Oscars 2025: Full Winners List and Highlights from the 97th Academy Awards

The 97th Academy Awards lit up the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 2, 2025, and what a night it was! Hosted by the razor-sharp Conan O’Brien in his Oscars debut, the ceremony delivered jaw-dropping wins, emotional speeches, and a few curveballs that kept everyone buzzing. From Emilia Pérez storming in with 13 nominations to The Brutalist and Wicked nabbing 10 each, the stage was set for a fierce showdown. Below, we’ve got the full scoop—every winner, standout moments, and why this year’s Oscars might just top the Entertainment Weekly rundown. Let’s dive in!

The Big Wins: Best Picture and Beyond

Best Picture : Anora

Sean Baker’s gritty, wild ride about a Brooklyn sex worker snatched the top prize, edging out heavy hitters like The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, and Conclave. It’s a win for indie grit over blockbuster gloss—Baker’s Palme d’Or momentum from Cannes carried through, proving small films can still pack a punch. EW called it a “twisty season,” but Anora’s late surge after DGA and PGA nods sealed the deal.

Best Director: Sean Baker, Anora

Baker doubled up, snagging Best Director over Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown). His raw, unflinching style won the night, and his shoutout to the sex worker community in his speech hit hard. Sorry, Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)—your 13 noms didn’t translate here.

Best Actor: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Brody’s back, baby! Twenty-two years after becoming the youngest Best Actor winner for The Pianist, he’s now 2-for-2, beating Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown). His towering performance as a Holocaust survivor turned architect was pure fire—Chalamet’s Dylan was electric, but Brody’s depth stole it.

Best Actress: Mikey Madison, Anora

Move over, Demi Moore (The Substance) and Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)—Madison’s fearless turn as a scrappy stripper-turned-bride took the crown. Karla Sofía Gascón’s Emilia Pérez campaign imploded after old tweets resurfaced, leaving Madison to shine. Her win’s a rare nod to a newcomer in a stacked field.

Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Culkin’s a lock no more—he’s a winner! His heartfelt, censored speech (promising four kids with his wife if he won) brought laughs and tears. Yura Borisov (Anora) and Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown) were close, but Culkin’s charm sealed it.

Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Saldaña made history as the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar, dedicating it to her “Mami” in the crowd. Emilia Pérez stumbled elsewhere, but her fiery performance held strong against Ariana Grande (Wicked) and Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown).

Craft and Technical Champs

Best Adapted Screenplay : Peter Straughan, Conclave

Straughan’s taut script turned Robert Harris’s novel into a thriller masterpiece, outpacing A Complete Unknown and Nickel Boys. His Ukraine flag pin during the speech added a poignant touch.

Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker, Anora

Baker’s triple crown (Picture, Director, Screenplay) echoes Everything Everywhere All at Once. The Substance and A Real Pain fought hard, but Baker’s voice was unstoppable.

Best Cinematography: The Brutalist

Dávid Jancsó’s stark, sweeping shots gave The Brutalist its soul—sorry, Dune: Part Two, your sand dunes weren’t enough this time.

Best Film Editing : Sean Baker, Anora

Baker’s editing kept the chaos tight and thrilling, a trendsetter for Best Picture wins lately. Wicked’s Myron Kerstein couldn’t keep up.

Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, Wicked

Oz’s emerald glow won over Nosferatu’s gothic threads Tazewell’s historic win as a Black male designer was a mic-drop moment.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling : Pierre Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, Marilyne Scarselli, The Substance

Demi Moore’s insane transformation got its due—prosthetics beat glamour (Wicked) hands down.

Best Production Design: Wicked

The magical world of Oz triumphed over The Brutalist’s brutalist blocks.

Best Original Score : The Brutalist

Daniel Blumberg’s haunting notes edged out *Dune: Part Two*’s Hans Zimmer rumble.

Best Original Song: “The Journey,” The Six Triple Eight

Diane Warren finally broke her 0-for-15 streak with H.E.R.’s soulful performance, toppling Emilia Pérez’s “El Mal” after its controversy.

Best Sound: Dune: Part Two

Sandworm roars crushed Wicked’s songs—sci-fi sound design at its peak.

Best Visual Effects : Dune: Part Two

Denis Villeneuve’s epic visuals soared over Wicked and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. No surprise there.

Animated and Documentary Standouts

Best Animated Feature: Flow

Gints Zilbalodis’s wordless wonder beat Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot. Capybaras for the win!

Best Documentary Feature : No Other Land

A raw look at Palestine’s struggles topped Black Box Diaries. Timely and gut-wrenching.

Best Animated Short: In the Shadow of the Cypress

A poetic gem outshone Beautiful Men.

Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra

A tribute to a musical trailblazer won hearts over I Am Ready, Warden.

Best Live-Action Short: The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

A powerful Croatian tale beat I’m Not a Robot.

International Spotlight

Best International Feature: Flow (Latvia)

Latvia’s animated stunner doubled up, leaving Emilia Pérez (France) in the dust.