One Battle After Another was the big winner of the 98th Academy Awards, taking home six Oscars.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s black comedy about a has-been revolutionary won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film Editing, and Best Casting.
Recommended Stories
list of 1 itemend of list
Sinners, which entered the ceremony with a record 16 nominations, was the second-biggest winner of the night, with four awards.
Michael B Jordan earned Best Actor for his leading role, while director Ryan Coogler picked up his first Oscar for Original Screenplay.
In the acting categories, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet, marking her first Academy Award, while Amy Madigan was recognised as Best Supporting Actress for Weapons.
Elsewhere, the South Korean musical fantasy KPop Demon Hunters won two Oscars, while Frankenstein also secured two awards.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Picture One Battle After Another
Best Actress Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Best Actor Michael B Jordan, Sinners
Best Supporting Actress Amy Madigan, Weapons
Best Supporting Actor Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Best director Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Best Original Score Ludwig Göransson, Sinners
Best Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters
Best International Feature Sentimental Value
Best Documentary Feature Mr Nobody Against Putin
Best Casting Cassandra Kulukundis, One Battle After Another
Best Sound Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A Rizzo and Juan Peralta, F1
Best Original Screenplay Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Best Adapted Screenplay Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Best Documentary Short All the Empty Rooms
Best Live Action Short Film The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva (tie)
Best animated short film The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Best Music (Original Song): EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park for Golden, KPop Demon Hunters
Best Film Editing: Andy Jurgensen, One Battle After Another
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners
Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau, Frankenstein
Best Costume Design Kate Hawley, Frankenstein
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey, Frankenstein
Best Visual Effects Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Visual effects supervisor Eric Saindon, visual effects artist Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett and visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri accept the award for Best Visual Effects for Avatar: Fire and Ash [Patrick T. Fallon/AFP]
All the predictions, drama and pageantry of Hollywood’s biggest night will play out at the Dolby Theatre this afternoon as the 98th Academy Awards get underway.
How many awards will “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler, win from its record-setting 16 nominations? And will Coogler win best director? Our critic says, “no.”
Tonight is also a big evening for our entertainment team, which has been producing features, previews, explainers, predictions and so much more.
The 2026 Oscars will air on ABC, and those with cable subscriptions can also watch by logging into the ABC app or abc.com.
The telecast will also stream live on Hulu, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV. Internationally, the ceremony will be broadcast in more than 200 territories. You can check your local listings here.
When the red carpet viewing gets underway
“Chicken Shop Date” host Amelia Dimoldenberg will return, for a third-straight year, as social media ambassador and correspondent for the official red carpet, which will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and Hulu.
For extended coverage, E! will begin its red carpet broadcast at 1 p.m. ABC’s coverage begins at 12:30 p.m., followed by “The Oscars Red Carpet Show,” hosted by Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer.
“Sinners” is picking up steam heading into the show
My colleague Greg Braxton wrote about how award prognosticators believe Sinners gained positive press after its stars — Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan — were called a racial slur at the BAFTAs.
Jordan’s and Lindo’s handling of the BAFTA incident, along with warmly received victories for the “Sinners” cast at the Actor Awards on March 1, has given the Warner Bros. release unexpected momentum leading up to Sunday’s Oscars ceremony.
Although it received a record-breaking 16 nominations, the film has been largely overshadowed through much of awards season by Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller “One Battle After Another.”
And Timothée Chalamet of “Marty Supreme” had been considered for months as an almost-certain lock for lead actor. But the events in past weeks have seemingly positioned “Sinners” for upset wins in the picture race and lead actor for Jordan.
Every character — from Miles Caton’s rebellious guitarist and Jack O’Connell’s lilting vampire to Wunmi Mosaku’s soulful witch and Michael B. Jordan’s bootlegging twins Smoke and Stack — has been scarred by life in 1930s Mississippi.
She also said the film “Eddington” should’ve been a contender (perhaps a nod to “On the Waterfront”). Ari Aster’s merciless black comedy drags us back to May 2020 when tempers, temperatures and misinformation were heating up across America.
Dueling civic leaders Sheriff Joe (Joaquin Phoenix) and Mayor Ted (Pedro Pascal) agree that COVID has yet to arrive in their New Mexican hamlet.
But with the Oscars, quality is often secondary to an awards narrative. Both movies have cultural relevance.
Both won critical acclaim and, to a degree, commercial success. (Though “One Battle” wasn’t the blockbuster “Sinners” was, it still grossed more than any other movie in Anderson’s career.) “Sinners” scored 16 Oscar nominations, the most in history; “One Battle” was close behind with 13.
