Paul Thomas Anderson received the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film on Saturday, February 7, 2026, for his film One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The award, presented at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, is widely considered a key indicator of success in the upcoming Academy Awards.
Anderson’s win marks his first DGA Award after previous nominations for 2008’s There Will Be Blood and 2022’s Licorice Pizza. Accepting the award from last year’s winner, Sean Baker, Anderson expressed humility and acknowledged the influence of Steven Spielberg, who was in attendance. He described a feeling of being “called to the mountain,” a sense of purpose that drives filmmakers. He also dedicated a significant portion of his acceptance speech to the memory of his first assistant director, Adam Somner, who died in November 2024.
The ceremony saw several prominent actors honoring the nominated directors. DiCaprio presented the award to Anderson, while Jacob Elordi recognized Guillermo del Toro, Timothée Chalamet celebrated Josh Safdie, and Spielberg introduced Chloé Zhao. Michael B. Jordan paid tribute to Ryan Coogler.
One Battle After Another has already garnered critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award. The DGA Award win further solidifies its position as a frontrunner for the Best Director Oscar, scheduled for March 15th. All nominated directors except del Toro are also in the running for the Academy Award. Joachim Trier, director of Sentimental Value, replaced del Toro in the Oscar nominations.
In the television categories, Amanda Marsalis won for directing an episode of the medical drama The Pitt, while Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were recognized for their work on The Studio. Rogen and Goldberg dedicated their award to the late Catherine O’Hara, a Canadian actress whom they described as a lifelong idol.
Historically, the DGA Award has proven to be a reliable predictor of Oscar success, with only eight discrepancies between the two awards since the DGA began presenting its honors. The DGA’s track record also suggests a strong correlation between the winning director and the eventual Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards. Last year, Sean Baker’s DGA win for Anora preceded the film’s success at the Oscars, where it won four awards, including Best Film and Best Director.
