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Inside the snubs and surprises at Oscars 2026: A tie, a no-show and first time winners

From Michael B. Jordan winning his first Oscar to Sean Penn's no-show and a rare tie, here's a look at some of the surprises and shocking snubs this year

The 98th Academy Awards had everything — glitz and glam, delight, and disappointment in copious measure as Hollywood's finest were honored for their scintillating work last year. The race to win big this year was between 'One Battle After Another' and 'Sinners'. While the two films were top contenders, the Oscars also had a few surprises and snubs across categories.

Surprise: Michael B. Jordan winning Best Actor

Perhaps the biggest surprise was Michael B. Jordan winning the Best Actor Award for 'Sinners'. The stacked nominee list he edged out included Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, who were nominated for their hard-hitting roles in 'Marty Supreme' and 'One Battle After Another', respectively. The actors were seen as major contenders for the award, but in the end, it was Jordan who took home the honor.

Snub: Ryan Coogler for Best Director

Brilliant storytelling and masterful direction have been the cornerstones of Coogler's success. With 'Sinners', many believed it reached a level that no other 2025 film could match. That said, it was Paul Anderson who won the award for 'One Battle After Another'. With this, the wait for Coogler to win the coveted honor continues.

Surprise: The casting award

For the first time this season, an award for casting was presented, and the 'One Battle After Another' casting director, Cassandra Kulukundis, took home the honor. Other nominees included 'Hamnet' - Nina Gold, 'Marty Supreme' - Jennifer Venditti, 'Sinners' - Francine Maisler, and 'The Secret Agent' - Gabriel Domingues. "When Paul Thomas Anderson calls you, you enter the PTA Witness Protection Program," she joked during her acceptance speech. "You literally don’t talk to your friends or your family unless they have somebody right for the movie," she added.

Snub: 'The Secret Agent'

'The Secret Agent' came in as one of the most decorated films heading into the Best International Feature category. Kleber Mendonça Filho's Cannes double winner and two-time Golden Globe winner went home without an award despite nominations for Best Picture, Best International Feature, Best Actor (Wagner Moura), and Best Casting. That said, its popularity is unlikely to dim.

Surprise: The first-timers

Apart from Jordan, Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson also received their first-ever Oscar awards on Sunday night. This year saw seven stars, including Jessie Buckley, Amy Madigan, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and Joachim Trier, winning the coveted award for the first time.

Snub: Timothée Chalamet

Expected to be one of the major contenders for Best Picture, Chalamet's ping-pong feature did not win an award, despite the hype around the film. It joins the likes of major names in the past, including 'American Hustle', 'The Irishman', and 'Killers of the Flower Moon' as notable films being shut out at the Oscars.

The tie between 'Two People Exchanging Saliva' and 'The Singers'

It wasn't just the presenter, Kumail Nanjiani, who was surprised by what he saw in the envelope when he presented the award for Best Live-Action Short Film. "I’m not joking. It’s actually a tie," he said. "So, everyone, calm down. We’re gonna get through this. Focus up.” The award, shared by 'Two People Exchanging Saliva' and 'The Singers', is the seventh tie in Oscars history. Host Conan O’Brien came back on stage following the two speeches, and he joked, "I just want to say congratulations to both winners. You just ruined 22 million Oscar pools."

Sean Penn's no-show

Sean Penn won his third Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actor in 'One Battle After Another'. However, he was not in attendance to receive the illustrious statue. With the win, he now joins a decorated club alongside Daniel Day-Lewis, Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman, and Walter Brennan, all of whom have won three or more Oscars. His win added to 'One Battle After Another's tally of six awards, pipping 'Sinners', which won four.