Oscars 2025 Winners List: Talent, surprises and great moments

The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, honored outstanding achievements in filmmaking.The ceremony was hosted by Conan O'Brien and featured performances by Doja Cat, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Lisa of BLACKPINK, Queen Latifah, and Raye

Here is the complete list of the winners:

• Best picture

Anora

• Best actress

Mikey Madison, Anora

• Best director

Sean Baker, Anora

• Best actor

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

• Best original score

The Brutalist

• Best international feature film

I'm Still Here (Brazil)

• Best cinematography

The Brutalist

• Best live action short film

I'm Not a Robot

• Best visual effects

Dune: Part Two

• Best sound

Dune: Part Two

• Best documentary feature film

No Other Land

• Best documentary short film

The Only Girl in the Orchestra

• Best original song

El Mal from Emilia Pérez

• Best production design

Wicked

• Best supporting actress

Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

• Best film editing

Anora– Sean Baker -

• Best makeup and hairstyling

The Substance

• Best adapted screenplay

Conclave - Peter Straughan

• Best original screenplay

The Brutalist – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold

• Best costume design

Wicked – Paul Tazewell

• Best animated short film

In the Shadow of the Cypress

• Best animated feature film

Flow

• Best supporting actor

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

## Key Highlights

The film Anora won the top prize, taking home five awards including Best Picture. Directed by Sean Baker, Anora stars Mikey Madison, who also won the Best Actress award for her role.

The Hulu stream of the ceremony experienced technical difficulties, going dark during the broadcast, which caused inconvenience for viewers awaiting the Best Actress and Best Picture announcements.

Conan O'Brien led the ceremony with a team of producers including Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan. The event featured notable changes, such as not using past acting winners to present acting categories, instead focusing on highlighting below-the-line talent.

##Best moments

The 2025 Oscars ceremony was filled with memorable moments, both on and off stage. Here are some of the most notable highlights:

1. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's Opening Performance: The ceremony kicked off with a stunning performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Home before concluding with their hit duet Defying Gravity from Wicked. The performance left many in the audience, including Michelle Yeoh, visibly moved.

2. Kieran Culkin's Speech: Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain and delivered a charming speech. He humorously referenced his previous Emmy speech, where he joked about wanting more children with his wife, and playfully announced that he was now ready to fulfill that promise.

3. Paul Tazewell's Historic Win: Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked. His acceptance speech was met with a standing ovation.

4. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal's Reunion: The duo, famous for When Harry Met Sally, reunited on stage to present the Best Picture award. Their appearance was warmly received by the audience.

5. Sean Baker's Speech: Sean Baker, director of Anora, thanked the sex worker community during his acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay. Anora won five Oscars, including Best Picture.

6. Zoe Saldaña's Speech: Zoe Saldaña, who won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, praised her husband's hair during her speech, adding a lighthearted moment to the evening.

7. Ben Stiller's Physical Comedy: Ben Stiller brought humor to the stage with his physical comedy while presenting the Best Production Design award.

8. No Other Land's Powerful Speech: The documentary No Other Land won the Oscar for Best Documentary, and its acceptance speech highlighted the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, calling for international action.