Yesterday the directing elite gathered at the Beverly Hilton for a ceremony hosted by Kumail Nanjiani. Nanjiani kept the crowd laughing, famously joking that a room filled with so many directors, assistants, and production managers was “like if a movie was just the credits.”



The headline of the night was undoubtedly Paul Thomas Anderson. After three career nominations, Anderson finally won his first DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film. In a deeply moving acceptance speech, he dedicated the win to Adam Somner, his longtime assistant director who passed away in 2024.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/02/08081619/DGA-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-84844"></figure><figcaption>Steven Spielberg, Sean Baker, Paul Thomas Anderson, winner of the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for “One Battle After Another,” Russell Hollander, National Executive Director, Directors Guild of America, and Christopher Nolan, President, Directors Guild of America, pose in the press room during the 78th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at The Beverly Hilton on February 07, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for DGA)</figcaption></figure>



The win is a massive indicator for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards; in the 77-year history of the DGA, the winner has gone on to win the Best Director Oscar all but eight times. Anderson beat out a formidable field that included Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), and Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein).



<h3>The 2026 DGA Winners List: Highlights</h3>



<h3>Theatrical &amp; Documentary Film</h3>



<ul><li>Theatrical Feature Film: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another</li><li>First-Time Theatrical Feature (The Michael Apted Award): Charlie Polinger, The Plague</li><li>Documentary Feature: Mstyslav Chernov, 2000 Meters to Andriivka</li></ul>



<h3>Television Categories</h3>



The TV races saw a split between streaming giants and prestige cable, with HBO’s The Pitt and Apple TV+’s The Studio leading the pack.



<ul><li>Dramatic Series: Amanda Marsalis, The Pitt </li><li>Comedy Series: Seth Rogen &amp; Evan Goldberg, The Studio </li><li>Limited Series &amp; Anthology: Shannon Murphy, Dying for S*x</li><li>Movies for Television: Stephen Chbosky, Nonnas</li><li>Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials: Liz Patrick, SNL50: The Anniversary Special</li></ul>



<h3>The Oscar Implications</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2026/02/08081745/DGA-2-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-84845"></figure><figcaption>Paul Thomas Anderson accepts a Directors Guild of America Feature Film Medallion for “One Battle After Another” onstage during the 78th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at The Beverly Hilton on February 07, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for DGA)</figcaption></figure>



With the Academy Awards just five weeks away, Paul Thomas Anderson is now the undeniable frontrunner for Best Director. Having already secured the Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards earlier this season, the DGA win serves as the “triple crown” of the directing circuit.



While Ryan Coogler’s Sinners remains a box-office behemoth and a strong contender for Best Picture, the Guild’s preference for Anderson’s sweeping craftsmanship suggests the industry is ready to finally give the There Will Be Blood director his long-overdue Oscar statue.

Paul Thomas Anderson Triumphs at the 78th DGA Awards

Paul Thomas Anderson Triumphs at the 78th DGA Awards - Spoiler US

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This unprecedented success makes it the highest-grossing film of Paul Thomas Anderson’s illustrious career, surpassing previous hits like There Will Be Blood and The Master. The film’s massive commercial appeal, combined with its strong critical reception, has positioned it as an early frontrunner for the upcoming awards season.



One Battle After Another centers on Bob Ferguson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a man with a dark, revolutionary past who has long been living in hiding under the name “Ghetto” Pat Calhoun. When his adult daughter (Chase Infinity) is abducted by a powerful, shadowy nemesis (played by Sean Penn), Ferguson is forced to return to his old, chaotic ways.



<h2>Successful Reviews</h2>



The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to immediate buzz and was released in September 2025, has earned widespread critical praise for its tonal mastery. Critics lauded Anderson’s bold move into a more genre-driven narrative without sacrificing his signature visual style.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/spen/full/SPEN_20251116_SPEN_77375_1-4_5d26c48c.webp&amp;width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="" class="wp-image-77376"></figure><figcaption>Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another (2025) / IMDb</figcaption></figure>



Leonardo DiCaprio’s raw, paranoid, and emotionally volatile performance has been highlighted as the film’s anchor. The Hollywood Reporter praised his “masterful blend of emotional desperation and dark comedic timing,” placing him squarely in the lead for Best Actor consideration.



<h2>Remarkable Cast</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/spen/full/SPEN_20251116_SPEN_77375_1-1-1_9fad7cdc.webp&amp;width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="" class="wp-image-77377"></figure><figcaption>(L-R) Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn attend the “One Battle After Another” Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on September 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



The ensemble cast of One Battle After Another is a remarkable blend of Oscar-winning legends and critically acclaimed rising stars, carefully curated by Paul Thomas Anderson to bring a unique texture to the political thriller. Led by Leonardo DiCaprio and featuring powerhouse performances from two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn as the villainous Colonel Lockjaw, the cast also includes acclaimed dramatic actors like Benicio del Toro and Regina Hall. Crucially, the film showcases a new generation of talent, notably with singer and actress Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills, and the dynamic breakthrough performance of Chase Infiniti as DiCaprio’s daughter, Willa, cementing the film’s appeal across different audience segments.

Box Office Victory: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ Crosses $200M Worldwide

Box Office Victory: Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' Crosses $200M Worldwide - Spoiler US

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Paul Thomas Anderson Triumphs at the 78th DGA Awards

Box Office Victory: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ Crosses $200M Worldwide

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