There’s much more to read in the above links. Enjoy them and the Oscars.
You’re reading the Essential California newsletter
The week’s biggest stories
(Chris Putnam/FiledIMAGE – stock.adobe.com)
Election news
Oil and the Iran War
Crime, courts and policing
What else is going on
Must reads
Other meaty reads
For your downtime
(Illustrations by Lindsey Made This; photograph by Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP)
Going out
Staying in
L.A. Affairs
Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Jim Rainey, staff reporter Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor Andrew J. Campa, weekend writer Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
Brand new modern Western drama The Madison is poised to become a sensation on Paramount+, but who is in the cast?
The Madison cast and where you’ve seen them before(Image: PARAMOUNT)
The Madison is the latest streaming sensation from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and it’s not to be missed now the first three episodes are available to stream on Paramount+.
Featuring an all-star cast led by two Hollywood heavyweights, the series follows a wealthy family based in New York who are forced to move to Montana following a devastating tragedy.
While they struggle to adapt to rural life, their stunning surroundings and friendly neighbours slowly but surely encourage them to open up to new possibilities.
Fans who have already tuned into the first half of this epic six-part drama are in luck, as three more episodes are arriving next Saturday and the series has already been renewed for a second season.
But who stars in The Madison and where will viewers have seen them before? Let’s take a closer look at the show’s stellar cast.
Who is in the cast of The Madison?
The Madison features a stellar cast of recognisable names, led by cinema icons Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.
Pfeiffer and Russell star as husband-and-wife partnership Stacy and Preston Clyburn, nearly 40 years after they starred together in the 1988 hit film Tequila Sunrise. Pfeiffer is also known for classic films such as Scarface, Batman Returns and Hairspray and portrays Janet Van Dyne aka the Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Meanwhile, Russell has led several cult horror movies by director John Carpenter, including The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China, and has also appeared in the MCU film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. He is currently starring in Apple TV’s Godzilla spin-off series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which recently returned for its second season.
Other familiar faces joining the series include Suits star Patrick J. Adams as Russell McIntosh, the husband of Stacy and Preston’s daughter Paige, portrayed by Elle Chapman. Chapman is a relative newcomer, whose most prominent credit so far has been the Tom Hanks film A Man Called Otto.
Paramount+ half price sale
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Paramount+ is offering 50% off its Standard and Premium subscriptions until July 10.
The supporting cast includes:
Matthew Fox (Lost) as Paul Clyburn, Preston’s brother and Stacy’s brother in-law
Beau Garrett (Firefly Lane) as Abigail Reese, Stacy and Preston’s older daughter
Amiah Miller (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Bridgette Reese, Abigail’s older daughter
Ben Schnetzer (Y: The Last Man) as Van Davis
Kevin Zegers (The Rookie: Feds) as Cade Harris, Stacy and Preston’s neighbor
Rebecca Spence (Power Book IV: Force) as Liliana Weeks, Stacy’s friend
Alaina Pollack (On Call) as Macy, Abigail’s younger daughter
Danielle Vasinova (1923) as Kestrel Harris
Finally, the series will also include guest appearances from Will Arnett as Dr. Phil Yorn, who did not appear in the first three episodes.
Arnett is known for comedic roles in sitcoms such as Arrested Development and 30 Rock, voicing Bojack Horseman in the hit Netflix animated series of the same name, and most recently starred in Bradley Cooper’s new film Is This Thing On?
The Madison episodes 4-6 will be released Saturday, 21 March on Paramount+.
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.
2026 is shaping up to be an amazing year for theme park fans with a huge number of new rides and attractions set to launch in the coming months, from thrill rides to family-friendly lands
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Pirates’ Plummet at Crealy is among the much-anticipated rides for 2026(Image: Crealy )
There is plenty for UK theme park fans to look forward to in the year ahead.
Many are preparing to reopen their doors for the spring season in the next couple of weeks, while some are launching new rides and even entirely new lands. From thrill rides to attractions based on kids’ shows, there are plenty of upcoming openings to get in the calendar.
Here’s a roundup of some of the UK’s biggest and most popular theme parks and what new attractions visitors can expect in 2026.
Paultons Park
Paultons Park is adding an entirely new themed land to its map. Valgard: Realm of the Vikings opens May 16, just in time for half term. It will include three Viking-themed rides: Drakon, the park’s first inverting rollercoaster with a dramatic vertical lift, Vild Swing, which will swing riders 39ft into the air, and Raven, a bobsled ride previously known as the Cobra coaster, which has been redesigned to match the theme.
