These Are the Most Award-Worthy Oscars Looks Ever
There was no sign of Sean Penn smoking on TV this year during the 2026 Oscars.
Of course, that’s because the One Battle After Another star wasn’t at the Oscars, choosing to get his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor—and third statue overall—delivered after the fact.
Meaning, he also missed seeing the film be named Best Picture, as well as Paul Thomas Anderson‘s wins for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, three of the film’s leading six Oscars at the March 15 ceremony.
Though, maybe he was watching from afar.
But even if your eyes were glued to every second of the 98th Academy Awards, which took place as usual at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, there are always comments made and interactions taking place off-camera, backstage, at tables, by the lobby bar, etc. that don’t make the broadcast.
For instance, Jacob Elordi was grabbing a drink with his mom at the bar when EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami performed “Golden,” but he turned his attention to one of the screens and danced along while having a chat with Mia Goth.
Alas, even if you were in the front row, you probably missed what cowriter Mark Sonnenblick said after the music him and the rest of the history-making “Golden” songwriting team off mid-acceptance speech for Best Original Song.
Other touching moments included Best Original Screenplay Ryan Coogler, who has cited Norwegian director Joaquim Trier as an inspiration, applauding heartily when the auteur’s Sentimental Value was named Best International Feature.
Otherwise, Canadian artists are taking over, and not a moment too soon.
“Backstage it’s us, it’s Maggie Kang and the whole team from Frankenstein—a murderers’ row of Canadians all hanging out and hugging and taking photos together and celebrating this moment in Canadian movies,” Chris Lavis, who shared in the Best Animated Short win for The Girl Who Cried Pearls, told CTV News from backstage. “The fact that we accepted the award from Will Arnett makes me feel like we’re taking over back here.”
Kang, co-director and co-writer of Kpop Demon Hunters, named Best Animated Feature, dedicated her win (shared with Chris Appelhans, and Michelle L.M. Wong) “to Koreans everywhere.”
Here’s what else you did not see on TV at the 2026 Oscars:
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Ryan Coogler & Paul Thomas Anderson
At this point in the night, the Sinners and One Battle After Another directors were just a couple of auteurs clutching their first-ever Oscars, Coogler for Best Original Screenplay and PTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Kylie Jenner & Timothée Chalamet
Jenner is officially a regular, accompanying Best Actor nominee Chalamet to the Oscars for the second year in a row.
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Teyana Taylor & Cassandra Kulukundis
While fellow attendees started ripping into their snacks, Taylor celebrated One Battle After Another‘s casting director for winning the first-ever Oscar for Best Casting.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Jacob Elordi
The Frankenstein star made the rounds in between awards.
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Pedro Pascal & Sigourney Weaver
Weaver’s trying and failing not to burst out laughing before the duo headed out to present Best Production Design (to Frankenstein) and Best Visual Effects (to Avatar: Fire & Ash).
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Chase Infiniti & Paul Thomas Anderson
After making her acting debut in One Battle After Another, Infiniti couldn’t have been more thrilled over how the night was going.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Winners for Best Original Song
Mark Sonnenblick tried to keep the commercial break at bay, to no avail, when one of his fellow songwriters was cut off mid-sentence while accepting “Golden’s” historic when for Best Original Song.
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Demi Moore & Mikey Madison
Madison may have come out ahead in the Best Actress race last year, but they still enjoyed a reunion of substance.
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Pauline Chalamet & Timothée Chalamet
There was plenty of room for family in the Marty Supreme row, Chalamet’s sister joining him and Jenner for a night out.
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Rachel McAdams & Sterling K. Brown
This is not us, but rather two actors having a moment near the makeup chair backstage at the Academy Awards. No need to send help.
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Nicole Kidman
The 2003 Best Actress winner didn’t mind whiling away a few more of the hours at the 2026 Oscars.
John Shearer/98th Oscars/Getty Images The Academy via Getty Images
Michael B. Jordan & Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio was on hand to celebrate Jordan’s golden moment, as he surged in the final days of voting to win Best Actor.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Oscar
This was taken March 10 during the Governors Ball preview at the Ovation Hollywood Complex, a sneak peek at the glam spot where the winners go to get their statues engraved, but we thought you should see how the sausage, er, chocolate is made.
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