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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 3, 2025, 2:09 AM

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 03, 2025 2:09 AM

'El Mal' from 'Emilia Pérez' wins best original song Oscar

"El Mal" from "Emilia Pérez" won the Oscar for best original song.

Camille, Clément Ducol and "Emilia Pérez" director Jacques Audiard accepted the award.

"We wrote 'El Mal' as a song to denounce corruption, and we hope it speaks through to the role music and art can play and continue to play as a force of the good and progress in the world," Camille said.

PHOTO: French composer Clement Ducol, US composer Camille and French director Jacques Audiard accept the award for Best Original Song for "El Mal" from "Emilia Perez" during the 97th Annual Academy Awards, in Hollywood, Calif., on March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
French composer Clement Ducol, US composer Camille and French director Jacques Audiard accept the award for Best Original Song for "El Mal" from "Emilia Perez" onstage during the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, in Hollywood, Calif., on March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Other nominees in the category included "The Journey" from "The Six Triple Eight," "Like A Bird" from "Sing Sing," "Mi Camino" from "Emilia Pérez" and "Never Too Late" from "Elton John: Never Too Late."


Mar 03, 2025 2:02 AM

'Wicked' wins best production design

"Wicked" won the Oscar for best production design.

Other nominees in the category included "The Brutalist," "Conclave," "Dune: Part Two" and "Nosferatu."


Mar 03, 2025 2:02 AM

Zoe Saldaña dedicates Oscar win to her grandmother

In her acceptance speech for best supporting actress for her role in "Emilia Pérez," Zoe Saldaña said she was "floored" by the honor.

"Thank you to the academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita," Saldaña said of her character. "And talking about powerful women, my fellow nominees, the love and community that you have offered me is a true gift, and I will pay it forward. Thank you so much."

Saldaña called "Emilia Pérez" director Jacques Audiard "a beloved character in my life" and said she shared her win with the cast and crew of the film.

PHOTO: Zoe Saldana accepts the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Emilia Perez" onstage during the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Zoe Saldana accepts the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Emilia Perez" onstage during the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

"To my mom, my dad and my sisters … everything brave, outrageous and good that I've ever done in my life is because of you," she added, turning attention to her family. "And to my husband … the biggest honor of my life is being your partner. You hung the moon in our beautiful, perfect sons Cy, Bowie and Zen."

Saldaña ended her speech by dedicating her win to her grandmother.

"My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last," she concluded. "I hope the fact that I'm getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish, my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted. This is for my grandmother."



Mar 03, 2025 1:46 AM

Zoe Saldaña wins best supporting actress Oscar

Zoe Saldaña won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance in "Emilia Pérez."

PHOTO: Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in "Emilia Pérez."
Shanna Besson/Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathé Films/France 2 Cinéma
Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in "Emilia Pérez."
Shanna Besson/Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathé Films/France 2 Cinéma

Other nominees in the category included Monica Barbaro for "A Complete Unknown," Ariana Grande for "Wicked," Felicity Jones for "The Brutalist," Isabella Rossellini for "Conclave."


Mar 02, 2025 9:56 PM

Who is up for best actor at the Oscars?

Nominees for the best actor category at the 2025 Oscars include Adrien Brody ("The Brutalist"), Timothée Chalamet ("A Complete Unknown"), Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing"), Sebastian Stan ("The Apprentice") and Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave").

A look at the best actor race for the 2025 Oscars.
A24, Focus Features, Briarcliff Entertainment, Searchlight Pictures
A look at the best actor race for the 2025 Oscars.
A24, Focus Features, Briarcliff Entertainment, Searchlight Pictures

Brody is the only previous Oscar winner and Stan is the only first-time Oscar nominee in the category.

Read more about this year's best actor nominees here.


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