Movie lovers the 97th Academy Awards just went down and wow it was a night of surprises big wins and a few history-making moments! From unexpected victories to emotional speeches the 2025 Oscars definitely delivered. Let's break down the biggest wins the snubs and all the highlights you need to know from Hollywood's biggest night.
'Anora' is the Big Winner: Indie Film Sweeps Oscars with Best Picture and Multiple Wins for Sean Baker
Sean Baker's film Anora was the clear champion of the night. This indie darling walked away with a whopping five Academy Awards . That's right FIVE! It snagged Best Picture the night's top prize solidifying its place in Oscars history. But that's not all. Baker himself had a record-tying night taking home FOUR Oscars personally. He won for Original Screenplay Directing and Film Editing in addition to Best Picture as a producer. Talk about a clean sweep!
Anora tells a unique story and it clearly resonated with the Academy voters. It was definitely a triumph for independent filmmaking and Sean Baker's incredible talent. This is a moment people will be talking about for years to come. Move over Hollywood blockbusters the indies are having their moment!
Acting Upsets: Mikey Madison and Adrien Brody Take Home Lead Acting Prizes in Surprise Wins
While Anora's overall success might have been a surprise there were also some major upsets in the acting categories. Mikey Madison from Anora stunned everyone by winning Best Actress in a Leading Role. She beat out some heavy hitters and industry veterans for the trophy. Madison's performance clearly made a huge impression and this win really puts her on the map as a major talent to watch.
Adrien Brody also pulled off a surprise victory taking home Best Actor for The Brutalist. This is Brody's second Best Actor Oscar adding to his already impressive resume. His win was another unexpected moment shaking up predictions and proving that anything can happen on Oscars night.
Supporting Actor and Actress: Culkin and Saldaña Triumph in Expected Categories
Not all the acting awards were surprises though. Kieran Culkin widely predicted to win for A Real Pain took home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Fans cheered as Culkin added an Oscar to his awards season collection. Zoe Saldaña also won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. Despite some controversy surrounding the film Saldaña's performance was clearly a standout and she completed her awards season sweep with this Oscar win.
'Flow' Pulls Off Animated Feature Upset: Beats Out 'Inside Out 2' and 'The Wild Robot'
Another big surprise of the night came in the Best Animated Feature category. Flow a film from Latvia won the Oscar beating out heavy favorites like Pixar's Inside Out 2 and the critically acclaimed The Wild Robot. This was Latvia's first ever Oscar win and a major shock to many who expected either Inside Out 2 or The Wild Robot to take the prize. The Wild Robot in particular had strong critical buzz and a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score making Flow's win even more unexpected. It just goes to show that the Oscars can still deliver some genuine surprises.
'Emilia Pérez' Still Wins Big: Two Oscars Despite Best Picture Loss
Despite missing out on Best Picture and Best International Feature Emilia Pérez still had a solid Oscars night. The film earned two awards including Zoe Saldaña's Supporting Actress win and Best Original Song for "El Mal." While it may have been nominated for a whopping 13 awards and some predicted bigger wins Emilia Pérez was still recognized for its music and acting talent.
Other Notable Wins: 'The Brutalist' 'Wicked' and 'Dune: Part Two' Take Home Multiple Awards
Several other films had multiple wins throughout the night. The Brutalist in addition to Adrien Brody's Best Actor win also took home Oscars for Cinematography and Original Score. Wicked won for Costume Design and Production Design showcasing its visual and aesthetic achievements. And blockbuster hit Dune: Part Two predictably won for Sound and Visual Effects highlighting its technical excellence.
Oscars 2025 Winners List: Highlights of the Night
- Best Picture: Anora
- Best Actress: Mikey Madison, Anora
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
- Best Director: Sean Baker, Anora
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Best International Feature: I'm Still Here (Brazil)
- Best Original Song: "El Mal" from Emilia Pérez
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
- Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
- Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
- Best Costume Design: Wicked
- Best Production Design: Wicked
- Best Original Screenplay: Anora
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave
- Best Film Editing: Anora
- Best Original Score: The Brutalist
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance
- Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
- Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
- Best Live Action Short: I'm Not a Robot
- Best Animated Short: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Oscars 2025: A Night of Surprises Indie Triumphs and Hollywood Glamour
The 97th Academy Awards were definitely a night to remember. Anora's dominance was a major storyline alongside the acting upsets and Flow's animated feature win. While some frontrunners did win there were enough surprises to keep everyone on their toes. From the red carpet fashion to Conan O'Brien's hosting gig and the emotional acceptance speeches the 2025 Oscars delivered the Hollywood spectacle we all expect and a few unexpected twists along the way. What were your biggest takeaways from the show? Let us know in the comments!