Movie buffs gather 'round! The 97th Academy Awards just wrapped and let's just say it was a night with some serious surprises some expected wins and plenty to talk about. From show-stopping musical numbers to heartfelt speeches and a host who wasn't afraid to poke fun at Hollywood we're diving into all the best and a few of the uh... longer moments of the 2025 Oscars .
'Anora' is the Big Winner of the Night: Sweeping Major Categories and Tying Disney's Record!
Sean Baker's movie Anora was the talk of the town taking home a whopping five Oscars including Best Picture! Yeah you heard that right FIVE. Baker himself had a historic night. He personally snagged four Oscars for Directing Original Screenplay and Film Editing plus the Best Picture win as a producer. That ties him with Walt Disney for most wins in a single night! Talk about a mic drop.
Anora tells the story of a sex worker who marries someone and gets tangled with Russian oligarchs. It's definitely not your typical feel-good movie but the Academy clearly loved it. Mikey Madison also took home Best Actress for her role in Anora adding to the film's big night.
Here's a quick rundown of the major winners in case you missed it:
- Best Picture: Anora
- Best Director: Sean Baker Anora
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody The Brutalist
- Best Actress: Mikey Madison Anora
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin A Real Pain
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña Emilia Pérez
- Original Screenplay: Anora Sean Baker
- Adapted Screenplay: Conclave Peter Straughan
- International Film: I’m Still Here
- Animated Feature Film: Flow
- Documentary Feature: No Other Land
'Wicked' Magic Opens the Show: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's Spellbinding Performance
The Oscars kicked off with some serious star power. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo both nominated for Wicked totally wowed the crowd. They did a medley that paid tribute to all things Oz from The Wizard of Oz to The Wiz and of course Wicked.
Grande started it off channeling Judy Garland in a stunning red gown and even rocking a ruby slipper while singing "Over the Rainbow". Then Erivo took over with Diana Ross's "Home" from The Wiz. And yes they brought it home with "Defying Gravity" Erivo's vocals were next level giving everyone chills. Later in the show Queen Latifah kept the Oz vibe going with a performance of "Ease on Down the Road" for Quincy Jones. Basically Oz ruled the Oscars stage.
Conan O'Brien Hosts: Bringing the Laughs and Maybe a Sandworm or Two
Conan O'Brien hosted and he brought his signature goofy humor to the Dolby Theatre. From the opening filmed bit where he was playfully rummaging through Demi Moore's back in a Substance spoof to his monologue Conan was on point. He even joked about the sandworm from Dune needing to collect residuals.
His opening number "I Won't Waste Time" was pure Conan silliness and a gag involving a Dune sandworm playing instruments? Classic Conan bad-talent-show vibes in the best way. He even snuck in a Trump joke later saying people might like Anora because they wanted to see "someone stand up to a powerful Russian." Conan's brand of comfortably weird comedy was definitely a highlight.
Heartfelt Speeches and Genuine Moments: Earnestness Takes Center Stage
This year's Oscars felt different in a good way. It was described as "loose and personal" with more room for presenters and winners to just talk. And talk they did in a heartfelt way. Adrien Brody's acceptance speech for Best Actor might have gone on a bit long but it was definitely earnest.
Presenters got personal too. Robert Downey Jr. spoke from the heart about the Best Supporting Actor nominees and Andrew Garfield shared a sweet moment with Goldie Hawn about his mom being a fan. Even Zoe Saldaña's Best Supporting Actress speech was emotional as she talked about winning for a role where she spoke and sang in Spanish. The whole night had a vibe of genuine appreciation for the craft and each other.
One interesting approach this year was having presenters speak specifically about each nominee in some categories like Supporting Actor Costume Design and Cinematography. It made those awards feel more personal and meaningful and how often do you hear actors talk about their appreciation for cinematographers at the Oscars?
Long Runtime Strikes Again (But Maybe It's Okay This Time?)
Okay let's be real the Oscars are always long. This year's ceremony started earlier at 7 p.m. Eastern but it still ran long. It felt "loose" which was nice but also contributed to the length. Adrien Brody's speech was mentioned as being a tad long and while the heartfelt moments were great it all adds up to a lengthy show. If you are planning to watch next year maybe stock up on snacks and get comfy.
Politics Takes a Backseat (Mostly) But 'No Other Land' Makes a Powerful Statement
Despite politics being well you know everywhere the Oscars telecast was surprisingly light on political speeches. Daryl Hannah did say "Slava Ukraini" while presenting but for the most part winners kept it focused on their work and appreciation.
However there was one major exception: the documentary feature winner No Other Land. This film is about the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta and their struggle against Israeli military actions. The filmmakers used their Oscar platform to speak powerfully about the destruction depicted in their film and their frustration with US foreign policy. It was a significant moment especially as the film lacks wide US distribution making its Oscar win and message even more impactful.
'Emilia Pérez' Loses Best Picture Buzz But Zoe Saldaña and Song Win
Netflix's musical about a trans cartel boss Emilia Pérez went into the Oscars with a surprising 13 nominations even leading the pack. But despite the hype it didn't end up winning Best Picture. Reviews were mixed and a scandal around lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón's past online comments might have affected its chances.
However Emilia Pérez did not go home empty-handed. Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her performance and the original song "El Mal" also took home an Oscar. So while it missed the top prize the movie still got some well-deserved recognition.
Final Verdict: Oscars 2025 - Heartfelt Wins Funny Moments and a Few Long Speeches
Overall the 2025 Oscars were a mix of expected wins surprises and genuine emotion. Anora was the big winner Sean Baker made history and Conan O'Brien kept it light and funny. There were some amazing performances heartfelt speeches and yeah it ran a bit long. But if you like your awards shows with a dose of sincerity a sprinkle of absurdity and a whole lot of movie love the 97th Academy Awards definitely delivered. What were your favorite moments? Let us know in the comments!