HOLLYWOOD, CA—March 3, 2025—Last night, the Dolby Theatre lit up with glamour, gasps, and a few tears as the 97th Academy Awards unfolded in all its chaotic, star-studded glory. The Oscars 2025 handed out golden statues to a mix of indie darlings, blockbuster titans, and unexpected heroes, capping off a wild awards season that had us all guessing until the final envelope. Hosted by the quick-witted Conan O’Brien, who kicked things off with a musical jab at Jeff Bezos and a nod to LA’s wildfire recovery, the night was a rollercoaster of triumph, snubs, and history-making moments. Here’s the full and final list of winners from a night that’ll be talked about for years—let’s dive into the drama, the dazzle, and the downright surprises!
The Red Carpet Sets the Stage
Before the first award even hit the stage, the red carpet was a spectacle of its own. Cynthia Erivo floated in wearing a gravity-defying emerald gown that screamed Wicked, while Timothée Chalamet rolled up in a velvet suit that had fans swooning and X buzzing with “he’s Bob Dylan reborn” vibes. Mikey Madison, the night’s eventual queen, kept it understated in a sleek black number—hinting at the understated power she’d soon unleash. The mood was electric, tinged with a somber note as stars paid tribute to LA’s first responders, still battling the aftermath of January’s devastating wildfires. It was Hollywood’s big night, sure, but it felt like a city coming together, too.
Best Picture: Anora Steals the Crown
The top prize of the night went to Anora, Sean Baker’s gritty, heart-pounding dramedy about a sex worker caught in a whirlwind romance with a Russian oligarch’s son. When producer Samantha Quan and Baker himself took the stage, the room erupted. “This is for every indie filmmaker who’s ever dared to dream,” Baker said, clutching his statuette like it was a lifeline. The film nabbed five Oscars total, a sweep that stunned even the most optimistic pundits. Beating out heavyweights like The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, and Wicked, Anora’s win felt like a love letter to the little guys in a year dominated by big-budget buzz. Neon, the indie distributor behind it, is grinning ear-to-ear after guiding another underdog—remember Parasite?—to best picture glory.
Best Director: Sean Baker’s Triple Crown
Sean Baker didn’t just win best picture—he snagged best director, too, making him the night’s biggest story. “I make movies for the theater, not the couch,” he quipped, a nod to his crusade for cinema’s communal magic. His win over Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) was a nail-biter. Baker’s raw, unflinching style in Anora—shot on a shoestring budget—won over an Academy that seemed hungry for something real amid the glitz. Three Oscars in one night (he also nabbed original screenplay)? That’s Walt Disney territory, folks.
Best Actor: Adrien Brody’s Brutal Triumph
Adrien Brody’s turn as László Tóth, the haunted architect in The Brutalist, earned him his second best actor Oscar—and boy, did he earn it. At 51, he outshone a stacked field: Timothée Chalamet’s electrifying Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo’s soulful prisoner in Sing Sing, Ralph Fiennes’ sly cardinal in Conclave, and Sebastian Stan’s polarizing Trump in The Apprentice. “This is for every artist who’s ever rebuilt themselves,” Brody said, his voice cracking as he held the statue aloft. Chalamet, at 29, was gunning to break Brody’s own record as the youngest winner (set in 2003 for The Pianist), but the Academy went with experience over youth this time.
Best Actress: Mikey Madison’s Star Is Born
Mikey Madison stole hearts—and the Oscar—for her raw, radiant role as Ani in Anora. “I’m shaking,” she laughed, clutching the award as Baker beamed behind her. She beat out Cynthia Erivo’s powerhouse Elphaba in Wicked, Karla Sofía Gascón’s embattled Emilia Pérez lead, Demi Moore’s chilling The Substance turn, and Fernanda Torres’ emotional I’m Still Here. Madison’s win was a Cinderella story—she’s been grinding in smaller roles for years, and now she’s Hollywood’s newest darling. The room gave her a standing ovation, and X lit up with “Mikey Madison supremacy” posts. A star is truly born.
