Good morning! Fortune MPW editorial director Ellie Austin here. Federal cuts are driving Planned Parenthood to cosmetic treatments, Hulu has ditched its Buffy reboot, and history was made for women at the Oscars. Have a good Monday.
Last night’s Academy Awards were a tame but enjoyable affair, grappling with two big questions, both frequently referenced onstage: What is the role of Hollywood in a world beset by myriad crises? And what is the future of movie-going as AI and streaming reshape entertainment? (Host Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue included a sharp joke about the evening being Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’ first time in a theater. “Why are they all together enjoying themselves?” said O’Brien, imagining Sarandos’ thoughts. “They should be home alone, where I can monetize it!”)
The political thriller One Battle After Another dominated, winning six awards including best picture. Sinners, a supernatural portrayal of the Jim Crow South, came in second with four wins, one of which saw Michael B. Jordan beat Timothée Chalamet to the best actor statue. The movie also won the cinematography award, thanks to Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who made history as the first woman ever to win the category. Hellish global headlines make issues like equity in Hollywood seem less urgent, but we shouldn’t forget how poorly represented women and people of color continue to be at all levels of the entertainment business. The 2026 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, published just last week, showed that 2025’s biggest films were less diverse than previous years, with the number of women in lead roles down 10% year-on-year. In her acceptance speech, Durald Arkapaw asked all the women in the room to stand up and said that she wouldn’t have achieved all she has without them.
