[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Marshals.]

Director Greg Yaitanes has entered the Yellowstone universe by putting his stamp on episodes of the CBS series Marshals, which has already been picked up for Season 2, and the upcoming Paramount+ series Dutton Ranch. In Marshals, a widowed Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, headed by his former Navy SEAL buddy Cal (Logan Marshall-Green), combining his tactical training with his cowboy skills in bringing range justice to Montana. While over on Dutton Ranch, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) will continue their journey of survival, no doubt with plenty of chaos and drama surrounding them.

Collider recently got the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Yaitanes (Presumed Innocent, House of the Dragon, House) about coming into the world of Yellowstone as a big fan, and how the spin-offs/sequels are most similar and different from not just the original series but each other. During the interview, he talked about reuniting with Quarry star Marshall-Green while directing the first two episodes of Marshals, why he’s drawn to the character of Kayce Dutton, how he felt about the way Monica’s death was handled, the challenges of shooting the big action sequence in episode two of Marshals, why Dutton Ranch felt like a season of Yellowstone, and whether there could be crossovers with the Dutton family in the future.

We also got to discuss how far into Season 2 development they’d gotten on Quarry before the plug was pulled on the series, his time on Banshee, what most impressed him about working with Anya Taylor-Joy on her upcoming Apple TV series Lucky, and why working with Nicolas Cage on the Spider-Noir TV series was a dream come true that he hopes to repeat if there’s a second season.

‘Marshals’ Marked a Reunion for Actor Logan Marshall-Green and Director Greg Yaitanes, After Making ‘Quarry’ Together

“We would all do another season in a heartbeat.”

Image via Cinemax

Collider: I love that you’re reuniting with Logan Marshall-Green by directing episodes of Marshals, but it also reminds me of how salty I am that we never got more episodes of Quarry. Have you gotten over that fact?

GREG YAITANES: We wrote Season 2, and we were on track for Season 2. For a variety of reasons, it didn’t move forward, which was gut-wrenching. We had the scripts. We had a great arc. We just lost Tom Noonan a few weeks ago. The great thing is that it’s a show you could pick up 10 years later with that character. There’s no expiration date. The novels actually are around now, in terms of Logan’s age. Now, Logan’s on a smash TV show, so getting him would be impossible. I had lunch with (co-creator) Michael Fuller, yesterday, actually. It was supposed to be me and (co-creator) Graham [Gordy] and Michael, and Graham’s travel changed, so we didn’t get to have lunch with them. But we’re still in touch. We would all do another season in a heartbeat. It would be perfect. Every single person involved would do it. That said, it was really lovely to see Logan on Marshals and be able to get the opportunity to work with him again.

You said that the scripts were written for Season 2 of Quarry. Were there things that you had been looking forward to getting to do with the second season?

YAITANES: Oh, my God, it was a great season. It was going to be great. The specifics, I don’t remember all the details, but we did have a writers’ room, we wrote the scripts, and we had versions of all the scripts for the season. And then, right in the middle of the process, that’s when we got word that we weren’t moving forward. It was disappointing. But what’s nice is that, 10 years later, I’m on Zooms and people still bring it up. It is meaningful that it had an impact.

Was Season 2 going to have the same tone and vibe, or was it going to be bigger in any way?

YAITANES: It was going to be a pretty direct continuation of where we were. I think we were going to pick up a year later. There was a great story to be had.

It makes me feel lucky that I got a complete four-season story for Banshee. I wonder if that could even happen now.

YAITANES: It was a great time to tell that story the way we told it and how we cast it and a number of things that we did would be almost impossible today. There was a great article written about everything that conspired to have Cinemax not quite work out. It really bummed us all out because I really thought that could have been a great network for high and elevated pulp. I don’t know how it would have survived all the various things that are going on in the industry today. But back then, when they were making The Knick and Quarry and Banshee and Outcast and Strike Back, I just kept imagining that this would be a seven-day-a-week, two-shows-a-night of incredible programming. That would have been something I would have died to have had as a network when I was a teenager.

Even Warrior.

YAITANES: Can’t forget Warrior.

All those shows were so good. It felt like a channel that was just invented for my taste.

YAITANES: Someone someday will talk about it. It will be like ‘70s cinema for TV when they look back on all the great stuff that was on Cinemax at one time.

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How did you end up directing Marshals? Was it because of Logan Marshall-Green, or was that a coincidence?

YAITANES: No. It was a long process. I met (executive producer) David Glasser at 101 about three years earlier, and we had wanted to work together. They wanted me to come do some of their shows, and I really wanted to do something from the ground up with them. And then, I was watching MobLand and realized that was also being produced by 101. I wrote David, and I think I just happened to be in his head at the right moment, at the right time, and I got the call to take a look at Marshals and see if I’d be interested. I was an insane fan of Yellowstone. I had watched all the prequels and I had watched the other series, all in real time, week to week, so I knew the world. I got the material and showed up for a meeting relatively quickly. Spencer Hudnut was really great to collaborate with. Everything just vibed on the call. It was three years in the making.

‘Marshals’ Director Greg Yaitanes Was Drawn to the Soulful Nature of Kayce Dutton

“I loved working with Luke [Grimes].”

What do you find most interesting about Kayce Dutton as a character at the center of this story?

YAITANES: I also did a block of Dutton Ranch, right after I finished Marshals. When I read it, I didn’t know it was a broadcast pilot. That’s how good I thought the material was. It had such humanity and breathing and just the room to explore themes. I felt like it was a great father-son story when I read the script, and that’s what brought me to it. I thought, wherever Yellowstone was going, this was the continuation because it played like that. When I found out it was broadcast, I hadn’t done broadcast TV for 15 years, since House, so I thought this was a great way to reenter that space again, to a place where I cut my teeth and built things. Kayce is such a soulful character. I don’t know or remember what season and episode it was, but his walkabout episode sold me, as a man trying to work through what he’s carrying. I was really interested.