Supporting Roles: Culkin and Saldaña Shine
Kieran Culkin kicked off the night with a bang, snagging best supporting actor for his prickly, poignant role in A Real Pain. “Jazz, you promised more kids if I won this—let’s get cracking!” he shouted, dropping an F-bomb that had Conan chuckling and the censors scrambling. He outran Yura Borisov (Anora), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice). Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña nabbed best supporting actress for Emilia Pérez, a win that felt like redemption after the film’s rocky campaign (more on that later). “For my grandmother, for every immigrant kid dreaming big,” she said, tears streaming. She topped Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave).
Screenplays: Baker and Straughan Score
Baker’s original screenplay for Anora won again—his third of the night—beating The Brutalist, A Real Pain, September 5, and The Substance. His script’s mix of humor, grit, and heart clearly resonated. On the adapted side, Peter Straughan’s taut Conclave script triumphed over A Complete Unknown, Emilia Pérez, Nickel Boys, and Sing Sing. “This is for the quiet ones who keep the plot moving,” Straughan said, a sly nod to his thriller’s twisty charm.
Technical Titans: Dune and Wicked Roar
Dune: Part Two didn’t snag best picture, but it dominated the tech categories with wins for best sound and best visual effects. “This is for Arrakis,” producer Denis Villeneuve said, tipping his hat to the fans. Wicked flew high with best costume design—Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win in this category, a historic moment met with cheers—and best production design. “We built Oz from scratch,” Tazewell grinned. The Brutalist scored best cinematography and best original score for Daniel Blumberg’s haunting work, while The Substance won best makeup and hairstyling for its gory glory.
Animation and Docs: Latvia and Palestine Break Through
In a shocker, Latvia’s Flow—a dreamy tale of a cat surviving a flood—won best animated feature, edging out Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot. “This is for every small country with big stories,” director Gints Zilbalodis said. No Other Land, a raw look at Palestinian displacement, took best documentary feature, a win that felt like a statement amid its distribution struggles. “For my daughter, for a better future,” co-director Basel Adra said, voice trembling.
International Flair: Brazil’s First Win
I’m Still Here, a Brazilian drama set during the military dictatorship, nabbed best international feature—Brazil’s first-ever Oscar. “This is for the silenced,” director Walter Salles said, dedicating it to his homeland’s resilience. It beat The Girl with the Needle, Emilia Pérez, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and Flow.
Music Moments: Emilia Pérez Sings
“El Mal” from Emilia Pérez won best original song, a bittersweet victory for a film that started with 13 nominations but ended with just two wins (Saldaña’s was the other). Composer Clément Ducol accepted, saying, “Music heals what words can’t.” Diane Warren’s “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight lost—her 16th miss—prompting a sympathetic chuckle from Conan.
Shorts: Quick Wins, Big Impact
In the Shadow of the Cypress won best animated short, a poetic gem about loss. The Only Girl in the Orchestra took live-action short, honoring a forgotten musician, and Instruments of a Beating Heart claimed documentary short for its tender look at resilience.
The Night’s Vibes: Snubs, Surprises, and Sentiment
Emilia Pérez’s collapse was the talk of the town—13 nods dwindled to two wins after a scandal over lead actress Gascón’s past tweets tanked its momentum. Wicked and Dune fans grumbled about missing the top prize, but their hauls softened the blow. Conan kept it light, riffing on everything from Chalamet’s cheekbones to the wildfire tributes that had stars like Ariana Grande wiping tears. A montage of LA films—Licorice Pizza to The Long Goodbye—and a standing ovation for firefighters hit the heartstrings hard.
Final Thoughts: A Night of Underdogs
Oscars 2025 was a love fest for the scrappy and the bold. Anora’s five wins, Baker’s triple crown, and firsts for Latvia and Brazil made it a night where the underdogs barked loudest. As the after-parties raged—Vanity Fair’s bash saw Mikey Madison dancing with Adrien Brody—it was clear: Hollywood’s still got surprises up its sleeve. Who’s ready for 2026?
Full Winners List:
- 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 Original Screenplay: Sean Baker (Anora)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan (Conclave)
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
- Best Costume Design: Wicked
- Best Film Editing: Anora
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance
- Best Original Score: The Brutalist (Daniel Blumberg)
- Best Original Song: “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez)
- Best Production Design: Wicked
- Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
- Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
- Best International Feature: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- Best Animated Short: In the Shadow of the Cypress
- Best Live-Action Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
- Best Documentary Short: Instruments of a Beating Heart
