Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, with the highly anticipated event celebrating the cinematic accomplishments of the past year. The night's most significant honor, Best Picture, was awarded to the critically acclaimed film "Anora," directed by Sean Baker. While expectations ran high, the ceremony delivered moments of surprise and emotion, highlighted by Baker's extraordinary achievement of winning four Oscars, making him the first person to secure such recognition for the same film.
"Anora," which tells the gripping story of Ani, a dancer at a Brooklyn nightclub who falls for the son of a Russian oligarch, triumphed not only as Best Picture but also garnered Baker awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Mikey Madison, who played the lead role, won the Oscar for Best Actress, delivering on the film's heavy buzz throughout the awards season. Many had anticipated Demi Moore snagging the award for her performance in "Substance;" instead, she left the ceremony empty-handed as Madison took the stage.
The evening showcased other notable films, including "The Brutalist," which earned three Oscars, including Best Actor for Adrien Brody, and "Emilia Pérez," which nabbed the Adapted Screenplay award, affirming its strong presence among the nominees.
Here is the complete list of the 2025 Academy Award winners:
Best Picture: "Anora" (Winner)
Best Director: Sean Baker – "Anora" (Winner)
Best Actor: Adrien Brody – "The Brutalist" (Winner)
Best Actress: Mikey Madison – "Anora" (Winner)
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin – "True Pain" (Winner)
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña – "Emilia Pérez" (Winner)
Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker – "Anora" (Winner)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan – "Konklawe" (Winner)
Best International Feature Film: "I’m Still Here" (Brazil) (Winner)
Best Documentary Feature: "We Don’t Want Another Earth" (Winner)
Best Animated Feature: "Flow" (Winner)
Major Technical Categories:
Best Cinematography: Lol Crawley – "The Brutalist" (Winner)
Best Film Editing: Sean Baker – "Anora" (Winner)
Best Visual Effects: "Dune: Part Two" (Winner)
Best Original Score: Daniel Blumberg – "The Brutalist" (Winner)
Best Original Song: "El Mal" – "Emilia Pérez" (Winner)
Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell – "Wicked" (Winner)
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: "Substance" (Winner)
Best Production Design: "Wicked" (Winner)
Best Sound: "Dune: Part Two" (Winner)
Best Animated Short Film: "The Shadow of the Cypress" (Winner)
Best Documentary Short Subject: "The Only Girl in the Orchestra" (Winner)
Best Live Action Short Film: "I’m Not a Robot" (Winner)
The night wasn't without its controversies, including the absence of wins for the heavily nominated "Substance" and "Wicked," which both had strong showings going in. Despite their impressive nomination tallies, neither film was able to transform them to wins, leading to discussions about the unpredictability of the Oscars.
Soon after the awards, Baker expressed gratitude and emphasized the need for independent films, stating, "If you're trying to make independent films, please keep doing it. We need more of them. This is proof." His heartfelt acceptance speech was one of the highlights of the ceremony.
Overall, the 2025 Oscars event drew attention not just for its winners but also for how it reflected the current state of the film industry, showcasing diverse storytelling and dynamic performances. The winners were covered widely across social media, with fans and critics alike expressing their views on the results, making for another memorable night at the Academy Awards. With the winds of change continuing to blow through Hollywood, audiences can anticipate even more groundbreaking films to come.