AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 8:17 p.m. EDT

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ wins Oscar for best animated film

“KPop Demon Hunters” has won the Academy Award for best animated feature film. The victory caps a culturally defining run that has placed the musical-action movie atop both box-office and musical charts. It beat out “Arco,” “Elio,” “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” and “Zootopia 2.” Netflix’s big blockbuster follows HUNTR/X, a three-person vocal group that battles other-worldly demons, a rival boy band and their lead singer’s own shame. Alongside all the demon-slaying and choreography is a novel story of self-acceptance that blends Korean folklore and K-pop idol culture.

‘Hoppers’ holds onto the No. 1 box office spot as 'Reminders of Him' overperforms

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pixar’s “Hoppers” held onto its spot atop the box office, bringing in $28.5 million in its second weekend. That's according to studio estimates released Sunday. After its $45.3 million debut, The Walt Disney Co.’s “Hoppers” dipped a modest 37% in its second weekend, a promising sign for an animated movie. The weekend results also show Colleen Hoover’s “Reminders of Him” added to the author’s box-office streak. The Universal film debuted in second place with a better-than-expected $18.3 million. The film is the first from a screenplay that Hoover co-wrote, but not the first of her novels to successfully translate to the big screen. “Undertone,” a micro-budget horror movie from A24, opened with $9.3 million.

Cassandra Kulukundis wins inaugural casting Oscar, for ‘One Battle After Another’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “One Battle After Another” has claimed the first-ever Oscar recognizing casting, with the award going to casting director Cassandra Kulukundis. Sunday’s award is in recognition of Kulukundis’ behind-the-scenes creative process and collaboration with director Paul Thomas Anderson and the film’s producers to select the actors for their roles and craft a cohesive ensemble. The casting Oscar is the newest award the academy has created since the best animated feature film prize was established in the 2001 film year. Kulukundis has also served as the casting director on past Oscar favorites including “The Brutalist” and “There Will Be Blood.”

Conan O'Brien plays Aunt Gladys and takes opening shots at AI and Chalamet to open 2026 Oscars

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Conan O’Brien returned as Oscars host and opened the show with jokes about AI and Timothée Chalamet. On Sunday night, he told the crowd was the show's last human host. He said a self-driving car in a tux could run the show next. He also said security was tight because of a feared attack from the opera and ballet communities because of Chalamet's disparaging comments on those worlds. A pre-recorded opening bit showed him as Amy Madigan's Aunt Gladys character from “Weapons” and edited him into scenes from big nominees.

Updating list of 2026 Academy Awards winners

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Amy Madigan is taking home the best supporting actress Oscar for “Weapons.” She was the first winner announced at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday night. The winner of the first-ever casting Oscar is Cassandra Kulukundis for “One Battle After Another.” “KPop Demon Hunters” won the Oscar for animated film. “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” received the Oscar for animated short. The Academy Awards are being aired on ABC. Conan O'Brien is the host.

Amy Madigan wins Oscar for best supporting actress in ‘Weapons,’ 40 years after last nomination

Amy Madigan has won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the supernatural thriller “Weapons.” The last time she was nominated for an Oscar was for her role in 1985 family drama “Twice in a Lifetime,” setting a record for the longest gap between nominations for an actress. Madigan embodied the role of Gladys, giving a phenomenally creepy portrayal of the great-aunt of a young boy whose classmates go missing overnight. She won the Critics’ Choice Award and Actor Award in the same category.

A media-rating company says a Trump agency is threatening its livelihood

A company that evaluates news outlets and websites to see which produce reliable journalism says it's under attack by the Trump administration. NewsGuard has sued the Federal Trade Commission over an agency investigation that the company says is threatening its livelihood. NewsGuard's ratings system is used to help advertisers and artificial intelligence companies decide which news sites they can trust with their business. Conservative groups and the television network Newsmax says the ratings system is trying to censor conservative thought. The FTC says its investigation of NewsGuard is part of a broader effort to see whether advertiser boycotts violate antitrust laws.

The day before the Oscars, the ‘Bridesmaids’ rehearsed

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The “Bridesmaids” cast has reunited at the Dolby Theatre as Oscar presenters. On Saturday Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper, Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy ran through their lines and fine-tuned the timing. Byrne rehearsed with the group while also holding the distinction of being an acting nominee. Other presenters keep it casual too, with some wearing sneakers including Javier Bardem and Adrien Brody. The room felt calm as crews work through final checks, just 24 hours before the 98th Academy Awards. Conan O’Brien is returning to host the show, which will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Eastern.