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Paul Thomas Anderson Wins Top Prize at Directors Guild Awards
The 'One Battle After Another' filmmaker is now the frontrunner for the Best Director Oscar.
Feb. 8, 2026 at 12:55pm
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Paul Thomas Anderson won the top prize at the 78th Directors Guild Awards for his film 'One Battle After Another', putting him on course to potentially win his first Oscar for Best Director. The DGA Awards are considered one of the most reliable precursors to the Oscars, with the guild's winner going on to win the Oscar for Best Director in 9 out of the last 10 years.
Why it matters
Anderson's DGA win solidifies his status as the frontrunner for the Best Director Oscar, which would be his first Academy Award win. The success of 'One Battle After Another' this awards season also boosts its chances of winning Best Picture at the Oscars.
The details
The DGA Awards, held on Saturday night in Beverly Hills, California, saw Anderson beat out a field of nominees that included Ryan Coogler ('Sinners'), Guillermo Del Toro ('Frankenstein'), Josh Safdie ('Marty Supreme'), and Chloé Zhao ('Hamnet'). In his acceptance speech, Anderson paid tribute to his late assistant director Adam Somner, who passed away in 2024.
- The 78th Directors Guild Awards ceremony took place on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
- Voting for the 95th Academy Awards begins on February 26, 2026.
- The 95th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026.
The players
Paul Thomas Anderson
An acclaimed American filmmaker who has directed critically acclaimed films such as 'There Will Be Blood', 'The Master', and 'Phantom Thread'. His latest film, 'One Battle After Another', is considered the frontrunner for the Best Director Oscar.
Adam Somner
Anderson's late assistant director who passed away in 2024. Anderson paid tribute to Somner in his acceptance speech.
Christopher Nolan
The new president of the Directors Guild of America, who acknowledged the 'very hard times' for filmmakers in his opening remarks at the ceremony.
What they’re saying
“Obviously, we are up here minus one.”
— Paul Thomas Anderson, Director (wbal.com)
“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, President, Directors Guild of America (wbal.com)
What’s next
Academy voting for the 95th Oscars begins on February 26, 2026, and the ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026. Paul Thomas Anderson's DGA win makes him the frontrunner to win the Best Director Oscar for 'One Battle After Another'.
The takeaway
Paul Thomas Anderson's DGA win for 'One Battle After Another' solidifies his status as the leading contender for the Best Director Oscar, which would be his first Academy Award. The film's awards season success also boosts its chances of winning Best Picture, demonstrating the continued power of auteur-driven cinema in an era of blockbusters and streaming dominance.
