The 97th Academy Awards lit up the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 2, 2025, with an unforgettable night of celebration, surprises, and record-breaking moments. Conan O’Brien hosted the ceremony with its fair share of humor, heartfelt speeches, and jaw-dropping wins.
Anora Dominates the Night
It was a night to remember for Sean Baker’s film Anora, which emerged as the biggest winner, sweeping five major awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Baker made Oscar history by becoming the first filmmaker to win four Oscars for a single film in one night.
Mikey Madison’s performance in Anora captivated audiences and critics alike, earning her the Best Actress award. Meanwhile, Adrien Brody took home the Best Actor trophy for his role in The Brutalist, marking a remarkable comeback for the seasoned performer.
Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña Shine in Supporting Roles
In the supporting categories, Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Real Pain, while Zoe Saldaña secured Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. Both actors delivered powerful performances that stood out among a competitive lineup.
International and Animated Feature Victories
Brazilian film I’m Still Here triumphed in the Best International Feature category, while Flow took home the Best Animated Feature award, beating Pixar’s Inside Out 2.
Musical and Technical Achievements
In the musical categories, Emilia Pérez won Best Original Song for El Mal, while The Brutalist won Best Original Score.
Among the technical awards, Dune: Part Two continued the franchise’s legacy with a Best Sound and Best Visual Effects win. Wicked secured multiple victories, including Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, solidifying its impact beyond just its performances.
Full List of Major Winners:
Best picture
- WINNER: Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
Best actress
- WINNER: Mikey Madison – Anora
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
- Demi Moore – The Substance
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Best actor
- WINNER: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
- Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Best supporting actress
- WINNER: Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
- Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
- Ariana Grande – Wicked
- Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
- Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
Best supporting actor
- WINNER: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
- Yura Borisov – Anora
- Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
- Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
- Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
Best director
- WINNER: Sean Baker – Anora
- Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
- Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
- Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
- James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
Best international feature
- WINNER: I’m Still Here – Brazil
- The Girl with the Needle – Denmark
- Emilia Pérez – France
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Germany
- Flow – Latvia
Best animated feature
- WINNER: Flow
- Inside Out 2
- Memoir of a Snail
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
Best original screenplay
- WINNER: Anora – Sean Baker
- The Brutalist – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
- A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg
- September 5 – Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
- The Substance – Coralie Fargeat
Best adapted screenplay
- WINNER: Conclave – Peter Straughan
- A Complete Unknown – Jay Cocks and James Mangold
- Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
- Nickel Boys – RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
- Sing Sing – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best original song
- WINNER: El Mal – Emilia Pérez
- Never Too Late – Elton John: Never Too Late
- Mi Camino – Emilia Pérez
- Like A Bird – Sing Sing
- The Journey – The Six Triple Eight
Best original score
- WINNER: The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
Best documentary feature
- WINNER: No Other Land
- Black Box Diaries
- Porcelain War
- Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
- Sugarcane
Best costume design
- WINNER: Wicked
- Nosferatu
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Gladiator II
Best make-up and hairstyling
- WINNER: The Substance
- A Different Man
- Emilia Pérez
- Nosferatu
- Wicked
Best production design
- WINNER: Wicked
- The Brutalist
- Dune: Part Two
- Nosferatu
- Conclave
Best sound
- WINNER: Dune: Part Two
- A Complete Unknown
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
Best film editing
- WINNER: Anora
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
Best cinematography
- WINNER: The Brutalist
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Maria
- Nosferatu
Best visual effects
- WINNER: Dune: Part Two
- Alien: Romulus
- Better Man
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Wicked
Best live action short
- WINNER: I’m Not a Robot
- Anuja
- The Last Ranger
- A Lien
- The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Best animated short
- WINNER: In the Shadow of the Cypress
- Beautiful Men
- Magic Candies
- Wander to Wonder
- Yuck!
Best documentary short
- WINNER: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
- Death by Numbers
- I Am Ready, Warden
- Incident
- Instruments of a Beating Heart
