The 98th Academy Awards delivered a night filled with historic moments as several winners set new milestones in Oscars history. While Michael B. Jordan drew attention for his groundbreaking win for “Sinners,” he was not the only performer or filmmaker to make history at the 2026 ceremony.
The annual awards show celebrated the most acclaimed films and performances of the year. Several top contenders entered the night with strong nominations, including “Sinners,” which received 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film. Other heavily nominated projects included “One Battle After Another,” “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme,” “Sentimental Value,” and “Hamnet.”
By the end of the ceremony, “One Battle After Another” led the night with six wins. “Sinners” followed with four victories, while “Frankenstein” earned three awards. “KPop Demon Hunters” won two awards, and individual honors went to films including “Sentimental Value,” “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “Hamnet,” “Weapons,” and “F1.”
Michael B. Jordan Sets Unique Best Actor Record for ‘Sinners’
Jordan made Oscar history with his win for best actor for his performance in “Sinners.”
According to stats compiled by VegasInsider.com, he became the first actor to win the Best Actor award for playing twins in a single film. In “Sinners,” Jordan portrayed twin brothers Smoke and Stack.
While some observers have compared the achievement to Lee Marvin’s Oscar win for “Cat Ballou” in 1965, it was never definitively confirmed that Marvin’s two characters were twins. Jordan’s performance in “Sinners” is the first clearly documented example of an actor winning the category for portraying twin roles.
The film was one of the night’s biggest contenders, entering the ceremony with a record 16 nominations and ultimately taking home four awards.
Several Other Oscar Winners Set Historic Milestones
Jordan’s record-setting win was part of a broader night of historic achievements across several major categories.
Amy Madigan won best supporting actress for her performance in “Weapons,” setting a new Oscars record for the longest gap between a first nomination and a first win. Madigan’s victory came 40 years and one month after her first nomination for “Twice In A Lifetime.”
Sean Penn also made history with his win for best supporting actor for “One Battle After Another.” The award marked Penn’s third acting Oscar, placing him among a small group of male actors with three acting wins.
The only other actors to reach that milestone are Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Walter Brennan.
Jessie Buckley also delivered a historic moment when she won best actress for “Hamnet.” Buckley became the first Irish actress to win the category in Academy Awards history.
Behind the camera, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw also set a major milestone. Arkapaw won best cinematography for “Sinners,” becoming the first woman to win the award and the first Black cinematographer to receive an Oscar.
International and Music Categories Also Produced Historic Wins
Several additional categories produced historic outcomes during the ceremony.
In the Best Original Song category, “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” made history for its songwriters Ejae, Ido, and Teddy Park. The trio became the first South Korean songwriters to win the award, and the track became the first K-pop song to receive an Oscar.
The best international feature film category also saw a milestone victory. Norway’s “Sentimental Value” won the award, marking the country’s first Oscar win in the category after seven nominations.
Another historic moment occurred in the Best Live Action Short Film category. The Academy announced a rare tie between “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva.”
The result marked the seventh tie in Oscars history. It also made the Best Live Action Short film the first category to experience multiple ties across different years, following a previous tie in the category in 1995.
Diane Warren also extended a unique Oscars record during the ceremony. The songwriter received her 17th nomination for “Dear Me,” making her the individual with the most nominations without a competitive Oscar win. The nomination also marked her ninth consecutive year receiving a nomination in the category
