Paul Thomas Anderson Wins Top DGA Award

What It Means for the Oscars

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Paul Thomas Anderson's win at the 78th annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards for 'One Battle After Another' is sending ripples through Hollywood. The DGA Awards are widely considered a key indicator of success at the Academy Awards, making Anderson a frontrunner in the Best Director category. The ceremony, hosted by Kumail Nanjiani, also celebrated achievements in television and commercials.

Why it matters

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film has a strong track record of predicting the Oscar winner. Anderson's DGA win significantly boosts his chances at the Oscars.

The details

This year's nominees included Ryan Coogler ('Sinners'), Guillermo Del Toro ('Frankenstein'), Josh Safdie ('Marty Supreme'), and Chloé Zhao ('Hamnet'), showcasing a diverse range of directorial styles and storytelling approaches. While Joachim Trier ('Sentimental Value') is nominated for the Oscars in Del Toro's place, Anderson's DGA win is a major boost.

  • The 78th annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards ceremony took place on February 8, 2026.

The players

Paul Thomas Anderson

The director of 'One Battle After Another,' which won the award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film.

Kumail Nanjiani

The host of the 2026 DGA Awards ceremony.

Ryan Coogler

The director of 'Sinners,' one of the nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film.

Guillermo Del Toro

The director of 'Frankenstein,' one of the nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film.

Josh Safdie

The director of 'Marty Supreme,' one of the nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film.

Chloé Zhao

The director of 'Hamnet,' one of the nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film.

Joachim Trier

The director of 'Sentimental Value,' which is nominated for the Oscars in place of Guillermo Del Toro's 'Frankenstein.'

Christopher Nolan

The newly elected DGA president, who presided over the ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.