Key Oscar moments: Paul Thomas Anderson and Amy Madigan wins, outstanding songs and sad goodbyes

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MARK KENNEDY
Updated 2:01 AM CDT, March 16, 2026

This Oscar cycle’s heavyweight battle is finally over. The politically charged action comedy “One Battle After Another” just managed to outmuscle Ryan Coogler’s musically driven vampire thriller “Sinners.”

It was a 3 hour and 40 minute whirl through cinema and celebration, with Michael B. Jordan winning best actor for “Sinners” and Jessie Buckley winning for “Hamnet,” making her the first Irish performer to ever win in the category.

There was electricity when Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and Black person to win the cinematography award for “Sinners,” asking all the women in the Dolby Theatre to stand up because moments like this don’t happen without women “standing up for you and advocating for you.”

Here were some other show highlights:
The battle is over for one filmmaker

Paul Thomas Anderson, one of the most respected filmmakers of his generation, finally won an Oscar. Then he won another. Then he won for best picture.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/2026-oscars-best-moments-highlights-24c5cdbe4af2a91798a5ad61067732cb

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. I was so happy for K Pop Demon Hunters....and "Golden"

I found that animated film a hidden gem for some strange reason. The weaving of Korean myth and legend and modern day storytelling via music was a stroke of genius. I LOVED it. I need to watch it again.

The song itself is a mega hit for its upbeat musical backdrop. No wonder it was used for the recent Winter Olympics.

Netflix has shown it is a player when it comes to films and documentaries. FRANKENSTEIN is a BEAUTIFUL film in every respect. I was happy with its wins. The sets gave the film its Victorian eeriness that captivated the viewer.

All in all, it was a good show.

[mwmisses4289]

2. I love KPDH.

That film caused me to take deep dives into Korean culture and food (of course! 😀 ). The one bit I found most fascinating was the basis for Derpy and Sussi (the tiger and magpie).

Congrats to Maggie Kang, Chris Applehans, Ejae, Arden Cho and all the cast and crew of KPDH for their well deserved Oscars!🎉🎊🎇

[LisaM]

5. I wish they had played all five songs.

I went back and listened to them all and "Train Dreams" was really the most memorable. It was hard to even pick up on the songs "Golden" and "I Lied to You" themselves in the overwrought production numbers, but I thought both of them were a bit meh - if they came up on the radio or someone's Spotify list, I don't think I could tell them from a lot of other songs. (Though it is the Oscars, so I can't really beef about big production numbers).

I'm generally disappointed by the winner in this category, though!

[scarletlib]

6. I also appreciate the fact that that the monster wasn't depicted as a violent dumb beast.

He remained true to his characterization by Mary Shelley.

[mopinko]

3. 1st irish woman. cillian murphy won in 24.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. Jimmy Kimmel was a delight...

When presenting the Oscars for Documentary Short and Feature Film when he said.."Someone is going to be upset his wife wasn't nominated for an Oscar." and about the "trying on shoes that don't fit."