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Paul Thomas Anderson Wins Top Directors Guild Award
The honor puts the "One Battle After Another" filmmaker on course for his first Oscar.
Feb. 8, 2026 at 5:55pm
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Paul Thomas Anderson has won the top prize at the 78th Directors Guild Awards, putting the "One Battle After Another" filmmaker on course for his first Oscar. The awards, held Saturday night in Beverly Hills, are among the most reliable Academy Awards precursors, with nine DGA winners going on to win best director at the Oscars over the past 10 years. Anderson called his directing team to the stage for an emotional acceptance speech, saying "This is an incredible, incredible honor."
Why it matters
The DGA Award adds to a virtual awards-season sweep for "One Battle After Another," which has won with critics groups, the Gotham Awards, and the Golden Globes. The film is considered the favorite for best picture at the Oscars on March 15.
The details
The other nominees were Ryan Coogler for "Sinners," Guillermo Del Toro for "Frankenstein," Josh Safdie for "Marty Supreme," and Chloé Zhao for "Hamnet." Other winners Saturday included Charlie Polinger for first-time director, Mstyslav Chernov for best documentary filmmaking, and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg for comedy series.
- The 78th Directors Guild Awards were held on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
- Academy voting begins on February 26, 2026.
- The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026.
The players
Paul Thomas Anderson
The director of the film "One Battle After Another," which has been sweeping awards season and is considered the favorite for Best Picture at the upcoming Oscars.
Ryan Coogler
The director of the film "Sinners," who was nominated for the Directors Guild Award.
Guillermo Del Toro
The director of the film "Frankenstein," who was nominated for the Directors Guild Award.
Josh Safdie
The director of the film "Marty Supreme," who was nominated for the Directors Guild Award.
Chloé Zhao
The director of the film "Hamnet," who was nominated for the Directors Guild Award.
What they’re saying
“This is an incredible, incredible honor. We're going to take it with the love that it's given and the appreciation of all our comrades in this room.”
— Paul Thomas Anderson (The Hollywood Reporter)
“In 2024, our employment in our guild was down about 40%, and that was followed by another decline in '25. The amount of money that people spend on our work, on entertainment, is very, very stable. Audiences are invested in us, we have to be sure that we're able to repay that investment.”
— Christopher Nolan, Directors Guild of America President (Newser)
What’s next
Academy voting begins on February 26, 2026, ahead of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony on March 15, 2026, where Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" is expected to be a major contender for Best Picture.
The takeaway
The Directors Guild of America Award is a strong indicator of Oscar success, with nine of the last ten DGA winners going on to win the Best Director Oscar. Paul Thomas Anderson's win for "One Battle After Another" solidifies the film's status as the awards season favorite, though the Oscars remain unpredictable.