The new land will also feature a Viking-themed playground and dining hall for a truly immersive experience. Theme park fans can book Paultons Park tickets online for the opening day.
Paultons Park is perhaps best known as home to Peppa Pig World, and its new land is aimed more at older kids and adults, adding new thrill rides to the park. However, if you are bringing little ones, be sure to stop by Peppa Pig World to meet the family’s newest member, Evie.
Chessington
Chessington’s new World of PAW Patrol will be here on the double, although no official opening date has been set. So far, the park has confirmed it’ll open in spring 2026 and will feature four rides. Chase’s Mountain Mission, a rollercoaster suitable for young kids, Skye’s Helicopter Heroes, which will take kids on a high-flying mission, and Marshall’s Firetruck Rescue, where kids can take a ride on a shiny red truck.
Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure will be a ‘drifter’ ride, which promises to be the first of its kind in the UK. There will also be Rubble and Rocky’s Playzone, where kids can “climb, slide and explore”. Meet and greets will be available with the pups, and fans can even book a sleepover in one of the PAW Patrol-themed rooms at Chessington’s Azteca hotel. These colourful rooms sleep up to five and include themed bunk beds for the kids.
Alton Towers
Bluey the Ride: Here Come The Grannies! opens to Alton Towers’ guests on March 28, just in time for Easter. It’s the world’s first Bluey roller coaster and will be suitable for little fans of the show. Teaser images for the ride show Bluey and Bingo dressed as the iconic grannies Janet and Rita, and the ride is set in the Heelers’ back garden. More Bluey rooms are also being added to the CBeebies Land hotel and you can book online for spring dates and beyond.
Thrill ride fans can also enjoy the Toxicator, which opened last March. This neon-green coaster throws riders in the air and spins them around at high speed, creating an adrenaline-pumping experience.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
In spring 2026, Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be opening a new £8.72 million gyro swing ride named Aviktas. At 138ft, it will be the tallest of its kind in the UK. While the exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, theme park enthusiasts can buy VIP tickets for the launch event, ensuring they are among the first to try the new ride.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach also celebrates its 130-year anniversary in 2026. In March, visitors can get half-price tickets if they book online in advance, with eTickets costing £30. Or if you’re going as a family, you can get four tickets for £100, giving you access to all the park’s rides for the day.
Crealy
Crealy will offer two new rides in 2026, and one might be familiar to theme park enthusiasts. Spring will see the arrival of Pirates’ Plummet, an 80ft tall drop tower which will be the South West’s tallest ride. It used to be situated in Paultons Park, where it was called Magma, and is now being rebuilt at the Devon theme park.
In the summer, Rotor, an inverting air race ride, will be open. The ride will spin punters around and upside-down for a thrilling experience. No date is confirmed for either ride’s opening yet, but you can book short breaks or tickets on the Crealy website.
Pleasurewood Hills
Pleasurewood Hills was sold to new owners last year, and there are plans for four new rides to revamp the family-friendly Suffolk park. According to BBC reports, the new rides would include Star Flyer (a 30-metre-tall thrill ride), Spinning Coaster, Apple Coaster, and the Big Wheel. Planning approval for the new rides is expected in April, with no date announced as to when they’d open if approved.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
This is the best beach for spring(Image: Patricia Hamilton via Getty Images)
As temperatures begin to climb, thoughts naturally turn towards seaside escapes. There’s nothing quite like the sound of crashing waves and the sensation of sand between your toes – but with countless stunning locations dotted around the UK, how do you decide where to visit?
For an ideal spring beach getaway, you’ll want maximum sunshine, pleasant temperatures and minimal rainfall – and that’s precisely where the specialists at Go Outdoors come in. They’ve put together a ranking of Britain’s finest beaches based on average spring temperatures, precipitation levels, hours of sunshine and Googlereviews to identify the absolute cream of the crop.
Every beach featured received a rating out of 10 according to its weather conditions, rainfall and visitor feedback.
Taking the top spot is Cuckmere Haven with an impressive score of 9.60. This breathtaking beach sits in East Sussex and boasts a remarkable 7.8 hours of daily spring sunshine alongside just 52mm of monthly rainfall.
Those visiting the beach can first take in spectacular views of the Seven Sisters — England’s famous white cliffs overlooking the channel — before embarking on a picturesque stroll along the Cuckmere River as it winds its way towards the coast. Hear the cries of seagulls circling above, and feel the fresh sea breeze against your skin, reports the Express.
Claiming second position is Southwold Beach with a rating of 8.68 out of 10. This expanse of sand extends from the River Blyth’s mouth, passing Southwold Pier which offers plenty to discover.
