The 97th Academy Awards have officially wrapped up, leaving us with unforgettable moments, emotional speeches, and some unexpected wins. Hollywood’s biggest night celebrated the best in cinema, from blockbuster spectacles to indie gems. Here’s a look at the highlights and the biggest winners of the night.
Oscars 2025: The Biggest Winners of the Night
Best Leading Actor
In one of the night’s most talked-about moments, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his powerful performance in The Brutalist. Brody’s deeply emotional and immersive portrayal resonated with both audiences and critics, earning him the coveted award.
Nominees for Best Actor:
- Winner: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
- Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Best Supporting Actor
In one of the most anticipated categories of the night, Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for his role in A Real Pain. Culkin’s win was met with a standing ovation, marking a well-deserved moment for the actor, who has captivated audiences for years.
Nominees for Best Supporting Actor:
- Winner: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
- Yura Borisov – Anora
- Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
- Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
- Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
Best Picture
In a highly competitive category, Anora emerged victorious, winning the Oscar for Best Picture. Directed by Sean Baker and produced by Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, the film captivated audiences with its raw storytelling and unique perspective.
Nominees for Best Picture:
- Winner: Anora – Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, Producers
- The Brutalist – Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim, and Brady Corbet, Producers
- A Complete Unknown – Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman, Producers
- Conclave – Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman, Producers
- Dune: Part Two – Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve, Producers
- Emilia Pérez – Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard, Producers
- I’m Still Here – Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira, Producers
- Nickel Boys – Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Joslyn Barnes, Producers
- The Substance – Coralie Fargeat and Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner, Producers
- Wicked – Marc Platt, Producer
Best Leading Actress
One of the biggest surprises of the night was Mikey Madison winning Best Actress for her gripping performance in Anora. Madison’s deeply emotional and nuanced portrayal won over critics and audiences alike, securing her first-ever Oscar in a category filled with veteran contenders.
Nominees for Best Actress:
- Winner: Mikey Madison – Anora
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
- Demi Moore – The Substance
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Best Supporting Actress
Zoe Saldaña took home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her powerful performance in Emilia Pérez. Competing against nominees like Ariana Grande (Wicked) and Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Saldaña’s win was a highlight of the night. Her performance was widely praised for its emotional depth, further cementing her status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actresses.
Nominees for Best Supporting Actress:
- Winner: Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
- Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
- Ariana Grande – Wicked
- Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
- Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
More Wins and Unforgettable Moments Oscars 2025
The night also honored outstanding achievements in cinematography, directing, and technical categories, with Dune: Part Two taking home the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. and Wicked earning Costume Design.
For the full list of winners, visit https://www.oscars.org/.
A Night to Remember
The Oscars 2025 proved to be an unforgettable evening, filled with well-deserved wins and a few surprises. From groundbreaking performances to visually stunning films, this year’s Academy Awards showcased the best of what cinema has to offer.