The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, capped off one of the most unpredictable award seasons in recent memory. From shocking upsets to expected sweeps, this year’s Oscars delivered on drama, triumph, and, of course, controversy.
Heading into the ceremony, the Best Actor race was a nail-biter between frontrunner Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) and underdog Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown). The Best Actress category was anyone’s game, with Demi Moore (The Substance), Mikey Madison (Anora), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here) all in contention. Meanwhile, Netflix’s Emilia Pérez saw its awards momentum plummet following controversy surrounding lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón’s past social media activity, leaving an opening for I’m Still Here to dominate the Best International Feature category.
As expected, Anora emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Sean Baker, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Zoe Saldaña continued her clean sweep this season, winning Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, while Kieran Culkin secured Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain. The Brutalist also had a strong showing, with Adrien Brody winning Best Actor and Daniel Blumberg securing Best Original Score.
Among the surprises of the night, the Latvian animated film Flow triumphed in Best Animated Feature over big-studio contenders. Meanwhile, Paul Tazewell made history as the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for Wicked.
Here is the complete list of winners:
Best Picture
- Anora
Best Director
- Sean Baker, Anora
Best Actor
- Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Best Actress
- Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Supporting Actor
- Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress
- Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Best Original Screenplay
- Sean Baker, Anora
Best Adapted Screenplay
- Peter Straughan, Conclave
Best International Feature Film
- I’m Still Here (Brazil)
Best Animated Feature Film
- Flow
Best Documentary Feature
- No Other Land
Best Cinematography
- Lol Crawley, The Brutalist
Best Film Editing
- Sean Baker, Anora
Best Production Design
- Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales, Wicked
Best Costume Design
- Paul Tazewell, Wicked
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
- Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli, The Substance
Best Visual Effects
- Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer, Dune: Part Two
Best Sound
- Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill, Dune: Part Two
Best Original Score
- Daniel Blumberg, The Brutalist
Best Original Song
- “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez
Best Animated Short Film
- In the Shadow of the Cypress
Best Live Action Short Film
- I’m Not a Robot
The 97th Academy Awards highlighted a diverse array of talent and storytelling, reflecting the evolving landscape of cinema.
