Movie fans you are not ready for this. The 2025 Oscars just wrapped up and things got seriously surprising. While everyone was expecting maybe Conclave or Wicked a little indie film called Anora swept the awards including Best Picture! Yes Anora. People online are in a frenzy some cheering some scratching their heads. Let's break down what happened and why everyone is talking about this Oscar night .
'Anora' Wins Best Picture and Everything Else? Inside the Shocking Oscar Sweep
So Anora is directed by Sean Baker and it is definitely not your typical Hollywood blockbuster. The movie is about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Not exactly mainstream right? But the Academy clearly loved it. Anora went home with FIVE Oscars. Yes five!
Here is the crazy part Anora won :
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Sean Baker)
- Best Actress (Mikey Madison)
- Best Original Screenplay (Sean Baker)
- Best Film Editing (Sean Baker)
Sean Baker actually tied Walt Disney for most wins in a single night but Baker did it all for ONE movie. That is seriously impressive and historic. You would think everyone would be celebrating right? Wrong.
Internet Meltdown: Why Are People So Divided Over 'Anora's' Best Picture Win?
The internet is basically in chaos right now. People have VERY strong opinions about Anora winning Best Picture. Some are thrilled calling it deserved and amazing. They are like "Yes indie film wins!" and "Anora is the best movie of the decade!". There is even a whole online fan group calling themselves the "Anora hive".
But then there is the other side. Lots of folks are not happy. They are asking questions like "Anora better than Nickel Boys? Better than Conclave? Better than Wicked?". Some are saying the Oscars bar is "so damn low". Ouch. Some people online even feel the movie's portrayal of sex workers is not good. So yeah it's a mixed bag of reactions to say the least.
Why the Drama? Is It Really About 'Anora' or Something Bigger?
So why is Anora so divisive? Well for starters it is an indie film with a non-traditional story and style. It deals with adult themes bad language and nudity. That kind of movie is always going to get strong reactions if it wins big at the Oscars.
But some argue the mixed response is about more than just Anora itself. Award shows like the Oscars are all about picking "the best". But art is subjective. Saying one movie is "better" than another can feel wrong to people. It goes against our feeling that all art has value. When the Oscars pick winners it forces everyone to take sides and some people are going to be upset no matter what movie wins.
Plus social media changes everything. Fandom is way more active now. People don't just watch movies they discuss debate and form online communities. This can lead to fans getting really invested in their favorite films and pushing their own opinions hard online. So you get "Anora hives" but also people trashing the movie online because their favorites did not win. It is all part of the awards season rollercoaster.
Beyond 'Anora': Other Big Winners and Standout Moments from the 2025 Oscars
Even though Anora was the big story of the night other movies and actors also got some love. Here are some other key winners from the 2025 Oscars :
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Best International Feature: I'm Still Here (Brazil)
- Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave
Conan O'Brien hosted the show and some say he was great bringing back his late-night comedy style. There were of course some awkward moments like when Emilia Pérez won Best Original Song and one of the winners started singing and did not stop. Yikes. Hulu's livestream also messed up at the end cutting off before Best Actress and Best Picture were announced. Double yikes.
Full List of Key Winners at the 2025 Oscars:
- 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)
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Best International Feature: I'm Still Here (Brazil)
- Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist (Lol Crawley)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave (Peter Straughan)
- Best Original Screenplay: Anora (Sean Baker)
So Was 'Anora' Deserving? You Decide (and Maybe Watch It When You Can)
The 2025 Oscars were definitely a night of surprises. Anora winning Best Picture is going to be debated for a long time. Whether you think it deserved to win or not it is clear the movie has made a big impact. Maybe this controversy is just part of the fun of the Oscars. It gets people talking about movies and thinking about what makes a film "the best".
If you want to form your own opinion on Anora you will have to wait a bit. It is an indie film so it is not streaming everywhere yet. Keep an eye out for when it becomes available on demand or on streaming services. Then you can decide for yourself if Anora was a worthy Best Picture winner or if the internet has a point about this Oscar upset.