Movie fans it's time to talk Oscars ! The 97th Academy Awards just wrapped up and if you missed it you missed a night of surprises some emotional wins and a few history-making moments. Let's break down the ceremony the award order and all the stuff everyone is buzzing about.
Oscars Ceremony Order: Building Up to Best Picture and Those Coveted Acting Awards
If you are an Oscars watcher you know the show has a rhythm. They save the biggest awards for later to keep you hooked till the end. This year was no different. The excitement built throughout the night leading to the final big categories.
Here is roughly how the major awards played out leading to the grand finale:
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Animated Feature Film
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Documentary Feature
- Best International Feature Film
- Best Director
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Picture - the final award of the night!
Of course there were other categories sprinkled throughout like Best Song Costume Design and more but these are the ones everyone waits for with bated breath. The anticipation really builds as they get closer to announcing Best Picture.
"Anora" and "Emilia Pérez" Lead Early Wins But Underdog Documentaries Steal Hearts
Early on in the night it looked like "Anora" was going to be a dominant force. Sean Baker the director snagged Oscars for both Original Screenplay and Film Editing for "Anora" which is about a sex worker's life taking an unexpected turn. " Emilia Pérez " also picked up a couple of early wins including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for "El Mal".
But in a feel-good moment "Flow" a Latvian animated film about a cat managed to beat out big names like "Inside Out 2" and "The Wild Robot" for Best Animated Feature. That was a surprise for many!
Then in the Documentary categories things got powerful. "No Other Land" a film focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict won Best Documentary Feature. This was significant because the film actually had trouble getting distribution in the US. The directors used their acceptance speech to call for action to stop injustice and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people bringing a strong political message to the ceremony. "The Only Girl in the Orchestra" won Best Documentary Short telling the story of a female pioneer in the New York Philharmonic.
Acting Awards: Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña Take Home Supporting Honors
The Supporting Acting categories saw some deserving wins. Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for "A Real Pain". Zoe Saldaña took home Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Emilia Pérez". Both wins were well-received though some debated if these performances should have been considered for leading roles instead.
Zoe Saldaña's acceptance speech was particularly emotional. She dedicated her award to her grandmother who immigrated to the US from the Dominican Republic. She was proud to win for a role where she sang and spoke in Spanish highlighting her heritage.
Conan O'Brien's Hosting Style: Lighthearted No-Roast Approach and Ariana Grande's "Wizard of Oz" Opening
This year's Oscars had Conan O'Brien as host for the very first time. He brought a lighter touch to the show avoiding heavy roasting and political jokes in his opening monologue. It was a different vibe compared to some previous hosts.
The ceremony opened with a tribute to Los Angeles which recently dealt with wildfires. Ariana Grande kicked things off musically singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Then she and her "Wicked" co-star Cynthia Erivo performed a powerful rendition of "Defying Gravity". It was a strong start to the night.
Red Carpet Glamour: Selena Gomez Zoe Saldaña and Ariana Grande Shine
Of course it wouldn't be the Oscars without some red carpet fashion moments. Selena Gomez stunned in a custom blush-colored Ralph Lauren gown covered in gems. Zoe Saldaña looked amazing in a custom Saint Laurent dress and Cartier jewelry. Ariana Grande wore a Schiaparelli gown. Cynthia Erivo also turned heads in a custom Louis Vuitton look. The red carpet was full of stars bringing their fashion A-game.
Key Moments and Quotes from the 2025 Oscars:
- Sean Baker's Wins: Taking home Original Screenplay and Editing for "Anora".
- Zoe Saldaña's Emotional Speech: Honoring her grandmother and heritage in her Best Supporting Actress win.
- "No Other Land's" Documentary Win: A powerful moment for a film highlighting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that faced distribution challenges.
- Paul Tazewell's History-Making Win: Becoming the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for "Wicked".
- Adrien Brody and Halle Berry's Kiss: A nostalgic callback to their famous 2003 Oscars kiss.
- Michael Che's Elon Musk Joke: "Elon Musk is not a Nazi; the Nazis made nice cars."
Overall Vibe: A Night of Surprises Wins and a Touch of Politics
The 2025 Oscars were a mix of expected wins and some genuine surprises especially in the animated and documentary categories. "Anora" and "Emilia Pérez" had a good night but other films also got their share of the spotlight. Conan O'Brien's hosting was lighthearted and the red carpet fashion did not disappoint. There were even moments of political commentary making it a memorable night in Hollywood. If you missed it make sure to catch up on the highlights!