The 2025 Oscars: A Night of Historic Wins, Surprises, and Show-Stopping Moments
The 97th Academy Awards delivered a dazzling night of cinematic excellence, historic milestones, and unexpected upsets. Hosted by comedy veteran Conan O’Brien, the ceremony blended humor, heartfelt speeches, and unforgettable moments that will be talked about for years to come.
Anora Dominates, Emilia Pérez Makes History
Sean Baker’s Anora emerged as the biggest winner of the night, claiming four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film’s success further solidified Baker’s reputation as a powerhouse in independent cinema.
Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez led the nominations race with 13 nods and secured two major wins. Zoe Saldaña made history as the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar, earning Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. However, the film’s biggest talking point was Karla Sofía Gascón, who became the first transgender woman to be nominated in an acting category. While she did not take home the award for Best Actress, her nomination marked a significant milestone for representation in Hollywood.
Adrian Brody and Mikey Madison Shine in Acting Wins
Adrian Brody, who won his first Oscar over two decades ago for The Pianist, secured his second Best Actor award for The Brutalist. His gripping portrayal of architect László Tóth impressed voters, fending off stiff competition from Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).
Mikey Madison clinched Best Actress for her powerful performance in Anora, a win that solidified her rising-star status. She triumphed over Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here).
Standout Supporting Performances and A Real Pain for Kieran Culkin
Kieran Culkin took home Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, marking another major career milestone after his celebrated work in Succession. In the Best Supporting Actress category, Zoe Saldaña’s historic win for Emilia Pérez underscored Hollywood’s growing embrace of diverse storytelling.
Dune: Part Two Sweeps Technical Categories, Wicked Brings the Magic
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two continued its franchise’s Oscar success by winning Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. Wicked, the highly anticipated adaptation of the Broadway smash, enchanted audiences and voters alike, earning wins for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
Music, Animation, and International Excellence
Daniel Blumberg’s evocative score for The Brutalist won Best Original Score, while El Mal from Emilia Pérez secured Best Original Song. Flow took home Best Animated Feature, triumphing over Inside Out 2 and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Brazil’s I’m Still Here won Best International Feature, adding to the night’s celebration of global cinema.
Conan O’Brien’s Hosting Debut: A Win in Itself
First-time Oscar host Conan O’Brien brought his signature wit to the ceremony, keeping the audience entertained with sharp monologues and lighthearted jabs. His playful energy and ability to balance humor with respect for the craft made for a well-received debut.
Final Thoughts: A Year of Firsts and Unforgettable Moments
The 2025 Oscars will be remembered as a night of historic wins, career-defining performances, and a continued push for inclusivity in Hollywood. From Anora’s sweeping success to Emilia Pérez’s groundbreaking nomination, this year’s ceremony proved once again that the Academy Awards are not just about trophies—but about the stories that shape our world.
Below is the full list of winners and nominees as each category is announced:
Best picture
“Anora” — Winner
“The Brutalist”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Pérez”
“I’m Still Here”
“Nickel Boys”
“The Substance”
“Wicked”
Best actress
Mikey Madison, “Anora” — Winner
Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”
Karla Sofia Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”
Demi Moore, “The Substance”
Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”
Best actor
Adrian Brody, “The Brutalist” — Winner
Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”
Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”
Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice”
Best supporting actor
Kieran Culkin
Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” — Winner
Yura Borisov, “Anora”
Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”
Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”
Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice”
Best supporting actress
Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez” — Winner
Monica Barbaro, “A Complete Unknown”
Ariana Grande, “Wicked”
Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”
Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”
Best director
Sean Baker, “Anora” — Winner
Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”
James Mangold, “A Complete Unknown”
Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”
Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”
Best cinematography
“The Brutalist,” Lol Crawley — Winner
“Dune: Part Two,” Greig Fraser
“Emilia Pérez,” Paul Guillaume
“Maria,” Edward Lachman
“Nosferatu,” Jarin Blaschke
Best animated feature
“Flow” — Winner
“Inside Out 2”
“Memoir of a Snail”
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
“The Wild Robot”
Best animated short
“In the Shadow of the Cypress” — Winner
“Beautiful Men”
“Magic Candies”
“Wander to Wonder”
“Yuck!”
Best costume design
Daryl Hannah and Sean Baker
“Wicked,” Paul Tazewell — Winner
“A Complete Unknown,” Arianne Phillips
“Conclave,” Lisy Christl
“Gladiator II,” Janty Yates
“Nosferatu,” Linda Muir
Best original screenplay
Daryl Hannah and Sean Baker
“Anora,” Sean Baker — Winner
“The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold
“A Real Pain,” Jesse Eisenberg
“September 5,” Tim Fehlbaum & Moritz Binder
“The Substance,” Coralie Fargeat
Best adapted screenplay
“Conclave,” Peter Straughan — Winner
“A Complete Unknown,” Jay Cocks & James Mangold
“Emilia Pérez,” Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain & Nicolas Livecchi
“Nickel Boys,” RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes
“Sing Sing,” Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin & John “Divine G” Whitfield
Best makeup and hairstyling
“The Substance” — Winner
“A Different Man”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Nosferatu”
“Wicked”
Best film editing
“Anora,” Sean Baker — Winner
“The Brutalist,” Dávid Jancsó
“Conclave,” Nick Emerson
“Emilia Pérez,” Juliette Welfling
“Wicked,” Myron Kerstein
Best production design
“Wicked,” Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales — Winner
“The Brutalist,” Judy Becker
“Conclave,” Suzie Davies
“Dune: Part Two,” Patrice Vermette
“Nosferatu,” Craig Lathrop
Best original song
“El Mal,” “Emilia Pérez” (Clement Ducol, Camille & Jacques Audiard) — Winner
“Never Too Late,” “Elton John: Never Too Late” (Elton John & Brandi Carlile)
“Mi Camino,” “Emilia Pérez” (Clement Ducol & Camille)
“Like a Bird,” “Sing Sing” (Adrian Quesada & Abraham Alexander)
“The Journey,” “The Six Triple Eight” (Diane Warren)
Best documentary short
“The Only Girl in the Orchestra” — Winner
Death by Numbers”
“I Am Ready, Warden”
“Incident”
“Instruments of a Beating Heart”
Best documentary feature
“No Other Land,” Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor — Winner
“Black Box Diaries,” Shiori Itō
“Porcelain War,” Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev
“Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” Johan Grimonprez
“Sugarcane,” Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie
Best sound
Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer pose backstage
“Dune: Part Two” — Winner
“A Complete Unknown”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Wicked”
“The Wild Robot”
Best visual effects
“Dune: Part Two” — Winner
“Alien: Romulus”
“Better Man”
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
“Wicked”
Best live-action short
“I’m Not a Robot” — Winner
“A Lien”
“Anuja”
“The Last Ranger”
“The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”
Best international feature
“I’m Still Here,” Walter Salles (Brazil) — Winner
“The Girl with the Needle,” Magnus von Horn (Denmark)
“Emilia Pérez,” Jacques Audiard (France)
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” Mohammad Rasoulof (Germany)
“Flow,” Miguel Gomes (Latvia)
Best original score
“The Brutalist,” Daniel Blumberg — Winner
“Conclave,” Volker Bertelmann
“Emilia Pérez,” Clément Ducol & Camille
“Wicked,” John Powell & Stephen Schwartz
“The Wild Robot,” Kris Bowers
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