On March 2, 2025, the 97th Academy Awards erupted into a whirlwind of cinematic celebration, unexpected victories, and a dash of chaos, captivating audiences worldwide.
Hosted by the irreverent Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the night belonged to Anora, an indie darling who stormed the stage with five Oscars, including the coveted Best Picture.
Director Sean Baker emerged as the evening’s titan, tying Walt Disney’s historic record by clinching four personal awards in a single night—an achievement that sent shockwaves through Hollywood.
But beneath the glitz, the ceremony deftly navigated a season marred by scandals, snubs, and surprises, proving that the Oscars can still deliver drama worthy of the big screen.
From a jaw-dropping Wizard of Oz-inspired opening to Adrien Brody’s marathon acceptance speech, the Oscars 2025 blended triumph with tension and humor with heart.
This article takes you inside the night that redefined awards season—breaking down the winners, the losers, the laughs, and the lingering questions about Hollywood’s future.
Whether you missed the live broadcast or just want to relive the magic, here’s everything you need to know about the ceremony that’s already making headlines.
Table of Contents
A Night of Triumph: Anora Steals the Spotlight
The biggest story of the 97th Academy Awards was Anora, a gritty indie film about a stripper entwined with a Russian oligarch’s son.
Directed by Sean Baker, the movie defied its modest budget and box office haul to dominate with five wins out of six nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
It’s a feat not seen since 1952’s The Bad and the Beautiful, and it thrust Baker into the pantheon of cinematic legends.
Baker’s haul—four Oscars for directing, writing, editing, and producing—matched Walt Disney’s 1954 record, though Disney’s wins spanned multiple projects. Standing alongside his Vancouver-born wife and producer Samantha Quan, Baker made history as part of the second consecutive husband-wife team to win Best Picture, following Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas for Oppenheimer in 2024.
His victory speech doubled as a rallying cry for cinema.
“Filmmakers, keep making movies for the big screen,” he urged.
“Let’s keep the moviegoing tradition alive!” In an era dominated by streaming giants like Netflix, his words struck a chord—a subtle jab at the industry’s shifting tides.
The Best Actress win was a curveball.
Mikey Madison, Anora’s magnetic lead, edged out heavy favorite Demi Moore (The Substance) in a stunning upset.
Clutching her trophy, Madison thanked her cast, family, and twin brother—“my best friend, whether you like it or not.”
Her victory capped a night where Anora’s raw energy outshone glossier contenders, cementing its place as a low-budget titan in Oscar lore.
The Big Losers: Emilia Pérez and the Nomination Curse
If Anora soared, Emilia Pérez stumbled. Entering with a whopping 13 nominations—the most of any film this year—the musical drama about a transgender drug lord crumbled, securing just two wins: Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for “El Mal.”
Its paltry haul tied it with history’s most-nominated losers, a bitter pill for a film that dominated early buzz after sweeping the Golden Globes.
Saldaña’s win offered a bright spot.
Tearfully accepting her award, she declared, “I’m the first American of Dominican origin to win an Oscar, and I won’t be the last.”
Her emotional moment salvaged some pride for Emilia Pérez, but the night underscored a brutal truth: nominations don’t guarantee glory.
The film’s other big hope, Karla Sofía Gascón, lost Best Actress to Madison, her campaign overshadowed by a racist tweet scandal that host Conan O’Brien gleefully skewered.
Elsewhere, Wicked and The Brutalist, each with 10 nominations, had mixed fortunes. Wicked, the splashy musical adaptation, snagged Best Costume Design and Best Production Design—technical nods that reflected its visual splendor but left its cast empty-handed.
The Brutalist, a sprawling epic about a Holocaust survivor architect, fared better with three wins: Best Actor for Adrien Brody, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.
Still, both films fell short of the sweep many predicted, overshadowed by Anora’s improbable run.
Conan O’Brien’s Wild Ride: A Host Who Dared to Dance
Conan O’Brien brought his signature absurdity to the Oscars, turning a scandal-plagued season into comedic gold.
Kicking off with a Wizard of Oz-themed tribute to a fire-ravaged L.A., he enlisted Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for a vocal medley that set the tone—grandeur with a wink.
Grande’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Erivo’s “Home” from The Wiz dazzled, segueing into their duet on “Defying Gravity.” It was a showstopper that had the Dolby Theatre roaring.
O’Brien didn’t stop there.
He wove through the season’s controversies with razor-sharp wit, targeting Conclave’s papal parallels to the Pope’s health crisis and Gascón’s tweet storm.
“Anora used the f-word 479 times—just three more than Gascón’s publicist,” he quipped, panning to the actress with a mock warning: “If you tweet about me, my name’s Jimmy Kimmel.”
Later, he revived the Kendrick Lamar-Drake feud: “We’re halfway through, so here’s Kendrick to call Drake a pedophile. Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up.”
The risky humor landed, proving O’Brien could balance edge and charm.
