This evening Hollywood’s biggest names gathered at the Dolby Theater for the 98th Academy Awards, a sunlit red carpet and an awards show that promises tighter races than in recent years. Temperatures approached 83 degrees as stars including Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone navigated the roughly 900-foot carpet; Elle Fanning, nominated for supporting actress for Sentimental Value, paused to fan herself in the heat. Security was stepped up around the venue — a shopping‑mall theater on the Walk of Fame — with a one‑mile perimeter of street closures and visible law-enforcement patrols. Onstage, voters must choose between several closely contested films, and tonight marks the first year casting directors are eligible for an Oscar statuette.
Key takeaways
- The ceremony is the 98th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles and beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific on ABC and Hulu; scheduled runtime is three hours but overruns are common.
- Security included a one‑mile perimeter of street closures and heightened patrols after a recent F.B.I. alert; officials said there were no specific imminent threats reported publicly.
- There are several competitive races this year: the Academy’s 10,136 voting members are weighing Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another against Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which leads history with 16 nominations.
- Box office for best‑picture nominees has continued to decline: this year’s ten nominees have grossed about $1.7 billion combined worldwide, down from $1.8 billion in 2025 and $4.4 billion in 2023.
- Jessie Buckley is a strong favorite for best actress after wins at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs; best actor is widely considered a toss‑up among five frontrunners.
- Matt Berry (age 51), known for What We Do in the Shadows and a 2015 BAFTA winner, is the show’s announcer; Conan O’Brien returns as host.
- For the first time the Academy will award a statuette to casting directors, recognizing their role across a diverse slate of nominees.
- Activist groups projected ICE Out messaging around Hollywood the night before the show; several advocacy organizations are driving the campaign.
Background
The Academy Awards remain the film industry’s highest‑profile annual event, drawing global attention to Hollywood talent, studios and the state of theatrical cinema. This year’s ceremony comes as the industry confronts structural shifts: consolidation and cost cutting at major studios, changing distribution models after the pandemic, and ongoing debates about the role of streaming versus theatrical releases. Those forces have reshaped which films reach mass audiences and, increasingly, which titles occupy awards season attention.
Voter composition and preferences matter: the Academy has 10,136 voting members whose tastes and demographics influence outcomes across categories. Historically dominant films with blockbuster box office are less frequent among nominees than in decades past; streaming services and limited theatrical runs have also produced nominees with minimal box office footprints. Against that backdrop, awards season dynamics — campaign strategy, critical buzz and perceived cultural relevance — are carrying extra weight.
Main event
The red carpet unfurled in warm, sunny conditions, with many celebrities embracing both classic glamour and riskier, self‑styled looks. Elle Fanning arrived in a white Givenchy gown accessorized by a Cartier necklace she said was intended to evoke wisteria. Other arrivals included Nicole Kidman, Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone; Spike Lee stood out in purple accessories. Several actors spoke briefly to broadcasters on the carpet while passing through tight security checks and metal detectors.
Inside the Dolby Theater, every seat carries a lighted bracelet for audience effects, and the show’s logistical choreography was emphasized by producers in pre‑event briefings. Matt Berry will serve as the show’s announcer — the so‑called “voice of God” — supplying introductions and timing cues, while Conan O’Brien manages hosting duties. Producers have trimmed some musical segments this year, with only select nominated numbers slated for live performance.
Races to watch are concentrated at the top: best picture, where One Battle After Another and Sinners are the chief competitors; best actress, where Jessie Buckley is the bettor’s favorite; and best actor, a close field including Timothée Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura. The Academy’s new award for casting has broadened the live telecast’s scope, honoring behind‑the‑scenes contributors to ensemble and character casting across genres.
Analysis & implications
Tonight’s outcomes will be read as barometers of both creative recognition and commercial viability. If Paul Thomas Anderson’s film wins best picture, some observers will interpret that as a reaffirmation of auteur prestige; a win for Sinners could underscore the Academy’s attention to topical storytelling that intersects with discussions about race and cultural appropriation. Either result will influence how studios allocate awards‑season resources going forward.
The persistent slide in combined box office for nominee slates — down to about $1.7 billion this year from $4.4 billion in 2023 — illustrates a longer trend: prestige films are less often global box‑office blockbusters. That has commercial consequences, from distribution deals to marketing budgets, and it amplifies the importance of awards and critical recognition for a film’s financial afterlife (streaming deals, catalog licensing, and prestige branding).
Security measures around the ceremony reflect the broader geopolitical moment. Officials told reporters planning was extensive and layered; while authorities said there were no publicly disclosed imminent threats, the presence of an F.B.I. alert increased scrutiny. Event security will likely remain a central planning consideration for large‑scale cultural gatherings as geopolitical tensions persist.
| Year | Combined box office of Best Picture nominees (worldwide) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.4 billion |
| 2024 | $2.9 billion |
| 2025 | $1.8 billion |
| 2026 | $1.7 billion |
Context: the table above shows a four‑year decline in ticket revenues among best‑picture nominees. Individual grosses for this year’s nominees ranged widely: F1: The Movie ($633 million), Sinners ($369 million), Marty Supreme ($274.5 million), One Battle After Another ($209 million), Hamnet ($96 million), Bugonia ($43 million), Sentimental Value (~$22 million) and The Secret Agent (~$18 million). Two nominated films had no disclosed ticket sales due to extremely limited qualifying runs. These figures come from box‑office compilers and are used here to illustrate distribution and audience reach disparities among nominees.
Reactions & quotes
Security officials and show organizers framed safety as a priority amid heightened global tensions. On the perimeter, an LAPD detective described visible precautions while stressing that the approach aligns with established practice for high‑profile events.
“There’s eyes everywhere,”
Detective Jerry Arrieta, Los Angeles Police Department
Show producers emphasized smooth timing and a welcoming atmosphere as central goals for the telecast.
“This show has to run like clockwork. We want everybody to feel safe and welcome,”
Raj Kapoor, showrunner
On the activism front, organizers behind the ICE Out projections signaled their intent to use awards season visibility to press policy demands.
“We will continue to take our demands to every possible stage,”
Jess Morales Rocketto, Maremoto (advocacy group)
Unconfirmed
- Specific operational security measures beyond public statements have not been disclosed; detailed tactics and sensitive protocols remain private for safety reasons.
- Final vote breakdowns and inside voting rationales are not public; commentary about likely winners reflects informed forecasting, not certified results until ballots are announced.
- The long‑term effect of the new casting category on future award campaigns and hiring practices is speculative and will depend on several years of precedent.
Bottom line
Tonight’s Oscars are as much about recognition as they are about industry transition. Winners and those absent from the winners’ circle will shape narratives about which films deserve institutional validation in an era of shifting audiences and studio consolidation. A best‑picture win for either One Battle After Another or Sinners would send distinct signals about the Academy’s priorities — auteurist prestige in one case, topical cultural resonance and commercial reach in the other.
Outside the awards themselves, the event underscores two enduring realities: large public ceremonies require complex security planning in an uncertain world, and awards season remains a critical moment for films to expand their cultural and commercial lifespans. For viewers, tonight’s results will settle questions that pundits have debated for months; for the industry, the outcomes will help inform strategy for an ecosystem still adapting to post‑pandemic economics and shifting distribution models.
Sources
- The New York Times (live coverage) — news/live reporting
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — official/academy information
- Comscore — industry box‑office data aggregator
- Los Angeles Police Department — official/public safety information
- ACLU — advocacy organization (context on ICE Out allies)