My first question when I got the scripts, as I was reading them, was, “How are they going to undo Kayce’s happy ending?” He really had a beautiful finish at the end of Yellowstone proper. And I was really moved to see, “Okay, life has gone in another direction.” I almost feel like [episode two] is really the pilot, and [the pilot] was the bridge between Yellowstone and Marshals. [Episode two] is really the show you’re going to be watching. I directed that episode, as well. I loved working with Luke [Grimes]. And then, to have Logan as your wingman, there’s such a deep bench with the cast. Tatanka [Means], I brought from Banshee. He was on Banshee when his dad passed, who was also on Banshee. It was great. I loved working with Spencer, and we had a lovely shorthand.

Fans of Yellowstone definitely seem to feel a certain way about Monica’s death. Were there conversations about how to handle that?

YAITANES: This is why it didn’t strike me as a pilot. There was no exposition about Monica’s death in the pilot. It was exactly what it would be like a year or two after the death of the character. You would be talking about the circumstances around it versus talking about the thing. What was really important was that we had her picture for the protest, and she was lovely to give us permission for that. That was a really critical piece to that scene. That’s what I thought that scene was about.

It feels like there could have been an episode that included Monica and would have shown us what happened to her. It was interesting to see that it was not handled that way.

YAITANES: Yeah, that’s all Spencer. Those conversations definitely preceded me. Immediately, being a single dad to a son, which was something I could personally connect to, having been a single dad at various times in my life, I felt that the way it was handled and the humanity in which it was handled was really beautiful, and I wanted to be part of it.

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Things get heated in the latest Dutton drama as Kayce deals with old family secrets.

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Have you thought about the parallels between Quarry and Marshals? You have these characters at the center of both stories that have been to war, they’ve had to kill people, they’ve had violence affect and ripple through their lives, and they’re also more likely to be quiet and internal. They seem like kindred spirits in a lot of ways. Is that something that was even on your mind?

YAITANES: There’s definitely a theme and a pattern to the things that I’m attracted to, which is quiet, internal men, carrying a lot and trying to navigate things with the tools they were given, and always striving for better.

Something that runs through Banshee and Marshals are these intertwined communities. With Banshee, we had the Amish community, and with Marshals, you have the reservation. What do you find most interesting about that aspect of the story?

YAITANES: We’re not pandering to anybody. That’s just what makes the world lived-in. If you watched all six seasons, or Season 5A and 5B, of Yellowstone, then you’re going to come loaded with a certain amount of information. And if you’re not, you’re going to catch up. You can enter this show having never watched one Taylor Sheridan show. And if you have, it will be a richer experience, but you will not be dinged for not having been there. In fact, what’s exciting is that this is an entry point for people to then go discover Yellowstone, which makes me thrilled. If they like this enough to want to know more about Kayce, then you have six seasons of a prequel waiting for you.

Real Navy SEAL Consultants Work as Advisors for the Story and the Action Sequences in ‘Marshals’

“At every point, you have a guide for how to do things.”

Image via CBS

You’ve shot action sequences and violence for the screen, and particularly in Quarry and Banshee, the action had a very realistic feel to it, as far as the toll it can take. How different was it to do action sequences for Marshals, for a broadcast network TV series? You have a very complex action sequence in episode two.

YAITANES: I loved planning that. Michael Friedman was my second unit director on that, and he’s intimately familiar with the Sheridan universe, in terms of Lioness and Landman, and every other thing he touches. So, having him in my corner was a great collaboration on that. I really studied Yellowstone and the studio has a really helpful document of the pillars of the things that make Yellowstone, Yellowstone, that they kept for the prequels and they branched out. At every point, you have a guide for how to do things. What I always appreciate about the violence and the action is that it’s grounded. It’s not overly stylized.

Banshee was highly stylized and pulpy. Everything in Yellowstone is grounded and comes from a real place. People get punched and hurt. My favorite part of the action is that we get to tap into the Navy SEAL background to Kayce. That allows for all this tactical work. We have real Navy SEALs there. Ryan Sangster was our advisor, and he’s great. I would just say, “What would they do? How would they come up on the trailer or the zone of death? How would they go about it?” We would approach it like, “Okay, this is really happening. Where would your guys be?” And he’d be like, “Well, I’d have a person there, and I’d have a thing here, and I’d make sure of this.” And I was like, “Great, that’s what we’re doing.”

That scene goes from horses to a big shootout and then back to Kayce being back on a horse.

YAITANES: That was so fun. I wanted it to be like Raiders of the Lost Ark. When I was showing people what I wanted it to be, that sequence had to be as fun as something out of Raiders. I definitely got out of the grounded and made it a little more pop and fun for that sequence because it had to be. You can’t have Kayce chasing an SUV [on a horse] and not have a good time with it. It was so cool.

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‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off Showrunner Explains Why They Had To Kill Off a Main Character in Episode 1

“We had to shake up his life.”

Did you feel like you had the time you needed to shoot all of that?

YAITANES: Nope. One of the shocks was just coming from my streaming schedule back to my broadcast schedule. That said, because of shows like Banshee, I’m really good at being able to matrix the units and the work so that the sum of the parts is greater than you could expect. We were incredibly strategic. Anytime Luke wasn’t in the zone of death scene, he was on horseback with the other unit. We were trading him and moving around and had blocked out the day in a very strategic way. It was two days, that whole sequence. Everything you saw was shot over two days, sunup to sundown.

