Oscars Celebrate Original Filmmaking, Warner Bros Triumph

In a night of surprises and historic wins, the 98th Academy Awards honored groundbreaking movies and the studio behind them.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:10am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 98th annual Academy Awards saw a triumph for original filmmaking, with Warner Bros Discovery taking home a leading 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and multiple wins for "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners." The night also featured rare occurrences like a tie for Best Live Action Short and several notable absences among the winners. Despite some political commentary, the show was praised for its eloquence and production design, cementing it as a memorable night in Hollywood.

Why it matters

The Oscars' embrace of original, non-franchise films signals a shift away from the dominance of blockbusters and sequels, giving independent and auteur-driven projects a chance to shine. Warner Bros Discovery's success also highlights the studio's commitment to taking risks on bold, creator-driven stories, even when the commercial viability is uncertain.

The details

Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav praised the studio's creative leadership, noting that two of the three major award-winning films "might never have been made" without their support. The deals made, including giving filmmaker Ryan Coogler creative ownership of "Sinners," demonstrate the studio's desire to foster long-term relationships with top talent. The Oscars ceremony itself was praised for its eloquence, production design, and allowing participants to express their political views.

  • The 98th annual Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 16, 2026.
  • Oscar voting occurred in the weeks leading up to the ceremony.

The players

David Zaslav

The CEO of Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of Warner Bros, which had a highly successful night at the Oscars.

Mike De Luca

Co-chairman of Warner Bros Pictures, who celebrated the studio's big night at the Oscars.

Pam Abdy

Co-chairman of Warner Bros Pictures, who was also enthusiastic about the studio's Oscars performance.

Ryan Coogler

The writer and director of the Best Picture-winning film "Sinners," who had a unique creative ownership deal with Warner Bros.

Michael B. Jordan

The Best Actor winner for his dual roles in "Sinners," becoming only the second person to win an Oscar for playing twins.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What a night we had,”

— David Zaslav, CEO, Warner Bros Discovery

“Look, yes we made that deal but it's important because we want to be in the Ryan Coogler business, the Michael B. Jordan business, the Paul Thomas Anderson business.”

— David Zaslav, CEO, Warner Bros Discovery

“What could possibly be better than this?”

— Pam Abdy, Co-chairman, Warner Bros Pictures

What’s next

The judge in the case involving Waymo vandalism will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the accused, Walker Reed Quinn, out on bail.

The takeaway

This Oscars ceremony celebrated the triumph of original, creator-driven filmmaking over franchise blockbusters, with Warner Bros Discovery emerging as a studio willing to take risks and empower visionary filmmakers. The night's events underscore the evolving nature of the film industry and the Academy's embrace of diverse, boundary-pushing storytelling.