There are arcade games and numerous cafés and restaurants where you can pop in for refreshments or a bite to eat. Securing the third spot, and boasting the highest Google review rating amongst all the beaches, is Druridge Bay Beach.
Google reviews rate this beach at a stellar 4.9 out of five, and the Go Outdoors research awarded it an impressive overall score of 8.53 out of 10.
The beach itself extends for seven miles, and the adjacent woodlands are teeming with wildlife such as roe deer and red squirrels.
THE list of the richest celebs in the world has been revealed — and it’s good news for Taylor Swift.
The US superstar’s net worth has soared since she was named a billionaire in 2023, and she is now worth twice that.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Taylor Swift has DOUBLED her net worth and is now worth $2billionCredit: GettyFellow star Rihanna is also a billionaireCredit: Savage X Fenty
She has risen from No9 last year to No7 in Forbes magazine’s annual rundown, which revealed there are now 22 celebrity billionaires — up from 18 last year.
Fellow singer Beyonce, tennis ace Roger Federer, rapper Dr Dre and filmmaker James Cameron are the new additions who have crossed the $1billion threshold.
Taylor, 36, boosted her earnings massively with profits from her record-breaking Eras Tour and the value of her music catalogue, all of which she now owns, having bought back the rights to her first six albums last year.
She is said to have amassed $1billion from royalties and touring, while her catalogue of hits has been valued at $900million.
The Eras 149 gigs across 21 countries from March 2023 to December 2024, made it the highest-grossing tour of all time at $2.077billion, with 10MILLION attendees.
Thanks to the money-spinning shows, she was able to buy the rights to her first six albums.
In 2019 Taylor’s former label, Big Machine, had sold the masters to talent manager Scooter Braun, prompting Taylor to vow to re-record them.
Braun sold them on to LA investment fund Shamrock Holdings in 2020.
But last May she announced she finally controls all her music.
Taylor said last year: “That’s how I spent that Eras Tour money. My fans are why I was able to get my music back.”
The rights to the records had been sold for more than $300million, although it is not known how much she spent to reclaim them.
But she is believed to have made an eight-figure sum in profits from the “Taylor’s Version” remakes of Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989 — which all topped the charts.
She also owns $100million of real estate, including pads in New York, Beverly Hills, Rhode Island and Nashville.
The news coincides with new figures from the British Phonographic Industry, which reveal CD sales in the UK returned to growth in 2025, up 3.1 per cent, largely thanks to 226,000 copies of Taylor’s latest album The Life Of A Showgirl being sold here.
She also contributed to the 19.9 per cent year-on-year rise in vinyl purchases, thanks to 147,000 sales of the record on the format.
It meant The Life Of A Showgirl sold the most vinyl of any new album in a calendar year this century. Her 2023 collection Lover (Live From Paris), which was reissued last year, was also the fourth biggest vinyl of 2025.
Taylor has now scored six No1 singles and 14 No1 albums, beating Madonna’s record of 12 chart toppers for a female artist.
Taylor’s huge net worth dwarfs that of her American football star fiancé Travis Kelce, 36, whose riches total $90million.
The two are expected to marry this summer in a glittering, star-studded ceremony in the US.
Yesterday Travis hinted Taylor has started working on new music for a potential 13th studio album.
He said: “It’s amazing to see her keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies and things like that.
“On top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does.
“Of course that’s motivating. That’s motivating for anybody to see, let alone in my fiancée, and knowing that I’m going through something as I try to figure out what the future holds for me.
“Something like that motivates me.”
1. Steven Spielberg
$7.1bn
79-year-old Spielberg earns an estimated $100million annuallyCredit: Getty
THE highest-grossing director of all time, 79-year-old Spielberg earns an estimated $100million annually from gross ticket sales thanks to a 1987 deal.
2. George Lucas
$5.2bn
Star Wars creator George LucasCredit: Getty
THE Star Wars creator, 81, kept the merchandising rights and ownership of the hit sci-fi franchise and in 2012 sold his firm LucasFilm to Disney for $2.2billion plus shares.
3. Michael Jordan
$4.3bn
Basketball legend Jordan made $2billion from corporate dealsCredit: Getty
BASLETBALL legend, 63, made $2billion from corporate deals.
In 2023 he sold majority stake in NBA team Charlotte Hornets, valued at $3bn.
4. Vincent McMahon
$3.6bn
Businessman Vincent McMahon is worth $3.6bnCredit: Getty
BUSINESSMAN, 80, made sports promotion firm World Wrestling Entertainment – WWE – a global brand before a $21billion wrestling mega-merger in 2023.