It was so interesting to have that sequence end with him shooting the guy that’s already dying. It’s a moment that brings you back to the reality of what Kayce is dealing with, after the exciting action sequence ends.

YAITANES: Yeah, it gets real. He’s a complicated character. He’s got a badge, but he’s still exacting his own form of justice. It keeps the audience perfectly destabilized for what Kayce might do. You can’t fully understand him, which I appreciate. That moment particularly grabbed me. When I read these scripts – I read the first two when I took my meetings – those were the kinds of things that pulled me right in.

‘Marshals’ and ‘Dutton Ranch’ Each Draw From ‘Yellowstone’ in Completely Different Ways

“[‘Dutton Ranch’] has the best parts of what I loved about ‘Yellowstone.’”

Image via Paramount Network

You talked about also directing episodes of Dutton Ranch. Are you just all-in on the world of Yellowstone now?

YAITANES: I was halfway through shooting on Marshals, and Glasser was like, “Hey, you’ve done the down and dirty, scrappy version of Yellowstone. Come do our other show.” That was a completely different, but equally rewarding experience. I loved Kelly [Reilly] and Cole [Hauser] and Annette [Bening] and Ed [Harris] and everybody. That cast is just so terrific. I had time. It’s artful. It’s just a different kind of show. It’s much more of a drama and a soap. It has the best parts of what I loved about Yellowstone. Each one was Yellowstone in completely different ways, but each completely honest to the original series. My entry point into the Sheridan universe was starting with Yellowstone and then branching out. I really appreciate David Glasser’s taste. I watched The Agency. I watched MobLand. I watched them all. I’m interested in working with people of good taste.

What did you see as the biggest similarities and differences between the two shows, Marshals and Dutton Ranch?

YAITANES: The biggest similarity is that I’m following each of the surviving siblings of the original series. When you get into the ranch portion of each show, you’re on common ground. That’s what they have in common. And then, how we’re dealing with the human drama and the vulnerability is Yellowstone in both shows. The themes that everybody’s working with, like how everybody deals with their inner torment and how they exorcise it is different for Beth than it is for Kayce. They’re equally compelling offshoots of the original.

Which episodes did you direct for Dutton Ranch?

YAITANES: I did the second block. I did episodes three and four. Christina Voros did the opening two and the end two. It was really fun. It was a lovely invitation. Dutton Ranch has more continuity of crew from the original series. There was something fun about trying to create Yellowstone without a lot of the same craftspeople. Michael, David, and some other people came in to really give us a boot camp on what Yellowstone is and how to execute on it.

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I spoke to Luke Grimes recently, and we were talked about how it would be cool to see Kayce and Beth together again at some point, and he said that he didn’t know if it would work better to bring her into Marshals or to send him over to Dutton Ranch.

YAITANES: That’s a really good question. We talked about that a lot because each wanted to be on the other show. I feel like Kayce should go to Dutton Ranch. That feels like something that I would lose my shit over as a fan. That would be pretty cool. I just don’t know, in the world of what Marshals is, if Beth coming in would fit into that quite as well. Kayce would just naturally fold into Dutton Ranch because there’s a tonal similarity to the original Yellowstone. A lot of the people involved with Dutton Ranch really felt like they were making Yellowstone Season 6. Marshals is much more genre and guns-forward and those kinds of cool things.

Director Greg Yaitanes Is Excited for Viewers To See the Upcoming Apple TV Series ‘Lucky,’ Starring Anya Taylor-Joy

“When I got the call about that, I was all over it.”

Image via Apple TV

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With what I’ve seen of Lucky, that’s another project that looks badass, but this time with a woman, with Anya Taylor-Joy, at the center of it. What drew you to that? What do you love about that character and what she brings to the role?

YAITANES: I’ve wanted to work with Anya since I saw The Witch, and it was Jonathan Tropper again, so when I got the call about that, I was all over it. I got to meet Cassie Pappas, who was showrunning with Jonathan. It was just a great character. And then, my daughter is obsessed with Drew Starkey, from watching Outer Banks. It was Annette [Bening] again and Clifton Collins, and our collaboration was 30 years in the making. And it was Timothy Olyphant and Aunjanue [Ellis-Taylor]. It was a deep bench of great actors in an L.A. crime story. The bench is so deep on that show. It was very similar to how I felt on Presumed Innocent. I’d just go to work every day and look at who was going to be working with who, and it was just exciting to know what I was going to get to do with these pairings. Everybody on the callsheet was a great actor, so watching them work together was a pleasure.

What most impressed you about Anya Taylor-Joy and the work that she does in the series?

YAITANES: It’s really good. I directed episodes two and three of Lucky, which was almost like doing part two of the pilot. It’s a very continuous, interesting story that has got a lot of complexity to it. Anya is great at bringing that kind of nuance and humanity. There’s also something other and unknowable about her that makes me always lean into what she’s doing and what she might be thinking. Just to get to see her every day and be able to craft that performance with her was such a treat.

Her face and her eyes are just incredible. I feel like they do so much work.

YAITANES: Anytime, anywhere that she ever does something else, I’m there.

Directing Episodes of the Prime Video Series ‘Spider-Noir’ Was a Dream Come True for Greg Yaitanes

“I am such a noir nut.”

Image via Prime Video

It’s interesting that you did episodes of Spider-Noir because that feels like a bit different of a project for you. What were the challenges specific to doing that series?

