After earning 13 nominations in the 98th Academy Awards, Leonardo DiCaprio-led One Battle After Another took home six awards on Sunday, the highest in this year's ceremony. Ryan Coogler-Michael B Jordan's Sinners came second, winning four despite receiving a record-breaking 16 nominations.
A visibly emotional Paul Thomas Anderson went to the stage after receiving Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director award, which marks his first Oscar recognition since he started his career 30 years ago with Boogie Nights.
Besides Best Picture and Director, the film also won for Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, and Best Editing.
"I’m incredibly honored to be a part of this history," he said, thanking and expressing his gratitude to author Thomas Pynchon whose book inspired the film.
"I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we’re handing off to them. But also, with encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency," he said.
In another moment, he grabbed the Oscar tightly and remarked, "You make a guy work hard for one of these. I really appreciate it."
For the unversed, the filmmaker has previously received 14 nominations, including for his first feature Boogie Nights. Over the years, he has been nominated for Licorice Pizza, Inherit Vice, There Will Be Blood and Magnolia.
There will always be some doubt in your heart that you deserve it, but there is no question about the pleasure of having it for myself!," he added, thanking his cast, crew and loved ones.
One Battle After Another centres on a group of former revolutionaries who reunite to confront an enemy that has resurfaced after 16 years. Inspired from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, the cast also includes Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Alana Haim, Shayna McHayle, Wood Harris, Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn. The film reunites Anderson with composer Johnny Greenwood after five previous collaborations.
Upon release in September last year, the film won massive appreciation worldwide for its story and screenplay and was also hailed by noted celebrities. Since then, One Battle After Another has won multiple awards including three wins at the 31st Critics' Choice Awards and four wins at the 83rd Golden Globes.