5. Oprah Winfrey
$3.2bn
Oprah, 72, has also earned millions partnering with Weight Watchers and through real estateCredit: Getty
TALK show host made TV and films through her production firm Harpo.
Oprah, 72, has also earned millions partnering with Weight Watchers and through real estate.
6. Jay-Z
$2.8bn
Jay-Z has made over $1billion from his alcohol brandsCredit: Getty
Rapper, 56, made over $1billion from his alcohol brands D’Usse cognac and Armand de Brignac.
In 2008 he founded the lucrative entertainment firm Roc Nation.
7. Taylor Swift
$2bn
8. Kim Kardashian
$1.9bn
Kim K owns a third of her $5billion shapewear brand SkimsCredit: Rex
Reality star owns a third of her $5billion shapewear brand Skims.
Kim, 45, also earns through her skincare firm, endorsements, real estate, acting and TV shows.
9. Peter Jackson
$1.9bn
Director Jackson is worth $1.9bnCredit: Getty
MOVIE director, 64, made Lord Of The Rings films and sold the tech division of his visual effects company Weta Digital for $1.63billion in 2021.
10. Magic Johnson
$1.6bn
Magic Johnson has a majority stake in a life insurance companyCredit: Getty
FORMER basketball player, 66, has a majority stake in a life insurance company as well as part-ownership of four US professional sports teams.
11. Tiger Woods
$1.5bn
Golf icon Tiger Woods is estimated to have earned $121million in prize moneyCredit: Getty
GOLFING legend made $1.9billion during his sporting career and through endorsements.
Woods, 50, is estimated to have earned $121million in prize money.
12. Dick Wolf
$1.5bn
Producer Wolf signed a five-year, $1billion deal with NBCUniversal in 2020Credit: Getty
THE producer behind hit US TV dramas Law & Order, Chicago and FBI, 79-year-old Wolf signed a five-year, $1billion deal with NBCUniversal in 2020.
13. Tyler Perry
$1.4bn
Tyler Perry, 56, now owns the largest film production studio in the USCredit: Getty
THE actor and filmmaker has 100 per cent ownership of his 22 films and over 1,200 TV episodes.
Perry, 56, now owns the largest film production studio in the US.
14. LeBron James
$1.4bn
LeBron James has a lifetime $1billion endorsement deal with NikeCredit: Getty
SPORTS contracts have earned $500million for the 41-year-old basketball player – and he has a lifetime $1billion endorsement deal with Nike.
15. Bruce Springsteen
$1.2bn
Springsteen received $500million when he sold his entire music catalogue to Sony in 2021Credit: Getty
ROCKER, 76, has toured for five decades, released 21 studio albums and received $500million when he sold his entire music catalogue to Sony in 2021.
16. Arnold Schwarzenegger
$1.2bn
Schwarzenegger has earned $500million from filmsCredit: Getty
HAVING earned $500million from films, the 78-year-old actor has also made savvy investments, including in an investment firm which manages $1 trillion in assets.
17. Jerry Seinfeld
$1.1bn
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has earned almost $500million from syndicating his self-titled sitcomCredit: Getty
THE comedian has earned almost $500million from syndicating his self-titled sitcom.
Seinfeld, 71, still does stand-up and has a Porsche collection valued at $100million.
18. Roger Federer
$1.1bn
Tennis pro Federer has numerous lucrative dealsCredit: AFP
Retired tennis player, 44, won 20 Grand Slams but also had lucrative deals with Rolex and Mercedes.
He also has a stake in athletic
19. James Cameron
$1.1bn
James Cameron is worth $1.1bnCredit: Getty
FILMMAKER behind three of the four highest-grossing films of all time.
Cameron, 71, directed Titanic, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water, which made over $7.5bn.
20. Rihanna
$1bn
THE Umbrella singer, 38, has a $200million music catalogue but made her main fortune through cosmetics firm Fenty Beauty and lingerie brand Savage X Fenty.
21. Beyonce
$1bn
Beyonce has a $300million music catalogueCredit: Instagram
AS well as grossing more than $1billion in back-to-back tours, the singer, 44, has a $300million music catalogue and a haircare line, Cecred, valued at $100million.
22. Dr Dre
$1bn
Dr Dre co-founded Beats Electronics and Beats MusicCredit: Getty
RAPPER, 61, co-founded Beats Electronics and Beats Music, and launched the careers of Kendrick Lamar and Eminem through his label Death Row Records.
