The big winners at the Oscars - Global News Podcast Recap
Podcast: Global News Podcast
Published: 2026-03-16
Duration: 32 min
Guests: David Willis, Wesam Hamada
Summary
The Oscars highlighted a political thriller, One Battle After Another, with six awards, including Best Picture. Michael B. Jordan made history with a Best Actor win for dual roles in Sinners.
What Happened
The Oscars ceremony saw One Battle After Another dominate the night with six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. This political thriller has been a favorite throughout the award season, having already won top honors at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and other prestigious ceremonies.
Michael B. Jordan won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Sinners, becoming the first actor to win for playing dual roles. In his acceptance speech, he credited his success to the trailblazers before him and emphasized the importance of hard work and originality.
A new category, Best Casting, was introduced, and Cassandra Kulacundis won for One Battle After Another. This marked a significant moment in her career, highlighting the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
K-pop Demon Hunters made history by winning Oscars for Best Animated Film and Best Original Song, marking a milestone for K-pop's presence in Hollywood. EJ, a voice from the girl group, expressed pride in her heritage during the ceremony.
Sinners, despite having the most nominations, did not secure the most awards. Writer-director Ryan Koogler and cinematographer Autumn Durald Akapor both earned their first Oscars, with Akapor being the first woman to win Best Cinematographer.
The ceremony also featured memorable moments, such as Jessie Buckley's emotional win for playing Shakespeare's wife in Hamlet and a touching tribute to those Hollywood lost over the past year, with Robert Redford notably remembered.
In other segments, Ugandan opposition leader Bobby Wine discussed fleeing the country due to political persecution, and tensions between the US, its allies, and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz were explored.
The episode also covered the Ukrainian conflict with Russia, highlighting EU pressures and the Ukrainian president's resistance to reopening a key oil pipeline, with implications for EU-Ukraine relations.
Key Insights
- One Battle After Another won six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, solidifying its status as a major award-season favorite after similar wins at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes.
- Michael B. Jordan became the first actor to win an Oscar for playing dual roles in a single film with his Best Actor win for Sinners.
- The Oscars introduced a new category, Best Casting, with Cassandra Kulacundis winning for One Battle After Another, emphasizing the collaborative nature of film production.
- K-pop Demon Hunters marked a milestone for K-pop in Hollywood by winning Oscars for both Best Animated Film and Best Original Song, highlighting the genre's growing influence.