The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, dazzled audiences coast-to-coast as it aired live from the iconic Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood on March 2, 2025.
With winners announced across 23 categories, the ceremony celebrated cinematic excellence while paying tribute to the heroes and victims of the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
The night belonged to Anora, which claimed five awards, including the coveted Best Picture.
Anora, a film about an erotic dancer and the son of a Russian oligarch, won the Best Picture award, with director Sean Baker highlighting the importance of independent filmmaking during his acceptance speech.
Mikey Madison was crowned Best Actress for her stellar performance, while Sean Baker earned accolades for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, cementing Anora’s dominance.
In other major acting categories, Adrien Brody took home Best Actor for The Brutalist, Kieran Culkin earned Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldaña made history as the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar, taking home Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez.
The evening was also marked by groundbreaking wins. Flow claimed Best Animated Feature, a first for Latvia, while Brazil celebrated its inaugural Oscar with I’m Still Here winning Best International Feature Film.
No Other Land earned Best Documentary Feature, and Peter Straughan was honored with Best Adapted Screenplay for Conclave.
Paul Tazewell broke barriers as the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for Wicked, which also triumphed in Best Production Design.
Other notable winners included The Brutalist (Best Cinematography, Best Original Score), Dune: Part Two (Best Sound, Best Visual Effects), and Emilia Pérez (Best Original Song for “El Mal”). Best Makeup and Hairstyling went to The Substance.
Zoe Saldana
The ceremony opened with a show-stopping performance by Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, followed by a musical tribute to James Bond featuring Doja Cat, Lisa of Blackpink, and Raye. Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey led a heartfelt homage to the late Quincy Jones, while Morgan Freeman honored his dear friend Gene Hackman during the In Memoriam segment.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale also delivered a stunning performance, adding to the evening’s grandeur.
The 2025 Oscars delivered not only unforgettable moments but also celebrated historic achievements and diverse storytelling, solidifying its legacy as Hollywood’s biggest night.
Here is a full list of the 2025 Oscar winners follows:
Best picture
WINNER: Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
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Best actress
WINNER: Mikey Madison – Anora
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
Demi Moore – The Substance
Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Best actor
WINNER: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Best supporting actress
WINNER: Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande – Wicked
Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
Best supporting actor
WINNER: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
Yura Borisov – Anora
Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
Best director
WINNER: Sean Baker – Anora
Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
Best international feature
WINNER: I’m Still Here – Brazil
The Girl with the Needle – Denmark
Emilia Pérez – France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Germany
Flow – Latvia
Best animated feature
WINNER: Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best original screenplay
WINNER: Anora – Sean Baker
The Brutalist – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg
September 5 – Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
The Substance – Coralie Fargeat
Best adapted screenplay
WINNER: Conclave – Peter Straughan
A Complete Unknown – Jay Cocks and James Mangold
Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
Nickel Boys – RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best original song
WINNER: El Mal – Emilia Pérez
Never Too Late – Elton John: Never Too Late
Mi Camino – Emilia Pérez
Like A Bird – Sing Sing
The Journey – The Six Triple Eight
Best original score
WINNER: The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best documentary feature
WINNER: No Other Land
Black Box Diaries
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane
Best costume design
WINNER: Wicked
Nosferatu
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Best make-up and hairstyling
WINNER: The Substance
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
Wicked
Best production design
WINNER: Wicked
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Conclave
Best sound
WINNER: Dune: Part Two
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best film editing
WINNER: Anora
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Best cinematography
WINNER: The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Best visual effects
WINNER: Dune: Part Two
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Best live action short
WINNER: I’m Not a Robot
Anuja
The Last Ranger
A Lien
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Best animated short
WINNER: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Beautiful Men
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!
Best documentary short
WINNER: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
The ceremony continued its tradition of honoring excellence in filmmaking across various categories, from acting and directing to cinematography and screenwriting.
The event was marked by a blend of high-profile nominees, stunning performances, and heartfelt tributes, reflecting the evolving themes and styles that have shaped the film industry.
Credit: New York Times
