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culture

Oscars 2025 recap: Biggest moments from the 97th Academy Awards

PHOTO: Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldana, and Kieran Culkin pose in the press room at the Oscar, Mar. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.
2:16
Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty Images
Best moments from the 2025 Oscars
By Hayley FitzPatrick, Carson Blackwelder, Angeline Jane Bernabe, Mason Leib
Last Updated: March 2, 2025, 11:59 PM

The 2025 Oscars honored the best in cinema from the past year Sunday night.

The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien, ended with "Anora" taking home the coveted trophy for best picture.

Oscars 2025: Complete winners list

"Anora" was the top film of the night, taking home five Oscars including best director for Sean Baker.

The top acting prizes went to Adrien Brody, who won best actor for "The Brutalist," and Mikey Madison, who won best actress for "Anora." Winning in the supporting categories were "Emilia Pérez" star Zoe Saldaña and "A Real Pain" star Kieran Culkin.

Heading into the ceremony, "Emilia Pérez" led the field of nominees with 13 total Oscar nominations. It ended the night with two trophies.

Oscars red carpet 2025: See what stars wore for Hollywood's biggest night

This year's show honored the city of Los Angeles in the wake of the wildfires that left at least 29 dead and destroyed thousands of homes earlier this year, bringing firefighters onto the Oscars stage and hosting a charitable component to raise money for fire victims.

The Oscars ceremony aired live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu for the first time.

Scroll down for a recap of the 2025 Oscars.

Key moments:

  • 'Anora' wins best picture Oscar
  • Mikey Madison wins best actress Oscar
  • Sean Baker wins best director Oscar for 'Anora'
  • Adrien Brody wins best actor Oscar
Here's how the night unfolded. All times Eastern.

Mar 02, 2025 11:59 PM

Demi Moore gives advice to her younger self on Oscars red carpet

Demi Moore stopped by ABC's "The Oscars Red Carpet Show" ahead of the 97th Academy Awards and offered some sage advice to her younger self.

After "Dancing with the Stars" co-host Julianne Hough asked Moore what advice she would give herself as a younger woman, Moore said, "It would really be to appreciate all of who you are as you are right in that moment."

"That it is imperfectly perfect and how human and beautiful that is," she added.

PHOTO: Demi Moore attends the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre, on March 2, 2025, in Hollywood, Calif.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Demi Moore attends the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre, on March 2, 2025, in Hollywood, Calif.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Moore is nominated for her first-ever Oscar this year, up for best actress for her instantly iconic role in "The Substance."

"I am just so filled with joy. I feel like I'm bursting," Moore told Hough of how she's feeling tonight. "Like, it really is just still, in so many ways, so unexpected and just really just a joy, and I'm really trying to stay present so I don't miss any of it."


Mar 02, 2025 11:58 PM

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell hit the carpet

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell made the Oscars a date night.

The two were all smiles as they posed for photos on the carpet.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram for more red carpet moments.

@gma It's date night at the #Oscars for Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell ❤️ #oscars2025 #goldiehawn #kurtrussell #redcarpet ♬ original sound - Good Morning America

Mar 03, 2025 12:00 AM

Ben Stiller remembers Gene Hackman on the red carpet

Ben Stiller took a moment to remember the late Gene Hackman on the 2025 Oscars red carpet Sunday night.

PHOTO: Ben Stiller attends the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., Mar. 2, 2025.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Ben Stiller attends the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., Mar. 2, 2025.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

“He was someone I looked up to as one of the most authentic, real, charismatic and honest actors,” Stiller told ABC on the carpet, adding “He was a giant.”

The pair worked together on 2001’s “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

Hackman, 95, was mysteriously found dead in his Santa Fe, New Mexico, home last month alongside his wife and one of their dogs. There were no obvious signs of how they died and an investigation is currently underway.



Mar 02, 2025 11:46 PM

Timothée Chalamet and his mom head into the Dolby Theatre

Timothée Chalamet enjoyed a special night out at the Oscars with his mom.

The two were photographed walking hand in hand into the Dolby Theatre ahead of the show.

PHOTO: Timothee Chalamet (C) attends the 97th Annual Oscars March 02, 2025 in Hollywood,.
Emma Mcintyre/Getty Images
Timothee Chalamet (C) attends the 97th Annual Oscars March 02, 2025 in Hollywood,.
Emma Mcintyre/Getty Images

Mar 03, 2025 12:34 AM

Conan O'Brien opens Oscars ceremony with hilarious monologue

Oscars host Conan O'Brien kicked off the 97th Oscars with a monologue that touched on this year's nominated movies and actors.

"'A Complete Unknown.' 'A Real Pain.' 'Nosferatu.' These are just some of the names I was called on the red carpet," he joked.

Of nominee "Wicked," O'Brien poked fun by saying, "It's the perfect movie for anyone who's ever finished watching 'The Wizard of Oz' and thought, 'Sure, but where did all the minor characters go to college? That's the story.'"

PHOTO: Host Conan O'Brien speaks onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars, Mar. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Host Conan O'Brien speaks onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars, Mar. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Carlos Barria/Reuters

Touching on Oscar nominee Karla Sofía Gascón's social media controversy, O'Brien joked, "I loved 'Anora.' I really did. Little fact for ya, 'Anora' uses the F-word 479 times. That's three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón's publicist."

He then told the "Emilia Pérez" actress, who came under fire in recent weeks for past offensive social media posts, "Karla, if you're going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel."

Adam Sandler made a surprise cameo, bantering with O'Brien over his chosen wardrobe for the Oscars: gym shorts and a hoodie.

PHOTO: Adam Sandler speaks during the 97th Annual Academy Awards Hollywood,March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Adam Sandler speaks during the 97th Annual Academy Awards Hollywood,March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

O'Brien then got more serious with a message about what the Oscars truly represent at their core.

"Now, for almost a century, we have paused every spring to elevate and celebrate an art form that has the power, at its very best, to unite us," he said. "So, yes, even in the face of terrible wildfires and divisive politics, the work, which this is about, the work continues."

"And next year, and for years to come, through trauma and joy, this seemingly absurd ritual is going to be here," he continued. "I will not -- I'm leaving Hollywood to run a bed and breakfast in Orlando, and I'd like to see you there. But the magic, the madness, the grandeur and the joy of film worldwide is going to be with us forever."

Before his monologue, O'Brien kicked off the show with a parody of "The Substance."


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