On March 2nd, 2025, the 97th Academy Awards took place. Let’s rewind and summarize this event that was viewed by over  19.7 million people. 

The event started off with a tribute to the Wizard of Oz, the Wiz, and Wicked by the main stars of the new Wicked film, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. The pair performed the iconic songs “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, “Home”, and “Defying Gravity”. 

Then, comedian and TV host Conan O’Brien, the host of the night, gave a humorous monologue which poked fun at the James Bond film franchise, Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos, and featured a piano playing sandworm which would become a running gag throughout the night. O’Brien also joked about his fellow celebrities (most notably he pointed out Adam Sandler’s casual outfit)  in typically Oscar monologue fashion. 

Then the awards commenced as follows:

Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) 

Best Animated Feature:  Flow 

Best Animated Short: “In the Shadow of the Cypress”

Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell (Wicked)

Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker (Anora)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan (Conclave)

Best Hair and Makeup: The Substance 

Best Editing: Anora 

Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) 

Best Production Design: Wicked 

Best Original Song: “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez) 

Best Documentary Short: “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”

Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land

Best Sound: Dune: Part Two 

Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two

Best Live-Action Short: “I’m Not a Robot” 

Best Cinematography: The Brutalist

Best International Feature: Brazil, I’m Still Here

Best Original Score: Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist) 

Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) 

Best Director: Sean Baker (Anora)

Best Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)

Best Picture: Anora 

The Oscars presentation also included a tribute to the James Bond films and performances by artists like Raye, Doja Cat, Queen Latifah, and Lisa from Blackpink. The show put on a memorial to people significant to film who have passed away (James Earl Jones, Gene Hackman, Quincy Jones, etc.) The presentation also gave tribute to Los Angeles’ firefighters in light of the recent wildfires. 

In the end, Anora was the biggest winner of the night, with Dune: Part 2, Emilia Pérez, Wicked, and The Brutalist also doing well.  Sadly, a lot of highly acclaimed films like Nosferatu came home empty-handed, and many other beloved films weren’t even nominated. However, Oscar or not, all that really matters is the support and love by the fans of certain actors and films.