Movie buffs the 97th Academy Awards just wrapped up and let me tell you it was a night with twists turns and a whole lot of gold statues handed out. While everyone was watching to see if the frontrunners would take home the big prizes there were definitely some surprises along the way . Let's break down the key moments the winners and what everyone is talking about this morning.
Screenplay Showdown: 'Anora' and 'Conclave' Grab Early Oscar Wins Setting Up Best Picture Race
The night kicked off with some major screenplay awards and guess what? The two movies many thought would be battling it out for Best Picture Anora and Conclave both scored wins in screenplay categories. Sean Baker took home Best Original Screenplay for Anora a movie about a sex worker and her unexpected marriage to a Russian playboy. Baker in his speech even gave a shout-out to the sex worker community which was a memorable moment.
Then Peter Straughan won Best Adapted Screenplay for Conclave a thriller set in the Vatican. He dedicated his win to his daughter in a funny and sweet way. These screenplay wins definitely put Anora and Conclave front and center as serious contenders for the night's biggest award Best Picture. It was like the Oscars were saying "Pay attention these are the movies to watch tonight."
Kieran Culkin Wins Best Supporting Actor and 'Flow' Pulls Off Animated Feature Upset
Kieran Culkin fresh off his success in A Real Pain snagged the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In his acceptance speech Culkin kept it funny and a bit profane thanking his co-star Jesse Eisenberg and even jokingly asking his wife for another baby if he won. It was a classic Kieran Culkin speech casual charming and a little bit chaotic.
Then came a real surprise in the Best Animated Feature category. The independent Latvian film Flow a dialogue-free movie about a cat beating out big studio contenders like The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2. It was a major upset and a win for international film making. The director Gints Zilbalodis thanked his family and even his pets in a heartwarming speech reminding everyone "We are all in the same boat". It’s always great to see smaller films get recognized on the Oscar stage.
Conan O'Brien's Hosting Gig: Loopy Monologue and Throwback Humor Steal the Show
Conan O'Brien hosted the Oscars for the first time and he brought his signature quirky and self-deprecating humor to the stage. His opening monologue was a highlight. He poked fun at everything from the length of some nominated movies like The Brutalist to the recent controversies surrounding Emilia Perez. He even joked about using child labor and AI in the Oscars production before quickly saying it was just child labor. It was a very Conan style monologue a bit absurd a bit edgy and definitely funny reminding some of David Letterman's underrated Oscar hosting.
He also did a gag where he emerged from Demi Moore's body from the movie The Substance which was definitely... memorable and in line with his experimental comedy style. Conan's hosting was a refreshing change of pace and brought a lighter touch to the ceremony balancing the self-congratulation with some self-aware humor.
'Wicked' Opens the Show and Red Carpet Fashion Highlights
The Oscars kicked off with a spectacular musical performance from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo the stars of Wicked. They sang a medley of Oz-themed songs including a powerful rendition of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked itself. Their performance earned a standing ovation and set a high energy tone for the night.
On the red carpet Timothée Chalamet made a style statement as usual wearing a custom butter yellow Givenchy suit. Conan even joked about Chalamet’s suit during the monologue saying he wouldn't get hit by a bike looking like that. Chalamet's girlfriend Kylie Jenner was also there in a sparkly black gown. Fashion is always a big part of the Oscars and this year was no different with stars bringing their A-game to the red carpet.
The Oscar Race Heats Up: 'Anora' vs 'Conclave' for Best Picture and Other Key Categories
With Anora and Conclave taking home screenplay awards the Best Picture race is officially on. Many awards watchers are predicting it will be a showdown between these two films. Anora a smaller indie film about strippers and Conclave a Vatican-set thriller represent very different types of movies but both are clearly strong contenders.
Key Winners and Moments from the 2025 Oscars:
- Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker - Anora
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan - Conclave
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Costume Design: Paul Tazewell - Wicked (First Black man to win)
- Opening Performance: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo - Wicked Medley
- Host: Conan O'Brien
Oscars 2025: A Night of Surprises Heartfelt Speeches and Hollywood Glamour
The 97th Academy Awards were definitely a night to remember. From unexpected wins to Conan O'Brien's hilarious hosting and dazzling red carpet fashion there was plenty to talk about. The screenplay wins for Anora and Conclave set the stage for a tight Best Picture race while smaller films like Flow showed that underdogs can definitely triumph. And amidst all the glitz and glamour there were moments of genuine emotion and humor reminding us why we love movies and the Oscars in the first place. What were your favorite moments from the show? Let us know in the comments!