YAITANES: I am such a noir nut that when it came up to the plate, my film school self was all over it. I just ate up noir and it heavily influenced my early work. To be able to dial into and be able to create something that was in the spirit of that was awesome. And then, Nic [Cage] is incredible. I collected comic books from 13 to 18, and then a bit in my 20s. Comic books were truly my escape. There were four different Spider-Man comics, and every week I could get a Spider-Man fix. To imagine that I, who went as Spider-Man for Halloween or played Spider-Man when we would do imaginary play, could go back in time to my 14-year-old comic book-reading self that I would be directing a Spider-Man TV show, I’d think that I was a pretty lucky guy at that point. I really won.

Nic Cage seems like somebody who is just a big kid who doesn’t know how to not have fun.

YAITANES: He’s a big kid. He brought that energy. He was off-book for every episode. He was the first to set. He was the kindest to everybody. He was just terrific. He would just give you great ideas. He could take direction beautifully. He was just a dream. I have literally been watching him since before high school. I had to fangirl him at the beginning. I showed him that my wife has the original painting that became the poster for Valley Girl. I got my fangirling out of the way at the beginning.

He seems totally down for that, though.

YAITANES: He’s down. He’s so funny. We were between takes, and I was like, “Did you ever go to Japan to make commercials?” And he was like, “Oh, my God!” and he got his phone to show them to us and was cracking up with us. He’s in on all of it.

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Do you feel like you’ve gotten your fill of noir, or do you feel like you need to do more now because of that?

YAITANES: Oh, my God, if that show has a second season, I’m going to be the first to raise my hand and go back. Every day, I had a great time. I came home from work so excited. I did the final two episodes, so they’re pretty spectacular. I cannot wait for everybody to see it.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026

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Showrunner

Spencer Hudnut

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Writers

Spencer Hudnut, Tom Mularz, Dana Greenblatt

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Marshals airs on CBS and is available to stream on Paramount+.

Taylor Sheridan has built such a sprawling TV empire at this point that every new show arrives with a certain assumption baked in: it is probably going to hang around for a while. That is especially true when the project in question is loaded with names like Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, and tied, however loosely, to the larger Yellowstone orbit. You hear “new Sheridan series” and instinctively think long rollout, lots of episodes, and a season built to dominate the conversation for months. That is not really what The Madison is doing.

Instead, Sheridan’s latest Western-flavored drama is wrapping up almost as quickly as it began. The Madison will conclude its six-episode first season on March 21, 2026, just one week after premiering its first batch of episodes on Paramount+. Alongside Pfeiffer and Russell, the cast of The Madison includes Patrick J. Adams as Russell McIntosh, Elle Chapman as Paige McIntosh, Matthew Fox as Paul Clyburn, Beau Garrett as Abigail Reese, Amiah Miller as Bridgette Reese, Ben Schnetzer as Van Davis, Kevin Zegers as Cade Harris, Rebecca Spence as Liliana Weeks, Alaina Pollack as Macy, Danielle Vasinova as Kestrel Harris, and Will Arnett as Dr. Phil Yorn.

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Is ‘The Madison’ Worth Watching?

Collider’s review stated while The Madison boasts a strong ensemble cast, the series ultimately belongs to Pfeiffer, whose performance anchors Taylor Sheridan’s most emotionally introspective television project to date. As Stacy Clyburn, Pfeiffer portrays a grieving matriarch navigating the aftermath of a devastating family tragedy, delivering a performance that is both restrained and quietly devastating.

The Madison‘s solid ensemble cast puts a lot of pressure on leading lady Pfeiffer — until you remember this is Pfeiffer we’re talking about. She’s nothing short of astounding in The Madison, with her performance as a grieving matriarch undoubtedly putting Stacy Clyburn up there with Yellowstone‘s John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and Landman‘s Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) in the hall of fame of great Sheridan characters. The Emmys have historically not rewarded Sheridan and his small-screen projects, but if Pfeiffer isn’t at least considered for a Best Lead Actress nomination, then that may be a bigger tragedy than the show is centered around.

The Madison is streaming now on Paramount+.

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Release Date

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March 14, 2026

Network

Paramount Network

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Hollywood heavyweights lit up our TV screens as they celebrated acclaimed cinematic achievements at the 2026 Academy Awards.

But as celebrities gathered inside Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15, many of the night’s most enthralling moments happened while the cameras weren’t rolling.

From rapturous applause for personal favorites to intimate conversations during commercial breaks, our brightest stars didn’t hesitate to let their hair down — and Us Weekly was there to witness it all.

Cute couples, including the front row’s Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, spread the love by cuddling up to one another before extending happy vibes to fans who approached them for selfies. Elsewhere, leading ladies caught up with each other both at the bar and among the seats, with the likes of Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, Zoe Saldaña and Michael B. Jordan’s mom, Donna Jordan, all engrossed in animated conversations.

Related: The Best and Worst of the 2026 Oscars With Host Conan O’Brien

Awards season officially came to an end with the 2026 Oscars delivering an unforgettable ceremony. Hollywood’s brightest stars traveled to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, to take a break from the heavy news surrounding the world and try to celebrate the best in movies. “If I can be serious for just […]

Additionally, as films were recognized for their individual talents, celebrities enthusiastically showed their support, rising from the seats and applauding despite their peers remaining seated.

Keep scrolling to learn what Us saw first-hand while inside at the 2026 Oscars:

Leonardo DiCaprio Beamed While Chatting to Gwyneth Paltrow

Longtime friends Leonardo DiCaprio and Gwyneth Paltrow caught up in the auditorium, with the One Battle After Another actor seen holding Paltrow’s hand as the pair chatted.

Paltrow, who has caught up with DiCaprio on several occasions throughout this awards season, said on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in 2023 that he tried to make out with her “back in the day.” She noted at the time that despite their connection, their dynamic never turned romantic.

