Movie buffs the 97th Academy Awards are done and dusted and wow what a night! We saw some expected wins some major upsets and one movie pretty much dominated the whole show. If you missed it don't worry we have got you covered. Let's break down the biggest moments the winners and who took home those shiny gold statues.
'Anora' is the Big Winner: Indie Darling Sweeps Best Picture Director and More!
Okay let's just get right to it. The movie of the night was definitely Anora. This film came in hot and just kept racking up awards. Seriously it felt like every time they announced a category it was Anora's name being called! When all was said and done Anora snagged a massive five Oscars including the big one: Best Picture .
But it wasn't just Best Picture. Sean Baker the director behind Anora had a night he will never forget. He personally took home FOUR Oscars! That's right four. He won for Best Director Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing on top of Best Picture as a producer. That puts him in some seriously rare company tying him with Walt Disney for most wins in a single night. People were definitely talking about Sean Baker and Anora after this show.
Mikey Madison Stuns with Best Actress Win: Upset or Well-Deserved Victory?
While Anora's overall success was maybe expected one of the biggest surprises of the night was Mikey Madison winning Best Actress for her role in the film. While Madison was an early favorite for some awards season watchers many thought Demi Moore might take home the statue for The Substance. Moore had been gaining momentum throughout the precursor awards. But in the end it was Madison who walked away with the Oscar.
Was it an upset? Maybe a little but many agree Madison's performance in Anora was fantastic and totally deserving of the recognition. It just goes to show you that in the end anything can happen at the Oscars!
Familiar Faces Win Big: Brody Culkin and Saldaña Grab Acting Statuettes
While Madison's win might have been a surprise some of the other acting awards went pretty much as expected. Adrien Brody took home Best Actor for The Brutalist adding another Oscar to his collection. Kieran Culkin finally got his Oscar winning Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain a win many fans were thrilled to see. And Zoe Saldaña rounded out the supporting actress category winning for her performance in Emilia Pérez. These wins were largely predicted by awards season watchers and cemented these actors' impressive year.
'Wicked' and 'Dune: Part Two' Honored: Technical Categories Shine
It wouldn't be the Oscars without some love for the technical achievements in film. Dune: Part Two as expected dominated in the visual categories winning Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. Those movies are definitely a feast for the senses and the Academy recognized that.
Wicked also got some Oscar love specifically for its design elements. Paul Tazewell made history becoming the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked. The film also snagged the Oscar for Best Production Design recognizing the movie's visual world-building.
International and Indie Films Get Their Due: 'I'm Still Here' and 'No Other Land' Triumph
The Oscars also highlighted some fantastic films from around the world and the indie scene. I'm Still Here took home the award for Best International Film showcasing global filmmaking talent. And in the documentary categories No Other Land won Best Documentary Feature. This film is notable not just for its win but for its powerful message about Palestinian communities and US foreign policy which the filmmakers spoke about passionately on stage.
In the animated categories Flow beat out some tough competition including The Wild Robot to win Best Animated Feature Film. And in the short film categories The Only Girl in the Orchestra won Best Documentary Short Film I'm Not a Robot took home Best Live Action Short Film and In the Shadow of the Cypress won Best Animated Short Film. These wins highlight the diverse and talented filmmakers working in these categories.
2025 Oscars Winners List: Quick Guide to the Night's Biggest Awards
Want a quick rundown of all the winners? Here is a list of the major categories and who took home the Oscar:
- Best Picture: “Anora”
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
- Best Actress: Mikey Madison, “Anora”
- Director: Sean Baker, “Anora”
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
- International Film: “I’m Still Here”
- Documentary Feature: “No Other Land”
- Original Screenplay: “Anora,” Sean Baker
- Adapted Screenplay: “Conclave,” Peter Straughan
- Original Score: “The Brutalist,” Daniel Blumberg
- Original Song: “El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez”
- Animated Film: “Flow”
- Visual Effects: “Dune: Part Two”
- Costume Design: “Wicked,” Paul Tazewell
- Cinematography: “The Brutalist,” Lol Crawley
- Documentary Short Film: “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”
- Best Sound: “Dune: Part Two”
- Production Design: “Wicked”
- Makeup and Hairstyling: “The Substance”
- Film Editing: “Anora,” Sean Baker
- Live Action Short Film: “I’m Not a Robot”
- Animated Short Film: “In the Shadow of the Cypress”
Oscars 2025: A Night of Speeches Surprises and 'Anora' Reign
Overall the 2025 Oscars were a night of celebration for film with Anora taking center stage. We saw some well-deserved wins some surprises and plenty of heartfelt speeches. While the ceremony may have been lighter on political moments it was definitely heavy on recognizing talent and artistry in filmmaking. Did your favorites win? What were the biggest surprises for you? Let us know in the comments!