The 2018 Oscars, officially known as the 90th Academy Awards, took place on March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Celebrating nearly a century of cinematic excellence, the ceremony saw The Shape of Water win Best Picture and marked a significant cultural shift toward inclusion and accountability within the industry.
Historical Context and the 90th Anniversary Milestone
The 90th Academy Awards arrived at a crossroads for the American film industry. While the ceremony was a celebration of a historic milestone—nine decades of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)—it was also the first Oscars ceremony held following the seismic shifts caused by the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements. The industry was reeling from the Harvey Weinstein scandal and a broader reckoning regarding systemic harassment and gender inequality.
Host Jimmy Kimmel returned for his second consecutive year, tasked with balancing the celebratory nature of the anniversary with the gravity of the cultural moment. The production design leaned heavily into the anniversary theme, featuring a stage adorned with 45 million Swarovski crystals, reflecting the glamour of Old Hollywood while attempting to navigate a modern, more socially conscious landscape.
The 2018 ceremony also had to address the previous year’s "Envelopegate" blunder. To ensure no repeat of the La La Land and Moonlight mix-up, the Academy implemented new protocols with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, including a ban on mobile devices backstage and the return of Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to present Best Picture once more—this time with the correct envelope.
The Dominance of ‘The Shape of Water’ and Fantasy Realism
The primary narrative of the 2018 awards season was the rise of Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water. A dark, romantic fantasy about a mute custodian who falls in love with an amphibious creature, the film led the field with 13 nominations. Its eventual win for Best Picture was significant for several reasons.
First, it marked a rare victory for the fantasy genre, which has historically been overlooked by the Academy in favor of traditional dramas or historical epics. Second, it solidified Guillermo del Toro’s place in the "Three Amigos" of Mexican cinema—alongside Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro G. Iñárritu—all of whom won Best Director Oscars within a five-year span.
Del Toro’s win for Best Director was a testament to his unique vision, blending high-concept monster cinema with deeply humanistic themes of isolation and empathy. The film also secured wins for Best Original Score and Best Production Design, emphasizing its status as a technical and artistic triumph.
Major Winners and Career Milestones
The 2018 acting categories were notable for honoring a mix of industry veterans and transformative performances. While there were few upsets on the night, the winners represented some of the most acclaimed work of the decade.
Best Actor: Gary Oldman for ‘Darkest Hour’
Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour was widely considered the frontrunner throughout the season. His transformation, aided by prosthetic makeup (which also won an Oscar), allowed Oldman to disappear into the role of the British Prime Minister during the early days of World War II. This win was seen as a "career achievement" honor as much as a recognition of a specific performance, marking Oldman’s first Oscar after decades of influential work.
Best Actress: Frances McDormand for ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’
Frances McDormand delivered a powerhouse performance as Mildred Hayes, a grieving mother seeking justice for her daughter. This was McDormand’s second Best Actress win (following Fargo). Her acceptance speech became the most talked-about moment of the night when she asked every female nominee in the room to stand up and ended her remarks with two words: "inclusion rider." This term, referring to a contract clause requiring diversity in film casts and crews, entered the public consciousness immediately following her speech.
Supporting Categories: Rockwell and Janney
Sam Rockwell won Best Supporting Actor for his role as a flawed, racist police officer seeking redemption in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Meanwhile, Allison Janney won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of LaVona Golden, the cold and demanding mother of Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Both actors were long-respected figures in television and film whose wins solidified their status as top-tier character actors.
Technical Achievements and Craft Categories
The 2018 Oscars highlighted several films that pushed the boundaries of technical filmmaking. Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk was a dominant force in the technical categories, winning for Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing. The film’s focus on immersive, non-linear storytelling was heavily supported by its technical precision.
Another historic moment occurred in the Best Cinematography category. After 14 nominations without a win, Roger Deakins finally took home the Oscar for his work on Blade Runner 2049. Deakins is widely regarded as one of the greatest cinematographers in history, and his win was met with a standing ovation, correcting what many critics considered one of the Academy’s most glaring historical omissions.
Get Out, directed by Jordan Peele, also made history. Peele won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, becoming the first African American to win in that category. The film, a "social thriller" that used horror tropes to examine contemporary American racism, became a cultural phenomenon and proved that genre films could be serious contenders for the Academy's top honors.