Couples Who Packed on the PDA

Elle Fanning and boyfriend Gus Wenner held hands and kissed before entering the theatre, Rose Byrne and husband Bobby Cannavale held hands as they greeted guests, and Chalamet and Jenner cuddled up to one another in their seats throughout the evening.

Additionally, DiCaprio happily snacked on Skinny Pop popcorn while seated beside girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, who looked equally as happy to join him at the event.

Kate Hudson and Emma Stone Couldn’t Wait to Catch Up

Hudson and Stone, who were seen snapping a star-studded front row selfie alongside Demi Moore and the pair’s respective partners, husband Dave McCary and fiancé Danny Fujikawa, were seen exiting the auditorium together, headed for the bar.

The pair then grabbed drinks before Hudson found her mom, Goldie Hawn and longtime partner Kurt Russell, and the trio enjoyed drinks and posing for photos together.

Nicole Kidman Gushed About Her Children

Nicole Kidman stood beside her publicist inside Dolby Theatre’s main lobby where she enjoyed a glass of rosé and talked about her daughter with her team. The Babygirl star looked delighted, with a huge smile wrapped across her face and laughing between greetings with fans who approached her — including a solo Rita Wilson.

Ejae Addressed Cut-Off ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Speech

While speaking in the press room after KPop Demon Hunters won best original song for “Golden,” one of the song’s performers, Ejae, discussed how the group’s acceptance speech was interrupted by music during the live show. She told members of the press, “They cut us off with the music, but I wanted to thank Rei Ami and Audrey [Nuna]. They killed it with their singing, and they’re just incredible people, and I love them so much.”

Jacob Elordi Loved Having His Mom by His Side

Jacob Elordi was seen enjoying a drink with his mom, Melissa Elordi, in the lobby bar, with a security guard asking fellow guests to avoid filming the pair. The Wuthering Heights star later introduced her to other guests, hugging Melissa at one stage, before walking over to Stellan Skarsgård to hug him. Elordi was also seen shaking hands with Channing Tatum later.

Emma Stone Caught Up With ‘Bugonia’ Costar Alicia Silverstone

Stone and Alicia Silverstone shared a sweet hug at the bar before chatting to the bartender together and ordering drinks. Stone was then seen grabbing glasses of champagne to give to the Clueless star before introducing her to Felicity Huffman and bringing her into the fun.

Nick Jonas Rushed Back to His Seat

At one stage, Nick Jonas, who attended the Oscars with wife Priyanka Chopra Jonas, rushed through the lobby with two waters held in his hands. The musician looked to be on a mission and Chopra was not with him.

Gwyneth Paltrow Reconnected With Her ‘Great Expectations’ Costar Ethan Hawke

Inside the auditorium, Paltrow was seen chatting to Ethan Hawke, who starred alongside her in 1998’s Great Expectations. The pair looked happy to be there together, smiling as they spoke.

‘One Battle After Another’ Cast Loved Those KPop Hand Lights

Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor were seen holding the glow lights provided to Oscars guests during the KPop Demon Hunters’ cast performance of “Golden.” Infiniti was seen standing up out of her seat as she waved her light around.

Chase Infiniti Cheered on One Battle After Another’s Wins

Infiniti jumped out of her seat and yelled in support of One Battle After Another when it won the best film editing award.

Celebrities Got Into Deep Conversations

Michael B. Jordan’s mom, Donna, was seen in a heart-to-heart with Saldaña as the actress sat in her seat and appeared very emotional. Michael, meanwhile, was seen in a long hug with DiCaprio before the pair spoke in depth. At one stage, Michael rested his head on DiCaprio’s chest before DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another costar Benicio del Toro joined the duo to hug Michael himself, shake his hand, and pose for photos with them.

Emma Stone’s Husband Watched Baseball on His Phone

Kirsten Dunst, who was seen dancing her way out of the theatre once the ceremony had wrapped, asked Stone’s husband, McCary, what he was watching on his phone before he revealed it was baseball.

The 2026 Academy Awards delivered plenty of viral moments, but one unexpected interaction between Leonardo DiCaprio and Gwyneth Paltrow quickly caught fans’ attention. 

Cameras spotted the longtime Hollywood stars deep in conversation during the ceremony, sparking speculation online. 

The lively exchange came despite DiCaprio attending the event with his Italian girlfriend, model Vittoria Ceretti, and it wasn’t long before viewers began dissecting the moment frame by frame.

Leonardo DiCaprio Spotted In Animated Chat With Gwyneth Paltrow At Oscars

During a break at the Academy Awards, Leonardo DiCaprio was seen chatting closely with Paltrow inside the Dolby Theatre, where the ceremony is held each year.

According to the Daily Mail, the interaction appeared friendly and animated. Observers noticed the two actors leaning toward each other while laughing and speaking intently, creating a moment that quickly spread across social media.

At one point, DiCaprio even held Paltrow’s hand during the exchange, prompting further curiosity among viewers watching the ceremony unfold.

The actress, who is married to television producer Brad Falchuk, appeared to gently pull her hand away before the conversation continued.

Moments later, DiCaprio returned to his seat alongside Ceretti, who attended the ceremony as his date for the evening.

DiCaprio Once Tried To Romance Gwyneth Paltrow Years Ago

While the Oscars interaction surprised fans, Paltrow previously revealed that the pair’s connection actually dates back decades.

During a 2023 appearance on the podcast “Call Her Daddy,” the “Marty Supreme” star shared that Leonardo DiCaprio had attempted to pursue her romantically earlier in their careers.

“Nope, never made out with Leo,” Paltrow said while reflecting on the moment. According to the 53-year-old, she chose not to explore the possibility of dating the “Titanic” star.

“He tried back in the day. But he was already, like, you know, he was very loose with the goods from when he was 19,” Paltrow revealed.

