essentially confined to the two frontrunning films, with “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, leading the field with a record-tying 16 nominations, while “One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, follows with 13 nominations.
Variety’s Clayton Davis told Agence France-Presse that either film could “break Oscar records.” Comedian Conan O’Brien will host the ceremony, airing live on ABC and Hulu starting 4 p.m. Los Angeles time (11 p.m. GMT) for the second consecutive year, featuring live musical performances. Amid escalating political tensions and intensifying Middle East warfare, Los Angeles police have heightened security measures on Hollywood streets.
“Sinners” Leads with Record-Tying 16 Nominations
“Sinners,” which tells the story of twin brothers returning to their Deep South hometown in a supernatural, racially-segregated world of the 1930s, leads the Oscar field with 16 nominations, tying a previous record for nomination count. The film’s extensive nomination tally suggests broad Academy recognition across multiple categories and performance achievements.
Director Ryan Coogler, renowned for “Black Panther,” could become the first Black person to win Best Director in the Academy Awards’ 98-year history, representing a significant milestone for the industry’s highest-profile awards ceremony.
“Sinners” Technical and Acting Achievements
The extensive nomination count for “Sinners” reflects achievements across acting, cinematography, production design, and technical categories. The film appears to have registered broad support among Academy voters across diverse voting blocs. The potential for Coogler to win Best Director would represent historical recognition of directing achievement previously overlooked by the Academy.
“One Battle After Another” Challenges with 13 Nominations
“One Battle After Another” tells the story of a former revolutionary whose teenage daughter is hunted by a white supremacist soldier during an era marked by immigrant raids and political extremism. The film addresses contemporary American political tensions through historical lens.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson, one of contemporary American cinema’s most prominent figures, has never won an Oscar despite 11 previous nominations for films including “There Will Be Blood” and “Boogie Nights.” His continuing Oscar losses despite consistent critical acclaim have made him a sympathetic figure among some voters.
Anderson’s Oscar History and Voter Sentiment
An unnamed Academy voter told Agence France-Presse he voted for Anderson “because of the body of his work” but acknowledged the choice was “very difficult,” adding “They said it’s time. I think the Academy will honor Anderson. But that doesn’t mean Ryan Coogler doesn’t deserve it.”
The voter’s comments reveal deep uncertainty within the Academy regarding merit and historical recognition, suggesting genuine internal debate about whether Anderson’s lengthy career of acclaimed work justifies recognition or whether Coogler’s historic achievement as first Black Best Director winner takes precedence.
Best Actor Competition Tightens Around DiCaprio and Jordan
Timothée Chalamet appeared for months to be the optimal choice to win Best Actor for his portrayal of a 1950s ping-pong player in “Marty Supreme.” However, a series of ill-advised comments, most recently dismissing ballet and opera as art forms “no one cares about,” have diminished the talented 30-year-old’s prospects.
The voter comments suggest the Academy increasingly discounts actor’s personal statements, focusing instead on performance. The voter predicted Michael B. Jordan would win in this “heated competition,” noting that “Sinners” star Jordan won the Screen Actors Guild award this month.
Davis noted that “this is a movie star performance we don’t get often,” but did not exclude DiCaprio or Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”) from winning possibilities.
Best Actor Field Reflects Diverse Performance Styles
The Best Actor field encompasses diverse performance approaches: Chalamet’s technical performance, DiCaprio’s dramatic intensity, Hawke’s character study, and Jordan’s two-role dual performance showcase varied acting methodologies. The Academy’s choice will reflect preferences among diverse voter demographics.
Supporting Actor and Actress Categories Show Depth
In the Best Supporting Actor category, Sean Penn stands out for his comedic and frightening role in “One Battle After Another.” However, he faces global star Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”) and veteran actor Delroy Lindo, who received his first Oscar nomination at age 73 for “Sinners.”
