Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' Wins Best Picture
Anderson's film won Best Picture and six Oscars while Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor but was photographed in Kyiv instead of attending.
Breitbart NewsSean Penn Wins Best Supporting Actor Oscar for ‘One Battle After Another,' Skips Ceremony for Ukraine Visit
Daily BeastTriple Oscar Winner Spotted in War Zone After Snubbing Ceremony
The GuardianOne no-show after another: Sean Penn joins an exclusive band of Oscar-winning refuseniks
CNBC'One Battle After Another' takes best picture at the Oscars
Overview
Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and earned six Oscars.
Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'One Battle After Another' but did not attend the ceremony and was photographed in Kyiv during a personal visit, a senior Ukrainian official said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a photo of him with Penn in his office, and presenter Kieran Culkin accepted Penn's statuette on his behalf.
Warner Bros. films led the night, tying a record with 11 Oscars overall, while 'Sinners' entered the ceremony with 16 nominations and finished with four awards.
Warner Bros.' planned $111 billion sale to Paramount Skydance awaits regulatory approval and has Hollywood bracing for more layoffs.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Oscars as glamorous escapism shadowed by geopolitical and industry anxieties. Editorial choices—juxtaposing celebratory descriptors and winner quotes with mentions of the U.S. war on Iran, security warnings, studio sale and production flight—prioritize contrast. Direct awardee quotes are treated as source content, not editorial voice.
FAQ
Sean Penn did not attend the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony because he was in Kyiv, Ukraine on a personal visit[5]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a photo of Penn in his office, and actor Kieran Culkin accepted Penn's Best Supporting Actor statuette on his behalf[5].
The film follows Bob, a washed-up revolutionary who lives off-grid with his daughter Willa after her mother, a revolutionary named Perfidia, is captured by white supremacist Army Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw[4]. When Lockjaw locates them, the film becomes an extended chase across America as various parties pursue each other, exploring themes of chosen family and the consequences of past radical activism[4].
'One Battle After Another' won six Oscars, including Best Picture[5]. Additionally, Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw[5].
Paul Thomas Anderson directed, wrote, and produced 'One Battle After Another'[5]. According to critics, Anderson, described as a "once coke-fuelled, hyperactive upstart," has matured and brought "world-weariness" to this epic film, which had the largest budget he has ever received[4].
Warner Bros. films led the night at the 2026 Academy Awards, tying a record with 11 Oscars overall[5]. However, Warner Bros.' planned $111 billion sale to Paramount Skydance awaits regulatory approval, with Hollywood bracing for potential layoffs following the acquisition[5].