The revelation resurfaced after their Oscars interaction began circulating online, with many fans recalling Paltrow’s earlier comments about turning him down.

Leonardo DiCaprio Attends Oscars With Longtime Girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti

Despite the attention surrounding his exchange with Paltrow, DiCaprio spent the evening beside his beautiful partner, whom he has been dating since 2023.

The Italian model has become a regular presence alongside the actor at high-profile events, and their relationship has drawn particular interest because it appears to challenge a long-running internet joke about DiCaprio’s dating history.

For years, fans have speculated about the Hollywood star’s tendency to date younger partners and move on before they reach their mid-20s. Ceretti, however, has remained in a relationship with him for nearly three years.

The couple arrived together at the Academy Awards, with Ceretti later sitting beside him during the broadcast inside the theater. 

DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor, though the award ultimately went to Michael B. Jordan.

DiCaprio’s New Look Sparks Buzz On Oscars Red Carpet

Even before the ceremony began, Leonardo DiCaprio had already become a major talking point online because of his appearance on the red carpet.

The film producer debuted noticeably darker hair and a bold mustache while posing for photographers in a classic black tuxedo.

The facial hair immediately caught viewers’ attention, with many comparing it to the signature look often worn by Pedro Pascal, who arrived at the ceremony clean-shaven.

Some fans jokingly suggested that Pascal had somehow passed the mustache along to DiCaprio for the evening.

“Leonardo DiCaprio stole Pedro Pascal’s mustache and the ceremony hasn’t even started yet, I’m not ready,” one viewer wrote on social media per the Daily Mail. 

Another user reacted to the look with a short comment that quickly gained traction online, noting, “porn stache.”

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bold Oscars Style Divides Fans Online

pedro pascal shaved off his mustache and gave it to leonardo dicaprio pic.twitter.com/7sB6ee66ou

— caity ☘️ (@ktmob_) March 15, 2026

As photos from the red carpet continued circulating, social media users shared more mixed reactions to DiCaprio’s new look.

One fan joked about the coincidence between Pascal’s clean-shaven appearance and DiCaprio’s mustache, writing, “Pedro Pascal gave his mustache to Leonardo DiCaprio! #Oscars.”

Another observer pointed out the contrast more directly, posting, “Leonardo DiCaprio has a mustache, and Pedro Pascal is clean-shaven.”

Others took a more humorous approach to describing the transformation, with one user saying the actor looked “the most chopped he ever chopped.”

Another viewer compared the new style to comedian Shane Gillis, while one fan offered a tongue-in-cheek compliment by writing, “He’s actually attractive for an old man.”

Still, plenty of viewers praised the actor’s red carpet presence. One admirer wrote that “Leonardo DiCaprio owns the red carpet – classic black tux, bow tie, and that bold mustache giving major leading-man swagger. Timeless yet fresh; he’s ready to take home the gold.”

It’s awards season! It’s the time of year when millions of people tune in to watch the Oscars and see their favorite artists get awarded for their work in some of the best movies of the year. As an homage to the Academy Awards, it’s only fitting to look back at some of the previous top-performing films that have set records for having the most nominations in Oscar history. Titanic, The Shape of Water, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring are just some included in the list of movies that have received the most Oscar nominations.

While not all of these films were able to win as many prestigious prizes as the nominations would have you believe, they are still easily considered some of the most iconic and greatest films of all time. It is also worth noting that other notable films, such as The King’s Speech, The Revenant, and A Streetcar Named Desire are among those that have received 12 nominations but have not been included in the list.

25

‘Gladiator’ (2000)

12 Nominations (and 5 Wins)

Image via DreamWorks Distribution LLC

The first Best Picture winner for a film released in the 21st century, Gladiator provided a glorious scale and production to the ruthless world of gladiatorial combat that wowed the Academy and cemented itself as an action epic classic. Its Best Picture victory varies greatly compared to the winners of recent years, finding much more success in the below-the-line technical categories while still taking home the big prize at the end of the day.

Its path to victory certainly wasn’t easy, beating out heavy hitters like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Traffic. Still, there is a sense of brilliance and exceptional prowess from Ridley Scott’s massive cinematic epic that left an impact with audience voters, spearheading the 21st century with a bombastic, highly engaging epic that still holds up tremendously to this day. Ironically, the film’s sequel, Gladiator II, would also be nominated for Best Costume Design 24 years later, paralleling one of the awards that the original film won.

24

‘Mrs. Miniver’ (1942)

12 Nominations (and 6 Wins)

Image via MGM

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Mrs. Miniver was one of the most striking and effective romance movies of all time, and one that especially struck a chord with the world that was in the midst of a deadly World War. The film was able to shed light on the pain and difficulties of war impacting home life in a way rarely ever explored in film until then, a notion that made a massive impact on both worldwide audiences and the academy. On top of its massive showing at the Academy Awards, the film would also be highly lucrative at the box office, being the highest-grossing film of 1942, and a massive critical and financial success.

Mrs. Miniver made massive waves at the Academy Awards with its 12 nominations, largely driven by being the first of only a few films in history to earn 5 acting nominations, of which it would win 2 of the 4 categories. The film would also make a notable impact in Oscars history when Greer Garson gave the longest acceptance speech in Oscars history for winning Best Actress, speaking for 6 minutes and setting into motion the rule of cutting off acceptance speeches that went on for too long.

23

‘Dances With Wolves’ (1990)

12 Nominations (and 7 Wins)

Image via Orion Pictures

A massive-scale blockbuster Epic that would redefine the genre and breathe new life into it, Dances With Wolves combined the past and the present of Westerns to enchant audiences and the Academy alike for a resounding performance at the 63rd Academy Awards. The film’s massive scale and greatness as a technical marvel helped make it a massive success that made the most of the abilities of modern filmmaking to breathe new life into the past.

