Paul Thomas Anderson has won his first Oscar, for best adapted screenplay for One Battle After Another.
Also directed by Anderson, One Battle After Another is a loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland; it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a former revolutionary living under a new name with his teenage daughter, played by Chase Infiniti.
Anderson, 55, had to overcome a strong field, including Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein, Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell for Hamnet, and Will Tracy for Bugonia.
Anderson has been nominated 14 times previously, including five times for screenplays and three times for best director.
“I’m incredibly honoured to be part of this history,” said Anderson, adding that he owed a “huge debt of of admiration and love” to Pynchon, but that his special thanks went to his family, “the people that you share a roof with, who put up with what it means to live with a writer”.
He then shouted out his wife, Maya Rudolph, as well as “Rain, Sylvia, Goo, Uncle Paul, Jojo”.
He added: “I wrote this movie for my kids, to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we’re handing off to them. But also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency.
“My Pearl, Lucy, Jack, and Ida. I love you. Thank you very much.”
The film-maker dominated the awards season in this category, winning best adapted screenplay at the Baftas, Critics Choice and Writers Guild awards, and best screenplay at the Golden Globes.
At the Oscars, Anderson also won the award for best directing for One Battle After Another. The film garnered six prizes in total, including the inaugural casting award and best film.
