Monica Santana Huchin | Photo Editor
March 20, 2026
Last year was a phenomenal year for movies and actors all around. To celebrate that, the Oscars held their 98th Annual Ceremony on Sunday night to honor the great performances and contribution of actors and directors to the world of cinema. That evening not only contained big winners, but iconic moments from the audience, even at the In-N-Out two blocks away!
Some of the most exciting moments came from the night’s biggest awards. The award for best picture went to One Battle After Another, a film that stunned audiences with its story line and strong performances. This movie included stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor. One Battle After Another wasn’t the only one who won big. Michael B. Jordan took home the award for Best Actor from his performance in the movie Sinners, marking a major achievement in his career and displaying how far he’s come as an actor. Jessie Buckley who plays Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet also made history by becoming the first Irish woman to win Best Actress, making her win even more meaningful.
Aside from the awards, the night was filled with unexpected moments that kept the audiences entertained. Host Conan O’Brien brought humor to the stage, including a joke about Timothée Chalamet that quickly became a highlight of the night among the audiences and online. O’Brien made a reference to ballet and opera, which relates to the backlash Chalamet is currently facing on social media for making an “inappropriate” comment about those arts.
After the ceremony, Michael B. Jordan made a surprise stop at the In-N-Out near the venue as it is tradition for the winners to eat there after the awards show. SCHS junior Luxx Dorning found it funny and relatable when she saw that he showed up to In-N-Out because “he seems like such a down to earth guy and instead of going to an after party he chose something simple that many people in California can relate to.” The ceremony also took an emotional turn with an unexpected 15 minute tribute honoring Hollywood icons who passed away between 2025 and 2026, including Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and many more. This segment was important as it reminded viewers of the impact these legends had on the film industry.
This year’s Oscars also highlighted several historic wins that made the night even more significant. The award for Best Original Song went to “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters, making it the first K-pop song to ever win an Oscar in this category and showing how much of a global influence the genre has grown. In addition, Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to win Best Cinematography, breaking barriers in a field that has been dominated by men. SCHS junior Ashlee Murray was ecstatic about Autumn’s win because “it shows the progress in the film industry and opens the doors for more women to be recognized.”
Overall, the 2026 Academy Awards was a night that was both entertaining and meaningful, filled with major wins, unforgettable moments, and historic achievements. From the success of films to groundbreaking milestones by artists, the ceremony recognized the creativity and hard work that went into all the films. At the same time, there were emotional and comedic moments by Conan O’Brien that made the night complete. This year’s Oscars not only celebrated past achievements but also showed how the world of cinema continues to grow and inspire younger generations.
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