Presenters amplified the laughs. Bowen Yang, in full Wicked regalia, owned Best Costume Design with dry wit, while Amy Poehler’s snappy zingers lit up the writing categories.
Even a Dune sandworm “playing” instruments added a surreal twist. O’Brien’s fresh take reinvigorated a format often criticized as stale, making him a standout in a night of stars.
Adrien Brody’s Epic Speech: A Moment of Madness
If Anora ruled the night, Adrien Brody stole it. Winning Best Actor for The Brutalist, the 2003 Pianist winner outdid himself with a speech that defied convention—and the clock.
After casually tossing gum to his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman, Brody launched into a nearly five-minute oration, waving off the orchestra twice.
“Turn the music off—I’ve done this before,” he barked after the first interruption. “It’s not my first rodeo.”
The second cutoff came later, but not before he’d railed against racism, antisemitism, and “othering,” ending with a vague plea: “Let’s rebuild together.”
Clocking in far beyond the standard 45 seconds, Brody’s marathon mirrored his film’s 215-minute runtime—the longest of any Best Actor winner ever.
Critics called it self-indulgent; fans hailed it as passionate.
Either way, it was unforgettable—a chaotic counterpoint to Anora’s disciplined sweep and a testament to the Oscars’ knack for unscripted drama.
Music and Missteps: Hits and Misses of the Night
The 2025 Oscars took a bold swing with music—and didn’t always connect.
Breaking tradition, Best Original Song nominees weren’t performed live, a choice that sped up the show but robbed it of emotional heft.
Emilia Pérez’s “El Mal” won, and co-writer Camille tried to belt it out during her acceptance, only to be drowned by the orchestra—a poignant fumble.
Diane Warren, nominated for “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight, lost for the 16th time, her eighth straight defeat.
Yet music shone elsewhere.
The opening Oz medley was a triumph, with Erivo’s powerhouse vocals earning a standing ovation.
Queen Latifah’s “Ease on Down the Road” honored Quincy Jones with soulful grace. Less successful was a James Bond tribute tied to Amazon’s franchise acquisition.
Margaret Qualley’s dance to the theme, followed by Lisa’s “Live and Let Die,” Doja Cat’s “Diamonds Are Forever,” and Raye’s “Skyfall,” felt forced—an odd detour that puzzled more than it dazzled.
Political Whispers Amid the Glitz of Oscars 2025
Unlike 2024’s Gaza-focused outcry from Jonathan Glazer, the 2025 Oscars kept politics subtle.
O’Brien quipped that Anora’s wins reflected Americans “standing up to a powerful Russian,” a sly nod to global tensions.
The No Other Land team, winners of Best Documentary Feature, called for Palestinian rights, echoing last year’s intensity.
Beyond that, messaging stayed on the fringes: Guy Pearce wore a “Free Palestine” pin, and Jeremy Strong, nominated for The Apprentice, hinted at Trump-era darkness pre-show.
“It’s dark to talk about Roy Cohn in today’s world,” he mused.
Instead, the night leaned into rebuilding—literally, with nods to L.A.’s fire recovery—and sharing wins across a fractious field.
Dune: Part Two nabbed Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, a bittersweet rout of Better Man. I’m Still Here won Best International Feature, sparking “Brazil! Brazil!” chants backstage.
And Flow, a $4 million Latvian animated gem, upset The Wild Robot’s $80 million might for Best Animated Feature—a Cinderella story for the ages.
Smaller Wins, Big Moments
Kieran Culkin capped the acting awards with Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain.
Pointing to his wife, Jazz Charton, he revisited his 2024 Emmys quip about wanting kids. “She said four if I won an Oscar,” he grinned, trophy in hand.
“Jazz, ye of little faith—let’s get cracking!” The lighthearted vow charmed, balancing Brody’s intensity and Saldaña’s tears.
Technical wins rounded out the night.
Vancouver visual effects wizards helped Dune: Part Two shine, while The Brutalist’s cinematography and score dazzled.
Wicked’s costumes and sets wowed, proving spectacle still matters. Each trophy felt like a nod to a season where giants clashed—and underdogs thrived.
A Night to Remember: What It Means for Hollywood
The 97th Academy Awards didn’t just crown winners—they redefined narratives. Anora’s indie triumph signaled a hunger for raw, authentic stories over bloated blockbusters.
Baker’s plea for theaters struck at streaming’s dominance, while O’Brien’s zany hosting breathed life into a tired format.
Scandals lingered—Gascón’s tweets, Emilia Pérez’s flop—but the night soared above them, blending humor, heart, and history.
As Baker closed with a tribute to “indie artists’ blood, sweat, and tears,” the message was clear: Hollywood thrives when it takes risks.
The 2025 Oscars weren’t perfect—Bond flopped, songs were missed—but they were electric, unpredictable, and viral-ready.
From Brody’s gum toss to Culkin’s baby bet, this was a ceremony that begged to be rewatched, retweeted and remembered.
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