Oscars 2025: A Night of Triumph and Milestones
Celebrating Cinema's Finest: Highlights from the 97th Academy Awards
From Adrien Brody's historic win to Mikey Madison's breakout performance, the 97th Academy Awards celebrated a year of cinematic excellence with memorable moments and record-breaking achievements.
The 97th Academy Awards have come and gone, heralding in a new set of Oscar winners who join the pantheon of cinema greats.
To sample the night and how the show summarized a great year in film, let’s look at the winners in all the major categories.
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody took home the Best Actor award for his compelling portrayal of a visionary architect in The Brutalist.
Brody has long been hailed as one of Hollywood’s best actors, and this new golden statue secures his legacy. His first Oscar for Best Actor was in 2003 for his performance in The Pianist (he famously kissed Halle Berry during his acceptance—a moment that the two relived at this year’s Oscars). He was 29 at the time, making him the youngest to ever take home the award.
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Mikey Madison
In a surprising turn, Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her role in Anora, edging out veteran actress Demi Moore for her performance in The Substance.
Madison's portrayal of a young woman navigating complex personal challenges showcased her depth and range, earning her critical acclaim and her first Academy Award. And as we’ll see, her film Anora was the biggest winner of the night.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Kieran Culkin
Kieran Culkin clenched the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in A Real Pain. Culkin's performance as a troubled artist added layers of complexity to the film, demonstrating his ability to bring depth to supporting characters. It’s a strength Culkin was much lauded for in the acclaimed HBO show Succession where he played a fan favorite as the vulgar and emotionally stunted Roman Logan.
Culkin made a viral moment when he asked his wife for another kid during the acceptance speech.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez—making history as the first ever Dominican-American to win an Academy Award. That should come as no surprise as Saldaña took home awards in the same category at this year’s BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Saldaña’s emotional acceptance speech was a high point of the night. She finished with these touching remarks, “I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award and I know I will not be the last. I hope.”
Best Director
Sean Baker received the Best Director award for Anora. Baker's unique storytelling and ability to draw authentic performances from his cast were instrumental in the film's success.
Notably, Baker's four wins during the evening tied the record for most Oscars won by an individual in a single year, a feat previously achieved by Walt Disney. Baker also won for Best Screen Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and (as we’ll see) Best Picture.
Best Picture: Oscars 2025
With a paltry $6 million budget, the comedy-drama Anora stood out as the film of the night, winning Best Picture among its five awards. It’s also yet another feather in the cap for the movie, which also took home the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival where it also debuted.
Mixing comedy with high-intensity moments and a delightfully profane concept, Anora proved an easy film to fall in love with.
The 2025 Oscars had a great host in Conan O’Brien, and it set the stage for many memorable moments. From the funny (like Adam Sandler getting called out for his shlubby attire) to the profound (like Saldaña making a first for Dominican Americans), this year had it all.
One of the evening's most captivating moments was the opening performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who delivered a stunning medley of songs from the Wicked cinematic universe. The duo began with Grande's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," followed by Erivo's soulful performance of "Home" from The Wiz. They concluded with a powerful duet of "Defying Gravity," showcasing their vocal mastery and chemistry on stage. This performance not only honored the musical theatre lineage of The Wizard of Oz but also highlighted the duo's exceptional vocal blend and emotional delivery, setting the tone for a memorable night at the Oscars.
The 97th Academy Awards marked a memorable evening in Hollywood, filled with standout performances, historic milestones, and unforgettable moments. The ceremony celebrated both established stars and newcomers, highlighting the diversity and talent that define the film industry today. With its mix of humor, emotion, and groundbreaking achievements, the event set a high standard for future awards shows.