Comparison of Best Picture Nominees
The following table summarizes the performance of the nine films nominated for Best Picture at the 90th Academy Awards.
| Film | Director | Nominations | Wins | Key Award(s) Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Shape of Water | Guillermo del Toro | 13 | 4 | Best Picture, Best Director |
| Dunkirk | Christopher Nolan | 8 | 3 | Film Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing |
| Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri | Martin McDonagh | 7 | 2 | Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor |
| Darkest Hour | Joe Wright | 6 | 2 | Best Actor, Makeup and Hairstyling |
| Phantom Thread | Paul Thomas Anderson | 6 | 1 | Costume Design |
| Lady Bird | Greta Gerwig | 5 | 0 | - |
| Get Out | Jordan Peele | 4 | 1 | Best Original Screenplay |
| Call Me by Your Name | Luca Guadagnino | 4 | 1 | Best Adapted Screenplay |
| The Post | Steven Spielberg | 2 | 0 | - |
Social Movements and Cultural Impact
The 2018 Oscars were inextricably linked to the #MeToo and Time's Up movements. While the Golden Globes earlier that year featured a "blackout" on the red carpet, the Oscars took a more integrated approach. The ceremony featured a powerful segment introduced by Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra, and Salma Hayek—three women who were instrumental in bringing the allegations against Harvey Weinstein to light. They spoke about the importance of breaking the silence and ensuring a more equitable future for the industry.
The "Inclusion Rider" mentioned by Frances McDormand became a significant talking point in the years that followed. It prompted major stars and production companies to examine their hiring practices, leading to a broader discussion about how to achieve parity for women and marginalized groups in Hollywood.
Furthermore, the 2018 ceremony continued the "Oscars So White" conversation from previous years by showcasing a diverse array of winners and nominees. Greta Gerwig was nominated for Best Director (only the fifth woman ever nominated at that point), and Rachel Morrison became the first woman ever nominated for Best Cinematography for Mudbound.
Hosting and Production: The Jimmy Kimmel Era
Jimmy Kimmel’s second stint as host was characterized by a "safe but steady" approach. Following the chaos of the 2017 ceremony, the Academy needed a host who could handle the live television pressure while acknowledging the serious political and social climate. Kimmel’s monologue touched on the Weinstein scandal, the gender pay gap (referencing the massive discrepancy between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams for All the Money in the World reshoots), and the Trump administration.
One of the lighter recurring bits involved a Kawasaki Jet Ski, which Kimmel offered as a prize to the winner who gave the shortest acceptance speech. This was won by Mark Bridges, the costume designer for Phantom Thread, who rode out on the jet ski at the end of the night with Helen Mirren. This bit was designed to keep the show moving, a perennial challenge for a ceremony that often exceeds three and a half hours.
Legacy and Long-term Influence on Cinema
Looking back from 2026, the 2018 Oscars represent the transition into the "Modern Academy" era. It was one of the last ceremonies before the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the theatrical landscape and before the Academy expanded its membership significantly to increase international and diverse representation.
The win for The Shape of Water signaled a greater openness to genre-blending works, paving the way for future winners like Parasite and Everything Everywhere All At Once. The recognition of Get Out also validated the "prestige horror" movement, which has flourished in the years since.
Moreover, the technical wins of 2018—specifically Roger Deakins and the sound team for Dunkirk—remind us of the importance of the theatrical experience. These films were designed for the biggest screens and best sound systems, a sentiment that the Academy continues to champion as streaming services become more dominant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who won the most awards at the 2018 Oscars?
The Shape of Water won the most awards of the night, taking home four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo del Toro), Best Original Score (Alexandre Desplat), and Best Production Design. Dunkirk followed closely with three wins, all in technical categories.
What was the "Inclusion Rider" mentioned by Frances McDormand?
An inclusion rider is a provision in an actor's or filmmaker's contract that requires the production to meet certain levels of diversity in the cast and crew. Following McDormand’s 2018 speech, many high-profile actors and studios began adopting these riders to ensure more equitable representation on film sets.
Did any film win Best Picture without a Best Director nomination in 2018?
No. All the major contenders for Best Picture in 2018 had their directors nominated, or the eventual winner, Guillermo del Toro, was also nominated and won Best Director. It is generally rare for a film to win Best Picture without a corresponding Best Director nomination, though it has happened (e.g., Argo or Green Book).
Who hosted the 2018 Oscars?
Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 2018 Oscars. It was his second year in a row as the host. He was praised for his ability to handle the "Envelopegate" jokes from the previous year while also addressing the serious #MeToo and Time’s Up movements that were dominating the industry at the time.
Was Kobe Bryant an Oscar winner in 2018?
Yes, the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant won an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball. His win was a significant moment, marking a successful transition from professional sports into the world of storytelling and film production.
Which movie had the most nominations in 2018?
The Shape of Water held the most nominations with 13. This put it just one nomination shy of the all-time record of 14, shared by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. Other highly nominated films that year included Dunkirk (8) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (7).
Final Recommendation
For those interested in the history of cinema, the 2018 Oscars serve as an essential study in industry evolution. To truly appreciate the films of this year, viewers should pair a viewing of The Shape of Water with Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird. Together, these films represent the creative diversity and social awareness that defined the 90th Academy Awards. For students of film history, researching the impact of the "Inclusion Rider" in the years since 2018 provides a practical look at how one moment on the Oscar stage can lead to tangible policy changes in Hollywood.
