Hollywood’s biggest night, the 97th Academy Awards, unfolded on March 2, 2025, at the prestigious Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Airing live on ABC, the event was a star-studded affair filled with electrifying wins, emotional speeches, and unforgettable red-carpet moments. Hosting the ceremony was none other than the legendary comedian, writer, producer, and actor Conan O’Brien, who brought his signature wit and humor to the grand occasion.

“Anora” Dominates the Night

The biggest winner of the evening was Anora, which walked away with five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Sean Baker. The film’s gripping narrative and powerful performances resonated with audiences and critics alike, making it the standout film of the year.

Adding to Anora’s victory streak was Mikey Madison, who took home the Best Actress award for her outstanding portrayal in the film.

The Complete List of Winners at the 97th Academy Awards

 Best Picture

Anora – WINNER

• Wicked
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• I’m Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance

Best Actor

Adrien Brody in The Brutalist – WINNER

Best Director

Sean Baker (Anora) – WINNER

• Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
• Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
• James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
• Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)

Best Supporting Actor

Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) – WINNER

• Yura Borisov (Anora)
• Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
• Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
• Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)

Best Actress

Mikey Madison (Anora) – WINNER

• Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
• Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
• Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
• Demi Moore (The Substance)

Best Supporting Actress

Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) – WINNER

• Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
• Ariana Grande (Wicked)
• Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
• Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)

Animated & Short Films

Best Animated Feature Film

Flow – WINNER

• The Wild Robot
• Inside Out 2
• Memoir of a Snail
• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Best Animated Short Film

In the Shadow of the Cypress – WINNER

• Beautiful Men
• Magic Candies
• Wander to Wonder
• Yuck!

Best Live-Action Short Film

I’m Not a Robot – WINNER

• A Lien
• Anuja
• The Last Ranger
• The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

Technical & Creative Achievements

Best Cinematography

The Brutalist (Lol Crawley) – WINNER

• Nosferatu (Jarin Blaschke)
• Dune: Part Two (Greig Fraser)
• Emilia Pérez (Paul Guilhaume)
• Maria (Ed Lachman)

 Best Costume Design

Wicked – WINNER

• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Gladiator II
• Nosferatu

Best Sound

 Dune: Part Two – WINNER

• A Complete Unknown
• Emilia Pérez
• Wicked
• The Wild Robot

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

The Substance – WINNER

• A Different Man
• Emilia Pérez
• Nosferatu
• Wicked

 Best Original Score

The Brutalist (Daniel Blumberg) – WINNER

• The Wild Robot (Kris Bowers)
• Conclave (Volker Bertelmann)
• Emilia Pérez (Clément Ducol and Camille)
• Wicked (John Powell and Stephen Schwartz)

Best Original Song

“El Mal” (Emilia Pérez) – WINNER

• “Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late)
• “The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight)
• “Like A Bird” (Sing Sing)
• “My Way” (Emilia Pérez)

Screenplay & International Film Awards

Best Adapted Screenplay

Conclave – WINNER

• A Complete Unknown
• Emilia Pérez
• Nickel Boys
• Sing Sing

Best Original Screenplay

Anora – WINNER

• The Substance
• The Brutalist
• A Real Pain
• September 5

Best International Feature Film

I’m Still Here (Brazil) – WINNER

• Flow (Latvia)
• The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
• Emilia Pérez (France)
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)

The Night’s Biggest Takeaways

Anora’s Dominance: With five wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress, Anora proved to be the night’s most celebrated film.

Dune: Part Two’s Technical Brilliance: While it didn’t win major acting or directing awards, Dune: Part Two took home Best Sound and Best Special Effects, proving its mastery in technical categories.

Wicked’s Visual Spectacle: The much-anticipated musical adaptation Wicked won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, cementing its status as a visually stunning film.

Powerhouse Performances: Adrien Brody’s Best Actor win for The Brutalist and Mikey Madison’s Best Actress win for Anora were two of the most talked-about moments of the night.

Kieran Culkin’s Well-Deserved Win: Fresh off the success of Succession, Kieran Culkin bagged Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s finest.

 A Night to Remember

The 97th Academy Awards delivered a mix of expected wins, pleasant surprises, and historic moments. With groundbreaking films, diverse storytelling, and top-tier performances, this year’s Oscars proved that Hollywood continues to push creative boundaries and celebrate cinematic excellence.

From Anora’s big wins to Dune: Part Two’s technical mastery, the night belonged to visionary filmmakers and extraordinary talent. As the curtain falls on another Oscar season, the anticipation for next year’s contenders has already begun!