The 97th Academy Awards took place on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with Conan O’Brien as the host.
The ceremony aired live on ABC and Hulu, though Hulu encountered technical difficulties, causing the stream to cut off before the show ended.
“Anora” won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Sean Baker won four Oscars for a single film, setting a new Academy record.
Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, securing his second Oscar. Zoe Saldaña became the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar.
Brazil and Latvia each won their first Academy Awards.
The night included a tribute to James Bond music, an In Memoriam segment honoring Gene Hackman, and a celebration of Quincy Jones’ career.
Key Takeaways
- Sean Baker's film took home five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
- Latvia won its first Best Animated Feature Oscar for "Flow," while Zoe Saldaña became the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar.
- The night featured musical performances by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, a tribute to Quincy Jones, and an In Memoriam segment honoring Gene Hackman.
“Anora” Leads the Night with Five Wins
Sean Baker’s “Anora” won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. No other film received as many awards.
Baker made Oscar history as he became the first director to win four for a single film. He personally took home awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, in addition to Best Picture.
Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her role in Anora. In her speech, she thanked Baker and the film’s cast, saying, “This film changed my life, and I hope it helps more independent films get recognized.”
Adrien Brody Wins Best Actor for “The Brutalist”
The Best Actor category included:
- Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
- Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
- Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
- Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Adrien Brody won for “The Brutalist,” earning his second Oscar over two decades after his first win for The Pianist.
In his speech, he said, “This film pushed me in ways I never expected. I share this with my director and co-stars.”
Kieran Culkin Finally Wins an Oscar
Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for “A Real Pain”, defeating:
- Yura Borisov (Anora)
- Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
- Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
- Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
In his speech, Culkin joked, “I guess playing an annoying guy finally worked!” He thanked director Jesse Eisenberg and his co-stars.
Zoe Saldaña Becomes First Dominican-American Oscar Winner
Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for “Emilia Pérez,” beating:
- Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
- Ariana Grande (Wicked)
- Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
- Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
She became the first American of Dominican heritage to win an Oscar.
She was visibly emotional as she took the stage, delivering a heartfelt speech in both English and Spanish.
In her speech, she said, “This is for every young girl dreaming in two languages, hoping to see herself on screen.”
Latvia and Brazil Win First Oscars
The Best Animated Feature Oscar went to “Flow,” a Latvian film directed by Gints Zilbalodis. This was Latvia’s first Oscar win.
The film defeated Pixar’s Inside Out 2 and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Brazil won its first Oscar for Best International Feature Film for “I’m Still Here.”
Musical Performances and Special Tributes
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the ceremony with a performance from Wicked, which later won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
A major highlight was a James Bond music tribute featuring Doja Cat, Lisa from Blackpink, and Raye, celebrating 60 years of Bond music with songs originally performed by Shirley Bassey, Adele, and Billie Eilish.
The In Memoriam segment, led by Morgan Freeman, honored Gene Hackman, Donald Sutherland, and Glenda Jackson.
There was also a special tribute to Quincy Jones, introduced by Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey.
Complete List of Winners at the 97th Academy Awards
- Best Picture: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:Anora – Sean Baker
- Best Adapted Screenplay:Conclave – Peter Straughan
- Best Animated Feature:Flow
- Best International Feature:I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- Best Documentary Feature:No Other Land
- Best Visual Effects:Dune: Part Two
- Best Costume Design:Wicked
- Best Original Song:“El Mal” (Emilia Pérez)