Best Supporting Actress may go to Amy Madigan for “Webs,” Tiana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”), or Wonmi Musako (“Sinners”).
Supporting Performance Recognition
Supporting performance categories often recognize actors bringing depth to secondary characters. Penn’s comedic intensity, Skarsgård’s dramatic weight, and Lindo’s veteran presence at first Oscar nomination represent different pathways to supporting recognition. Supporting actress field shows comparable diversity across age, background, and performance style.
International Film Competition Highlights Global Cinema
The Best International Film category should prove competitive, particularly between “Sentimental Value” and “The Secret Agent.” “Sentimental Value” (Norway) and “The Secret Agent” (Brazil) lead the international competition, representing different regional cinematic traditions and storytelling approaches.
Tunisia’s “Sawt Hind Rajab” (“The Voice of Hind Rajab”) also competes, potentially representing important international perspectives on contemporary conflicts and human experience.
Animated Feature and Documentary Recognition
Animated feature and documentary categories recognize achievement beyond live-action narrative cinema. “Zootopia 2” and other animated features compete alongside documentary films addressing contemporary issues and historical subjects. These categories provide Academy recognition to diverse filmmaking approaches and subject matters.
In Memoriam Segment Honors Recently Deceased Cinema Icons
The annual In Memoriam segment will honor Robert Redford, who died September 2025, and Rob Reiner, killed December 2025. Both figures represented significant contributions to American cinema across multiple decades and diverse filmmaking genres.
Potential Barbara Streisand Tribute Performance
Producers refused to comment on reports that Barbara Streisand will sing a tribute song to her co-star from “The Way We Were.” If confirmed, such a performance would add emotional weight to ceremony proceedings and recognize iconic cinema partnerships.
Political Activism and Oscar Ceremony Platform Precedent
The Academy Awards ceremony traditionally provides high-visibility platform for social and political statements. Beginning with actress Vanessa Redgrave’s 1978 Best Supporting Actress acceptance of pro-Palestinian revolution statement, Oscar ceremonies have occasionally become venues for political declarations despite institutional resistance.
Director Michael Moore’s 2003 Best Documentary Feature acceptance included anti-war Iraq statements: “We are against the war. Shame on you, Mr. Bush.” Such statements divide audience reactions between supporters and opponents.
Historical Context of Activism at Oscar Ceremonies
According to Variety reports, actor Jack Nicholson invited 2003 Oscar nominees (Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicolas Cage, Adrien Brody) to his home, proposing an Iraq War boycott. All agreed except Brody, who noted it was his first nomination and might not recur.
Twenty-three years later, a new Middle East war has erupted against a different adversary. However, polling shows broader American opposition to current war compared to limited support for 2003 Iraq invasion, increasing likelihood that Oscar ceremony becomes venue for political debate expressing diverse anti-war perspectives.
Security Heightened Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Los Angeles police have heightened security measures on Hollywood streets amid escalating political tensions and intensifying Middle East warfare. The security posture reflects official recognition that high-profile public gatherings require enhanced protective measures during periods of elevated geopolitical tension.
Oscar Ceremony as Cultural Reflection
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony reflects contemporary American cinema and broader cultural preoccupations. “Sinners'” supernatural narrative, “One Battle After Another’s” political urgency, and other nominees address themes of identity, history, and social conflict resonating with contemporary audiences.
The ceremony’s political atmosphere reflects broader American social divisions regarding military intervention, representation, and historical recognition within cinema and broader culture.
Conclusion:
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony Sunday will determine Best Picture winner between “Sinners” (16 nominations) and “One Battle After Another” (13 nominations), with historic potential for Ryan Coogler to become first Black Best Director winner. Comedian Conan O’Brien hosts for second consecutive year as heightened security reflects geopolitical tensions. The ceremony will likely serve as venue for political statements regarding ongoing Middle East conflict, reflecting historical precedent of Oscar ceremonies becoming platforms for social activism and political declarations.