The majority of Dances With Wolves‘s success would relate to its below-the-line wins, nearly sweeping these awards with wins in Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Score, all coming together with an emphatic win for Best Director. What makes its dominance at the awards so interesting is that, as time has passed, it is often in contention with the other major player of the awards season, Goodfellas, which has become equally acclaimed, if not more so than Dances With Wolves.

22

‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

12 Nominations (and 7 Wins)

Image via Universal Pictures

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The undeniable magnum opus from legendary director Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List, perfectly balanced the director’s emotional strengths and humanist elements to create the ultimate tearjerker and World War II story. The harrowing and heartbreaking look at the atrocities and pain faced during the holocaust soon became the quintessential retelling of these events in the medium of film, further amplified by the top-notch filmmaking and exceptional craft on display.

Considering the fact that Schindler’s List has attained a powerful legacy in the over 30 years since its release as one of the greatest dramatic films of all time, it’s understandable that it would find itself dominating the 66th Academy Awards. It was certainly satisfying that it would also mark the long-awaited first Academy Award win for Spielberg, after an array of previous nominations for Best Director and Best Picture over the years. Although the film wouldn’t win every award it was nominated for, most notably losing out on Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor to Tom Hanks in Philadelphia and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, respectively.

21

‘My Fair Lady’ (1964)

12 Nominations (and 8 Wins)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

There’s nothing that the Academy loves quite like a high-energy musical, with one of the most successful musicals in Academy history being musical comedy My Fair Lady. The nearly 3-hour-long film reprised a lot of elements from the original stage musical, even including actors like Rex Harrison reprising their roles, and made the most of the medium of film to elevate and evolve the musical energy and style. The film would go on to be one of the most acclaimed and successful movie musicals of all time, further cemented in its legacy by its massive returns at the Academy Awards.

Ironically, My Fair Lady would end up not being the most nominated musical of the 37th Academy Awards, with Mary Poppins (which will be talked about later in the list) earning 13 nominations. However, the film would beat out Mary Poppins when it came to wins, winning 8 Academy Awards over Mary Poppins‘ 5 wins and winning many more high-profile awards, such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

20

‘On the Waterfront’ (1954)

12 Nominations (and 8 Wins)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Largely beloved and considered to be one of the defining films of the 50s, On the Waterfront is a masterful crime drama that still holds up brilliantly in the modern era, making waves when it was first released and being a hit at the Academy Awards. The film follows Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando), a kindhearted dockworker who wants to escape the harsh life of crime that he’s been wrapped up in, made worse when he witnesses the death of a friend. After falling in love with the friend’s sister, Terry attempts to do what he can to leave his life on the waterfront and expose his corrupt employers in the process.

On the Waterfront is one of the most influential and iconic crime dramas of all time, with its legacy and strengths still being felt in film today. It’s no wonder that the film had such an impact at the Academy Awards, not only taking home the big prize of Best Picture, but also taking home awards for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Supporting Actress. The most notable win, however, is Brando’s win for Best Actor for his portrayal of Terry Malloy, a performance that is still in conversation as one of the greatest performances of all time.

19

‘The English Patient’ (1996)

12 Nominations (and 9 Wins)

Image via Miramax

While the film has largely been forgotten by general audiences in the nearly 30 years since its release, The English Patient made a massive splash at the 69th Academy Awards, beating out the likes of Fargo and Jerry Maguire to win Best Picture. The film follows Hungarian map maker Count Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) on his assigned quest to chart the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert in the 1930s. However, the dangers and rise of World War II prove to throw Almásy into a world of danger, betrayal, and unexpected love.

The English Patient is emblematic and all-encompassing of a lot of the same conventions and trends that largely defined the most successful and Oscar-bait-y films of the late 20th century, making it far from shocking that the film found such massive success. While aspects of the film may not have aged the best in the decades since its release, it’s undeniable how much of an impact that The English Patient had on the academy when it released, helping it win Best Picture on top of Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Cinematography.

18

‘Ben-Hur’ (1959)

12 Nominations (and 11 Wins)

Image via MGM

A massive spectacle that brought the gargantuan scale and weight of a real Colosseum arena to the big screen in a way that has never truly been accomplished before or since, Ben-Hur is a feat of filmmaking that was always going to win big at the Academy Awards. A remake of a classic film from the 1920s, the film sees Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) being falsely accused by his childhood friend-turned-overlord, being banished and put into slavery while his family is made into prisoners. This acts as only the beginning of Ben-Hur’s quest for revenge, fighting through the ranks and making his name known in the process.

Ben-Hur was nominated for 12 out of 15 possible categories that it was eligible for, yet even more shocking was that it nearly swept every award it was nominated for, winning 11 out of its 12 nominations. Even after 65 years, this is still the tied record for the highest amount of awards that were won by a single film, cementing its status as one of the biggest Academy Award success stories of all time. No film in the future may surpass the heights that Ben-Hur first achieved in terms of wins, although several other films have earned more nominations.

17

‘Emilia Perez’ (2024)

13 Nominations (and 2 Wins)

Image via Netflix

One of the most controversial and divisive Best Picture nominees of recent memory, Emilia Perez has been somewhat of an unexpected phenomenon where it found massive acclaim among the industry and awards bodies and wildly mixed among critics and audiences. The musical crime film about a cartel leader faking their death so that they can undergo a gender transition was already largely contentious when it premiered at film festivals, only growing more divisive following its release, nominations, and recent controversies.

