Sean Penn should be the MVP of this year’s Oscars

Note: This column includes spoilers.

The 2026 Academy Award nominations are finally out, so let the speculation begin.

Movie lovers have their opinions, and everything about filmmaking is so subjective. It’s more challenging than ever to reach a consensus on anything. Still, the Oscars represent a general agreement on the best of the best. One thing should be clear: no actor’s performance was more valuable than Sean Penn’s in One Battle After Another.

One Battle After Another, the betting favorite to win Best Picture, is filled with great acting. From megastar Leonardo DiCaprio to newcomer Chase Infiniti, it’s a tour de force of drama, comedy, and action. But the one person who stands out above all others is Penn, who brings a unique, weird energy. Another actor would have made Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw a paint-by-numbers military man— brash, muscular, and tough.

The holidays aren’t complete without #OneBattleAfterAnother. In theaters and back in IMAX 70mm December 12. Get tickets now. https://t.co/mzYB20Jz2S pic.twitter.com/NRRFOyYlLK

— One Battle After Another (@onebattlemovie) December 10, 2025

Lockjaw is an unforgettable villain because he is a ruthless racist and an insecure oddball. He has a bizarre haircut and wears shirts that are way too tight. He fetishizes Black women in the most disturbing way possible. He’s also the antagonist who makes One Battle After Another a fantastic experience. There’s never a moment when he’s on screen that you know what he’s about to say or do. Lockjaw keeps you guessing. He’s unhinged and utterly fascinating.

As reprehensible as Lockjaw is, he’s also a tragic figure. Much like Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, he doesn’t discover until it’s too late that the secret society he so desperately wants to join would rather kill him than see him become a member. And like DeVito, Lockjaw’s own actions contribute to his demise.

Penn is gunning for his third Oscar, having won Best Actor awards for Mystic River and Milk. What are his chances? He’s second in the betting odds behind Stellan Skarsgard (Sentimental Value). Penn also has competition from his own movie. His Lockjaw stands in stark contrast to Benicio del Toro’s fun, easygoing Sergio St. Carlos. There was even a think piece in Variety, wondering aloud whether Penn’s character was “too evil” to win an Oscar.

On the surface, that argument seems absurd. Anthony Hopkins is best known for his Oscar-winning role as the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Charlize Theron won for portraying the real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. We could also mention Heath Ledger’s and Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayals of The Joker. But voters can be fickle and unpredictable. Perhaps Lockjaw will be too much for some to stomach.

If so, that would be a disservice not only to Penn but also to the art. Performances should be judged on merit, not morality. Compelling characters need to be well-rounded and interesting. They don’t need to be likable. A redemption arc for Lockjaw would have undermined the movie.

One Battle After Another was a critical, box-office, and pop culture hit largely due to Penn. The Academy should recognize that.