The 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025), held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrated the best of cinema over the past year. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony was filled with historic wins, emotional speeches, and unexpected upsets. The evening saw Sean Baker’s Anora dominate with five Oscars, while performances by Mikey Madison, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, and Zoe Saldaña stole the spotlight.
Best Picture: Anora Secures a Landmark Victory
The dramedy Anora, about a sex worker who marries the pampered son of a Russian oligarch, won the top honor of the night—Best Picture. The film, directed by Sean Baker, also secured wins for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
Best Picture Nominees:
Anora (WINNER)
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
Remark: Anora‘s win aligns with expectations, given its critical acclaim and strong festival run. However, with a global box office of only $40 million, it joins the list of lowest-grossing Best Picture winners in history.
Best Director: Sean Baker’s Historic Win
Sean Baker, known for his independent filmmaking (Tangerine, The Florida Project), made history by winning four Oscars for the same film (Anora), a feat never achieved before.
Best Director Nominees:
Sean Baker – Anora (WINNER)
- Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
- James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
- Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
- Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
Acting Categories: Big Wins and Surprises
Best Actor: Adrien Brody’s Triumphant Return
Adrien Brody, a former Oscar winner for The Pianist (2002), won Best Actor for The Brutalist, portraying a brilliant but troubled architect. His speech reflected on career instability in Hollywood, stating:
“No matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away. That’s what makes this night so special.”
Best Actor Nominees:
Adrien Brody – The Brutalist (WINNER)
- Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Brody’s win was anticipated, though Timothée Chalamet was seen as a potential challenger for his role in A Complete Unknown.
Best Actress: Mikey Madison’s Upset Victory
Mikey Madison won Best Actress for Anora in a shocking upset over frontrunner Demi Moore (The Substance). Madison, overwhelmed, pledged support to the sex worker community, calling herself “an ally.”
Best Actress Nominees:
Mikey Madison – Anora (WINNER)
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
- Demi Moore – The Substance
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Madison’s win defied predictions, as most expected Demi Moore to take the Oscar for her body-transforming role in The Substance.
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin’s Career-Defining Moment
Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) won Best Supporting Actor, adding another major award to his career after his Emmy win for Succession. His humorous speech included an f-bomb and a joke about his wife promising to have more children if he won an Oscar.
Best Supporting Actor Nominees:
Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain (WINNER)
- Yura Borisov – Anora
- Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
- Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
- Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
This win was widely expected, given Culkin’s strong awards season performance.
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña’s Historic Win
Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) took home Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Dominican-origin American to win an Academy Award. She dedicated her Oscar to her immigrant parents and became visibly emotional.
Best Supporting Actress Nominees:
Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez (WINNER)
- Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
- Ariana Grande – Wicked
- Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
- Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
A strongly deserved win, with Saldaña outshining her competition in a highly competitive category.
Other Notable Wins
Best International Feature: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
Best Animated Feature: Flow (Latvia)
Best Documentary: No Other Land
The film No Other Land , directed by a Palestinian-Israeli collective, called for action against Israeli-Palestinian injustices. Basel Adra, one of the directors, made an emotional speech about his newborn daughter growing up in conflict.
Here’s a complete breakdown of all the remaining Oscar winners from the 2025 Academy Awards:
Writing Categories
Best Original Screenplay:
Anora – Sean Baker
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Conclave – Peter Straughan
Technical & Artistic Achievements
Best Cinematography:
The Brutalist – Lol Crawley
Best Film Editing:
Anora – Sean Baker
Best Production Design:
Wicked – Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales
Best Costume Design:
Wicked – Paul Tazewell
Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
The Substance – Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, Marilyne Scarselli
Best Original Score:
The Brutalist – Daniel Blumberg
Best Original Song:
“El Mal” (Emilia Pérez) – Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard
Best Sound:
Dune: Part Two – Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill
Visual & Animated Categories
Best Visual Effects:
Dune: Part Two – Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, Gerd Nefzer
Best Animated Short Film:
In the Shadow of the Cypress
Best Live Action Short Film:
I’m Not a Robot
Oscars 2025: Key Moments & Controversies
1. Tributes to Wildfire Victims
The show acknowledged Los Angeles’ recent wildfires, honoring firefighters and communities affected.
2. Conan O’Brien’s Hosting Debut
O’Brien’s monologue roasted Hollywood’s long awards season, including a joke about Karla Sofía Gascón’s social media scandal.
3. The James Bond Tribute
A montage celebrating 007 films followed Amazon MGM’s acquisition of creative control over the franchise.
A Night of Indie Victories
97th Academy Awards reflected the shifting landscape of Hollywood:
Indie films dominated (Anora, The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez) over big-budget studio films (Dune: Part Two, Wicked).
Sean Baker made history, securing four Oscars for a single film.
Zoe Saldaña and Mikey Madison delivered emotional speeches on representation and social advocacy.