When it initially received 13 nominations, Emilia Perez was in the conversation to win Best Picture and take home an array of other awards, but following the waves of controversy, any momentum that the film had was squarely dashed into the dust. While it didn’t go home empty-handed, still winning the awards for Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for “El Mal”, it was beaten out in every other category, even losing the previously shoo-in Best International Feature to I’m Still Here.

16

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ (2008)

13 Nominations (and 3 Wins)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of many masterful dramas to come from legendary director David Fincher. The film follows Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), who lives an unusual life: he was born looking like an elderly man and appears to get younger and younger as the years go by. In the old folks’ home where he lives, he meets a young girl of the same age. As they fall in love, however, they know it is only a matter of time before Benjamin’s condition becomes a persistent complication that will jeopardize their future together.

It comes as no surprise that Fincher’s film has captured the hearts of many viewers and film critics. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button received 13 nominations out of the 26 possible categories and won three awards for Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, and Best Makeup. Interestingly and annoyingly, Academy frontrunner Cate Blanchett did not receive an Oscar nomination for her role as Daisy Fuller (adult version) in the film.

The 98th Academy Awards delivered plenty of headline moments, but few were as dramatic as the night surrounding Teyana Taylor. 

The multi-talented star first sparked online debate over her reaction to losing the Best Supporting Actress category, and the conversation only intensified minutes later. 

A backstage confrontation captured on video showed Taylor visibly furious after claiming she had been pushed in a crowded hallway, turning what was already a viral moment into one of the most talked-about scenes of the evening.

Teyana Taylor Confronts Man Backstage After Heated Oscars Incident

Teyana Taylor made a scene at the Oscars on Sunday after she claimed a man shoved her.

When did the Oscars become the Waffle House?pic.twitter.com/j6YcZbfrFn

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— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 16, 2026

Shortly after the awards segment concluded, a video began circulating online showing Teyana Taylor in a crowded hallway inside the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards is held.

In the clip, posted by a verified account on X, the visibly upset star pointed toward someone off camera while raising her voice, accusing a man of getting physical with her as she tried to move through the packed area.

“You’re a man putting his hands on a female,” Taylor said during the confrontation. 

Witnesses nearby appeared concerned as the exchange unfolded. 

The actress repeated her frustration several times while addressing the situation directly.

“You’re very rude. You’re very rude. You’re very rude,” she said, making it clear she was angry about what had just happened.

Taylor Says She Was Shoved In Packed Oscars Corridor

As the tense moment continued, Teyana Taylor explained to people around her what she believed had happened in the busy hallway. 

According to the star, the man had pushed her while navigating through the crowd of attendees.

“He literally shoved me,” Taylor said while describing the incident. She also pointed toward another woman nearby, claiming the situation involved more than just herself. 

“He was damn near shoving her,” she added.

The video clip ended with the 35-year-old drawing a clear boundary as she addressed the situation one final time. “Do not touch me, do not shove me, do not push me,” she said firmly. The confrontation quickly spread across social media, becoming one of the most widely shared clips from the evening.

Teyana Taylor’s Oscars Reaction Immediately Sparks Social Media Frenzy

The evening had already placed Taylor in the spotlight as cameras focused on the nominees for Best Supporting Actress. The category included Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning.

When Madigan’s name was announced as the winner, Taylor reacted instantly. The performer jumped up from her seat, raising her arms above her head while clapping enthusiastically.

The moment played out in a split-screen broadcast showing reactions from multiple nominees, and viewers quickly began sharing opinions online about Taylor’s animated response. 

Some fans believed the excitement looked exaggerated for someone who had just lost the category.

“Teyana Taylor faking the happiness, girl sit down and relax,” one viewer wrote on X per the Daily Mail. 

Another person posted a blunt reaction to the clip circulating online, writing, “Lmao that Teyana Taylor reaction, the fakest sh** ever.”

The debate spread rapidly across social media, with some viewers wondering whether the energetic celebration was genuine or simply an attempt to mask disappointment.

Taylor’s Oscars Loss Analyzed By Body Language Expert

The discussion around Teyana Taylor’s reaction soon drew commentary from body language expert Judi James, who offered her interpretation of what viewers saw on screen.

James suggested the reactions from both Taylor and fellow nominee Fanning were unusually dramatic.

“The split-screen responses from Elle Fanning and Teyana Taylor as they didn’t get Best Supporting Actress were overkill performances of counter-intuitive emotions that should have won an award in a category of their own,” James said.

According to the expert, the performers appeared to express excitement typically associated with winners rather than nominees who had just lost.

James explained that Taylor’s movement was particularly noticeable in the broadcast. “Teyana dived forward from her seat as though she’d received an electric shock,” she said.

The expert also described how the actress appeared to transition quickly from that initial movement into a celebratory response.

She said, “When she came up, she was in full celebratory mode, clapping with her hands above her head.”

Teyana Taylor Caps Off Major Awards Season At The Oscars

Despite the controversy surrounding the night, Taylor’s presence at the Academy Awards marked a milestone in her career.

The “Straw” star had enjoyed a strong awards season thanks to her performance in “One Battle After Another,” which ultimately went on to win Best Picture at the ceremony.

Earlier in the season, Taylor also secured a major win at the Golden Globe Awards, taking home Best Supporting Actress for the role. 

Her performance also earned nominations from the Critics’ Choice Awards, the BAFTA Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards.

The Oscar nomination itself marked her first recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, highlighting the growing momentum of her acting career.

Outside of film, Taylor has also continued making waves in music. She recently earned a Grammy Awards nomination for Best R&B Album for “Escape Room,” reinforcing her reputation as a multi-hyphenate performer who continues to move between music, film, choreography, and directing.