Oscars 2025 highlights: Anora wins Best Picture, Mikey Madison and Adrien Brody take acting honours

Drumroll please! Anora wins the best picture award. The film about a Brooklyn stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch was a strong contender for Best Picture.  

Three Oscars. What about four? #Oscars

Congratulations to ANORA, this year's Best Picture winner! pic.twitter.com/zyC7dw3WhX

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

Mikey Madison won her first Academy Award, winning best actress for her role as a sex worker. The young actress beat The Substance actor Demi Moore, Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo and Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon.

Adrien Brody has won his second Oscar for best actor for his role in The Brutalist.

Brody’s performance as Hungarian-Jewish architect Laszlo Toth in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist has made him one of the strongest leading candidates for best actor, competing against Timothee Chalamet. 

Two Hollywood legends, Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg, took the stage to pay tribute to iconic music producer Quincy Jones and introduce Queen Latifah, who gave an electrifying tribute performance to Jones. 

Daniel Blumberg won the Best Original Score for The Brutalist

A monumental achievement. Daniel Blumberg is the winner of this year's Best Original Score for THE BRUTALIST. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/OdtAk7SLkX

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

 Lol Crawley takes an Oscar for best cinematography in The Brutalist 

A vision in every frame. Congratulations to Lol Crawley on winning Best Cinematography for THE BRUTALIST. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/uK5f2UbDEN

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

Firefighters who were on the frontlines during the California wildfires were honored. 

Congratulations! No Other Land won the best documentary feature film! While accepting the trophy, one of the directors, Basel Adra, made a plea from the stage to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people from Gaza. 

“We call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people,” said Adra. “About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope to my daughter that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now.”

Congratulations to NO OTHER LAND, this year's Best Documentary Feature Film! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/VHY12iych9

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

“El Mal,” the song sung by Zoe Saldaña in Netflix’s Emilia Perez, won best original song for French songwriters Camille and Clément Ducol and their co-writer, Jacques Audiard.

Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard win the Oscar for Best Original Song for 'El Mal' from EMILIA PÉREZ! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NzlMtPpBkO

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

Wicked takes the golden trophy again! The film won the award for best production design.

It’s all grand, and it’s all gold!
Congratulations to the WICKED production design team for bringing the magic of Oz to life. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/qCRDJYMtoz

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

Zoe Saldaña won her first Oscar for best supporting actress for the Spanish-drama Emilia Perez. Accepting the trophy, she spoke emotionally about her family,  “My grandmother came to this country in 1961 — I am a proud child of immigrant parents,” she said.

“With dreams and dignity and hard-working hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last. 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.”

Congratulations to Zoe Saldaña for winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for EMILIA PÉREZ! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/lfLWqnaF3z

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

It's a night dedicated to James Bond! In the special tribute performance,  Lisa, Doja Cat and Raye performed a medley of anthems from the franchise over the years. 

The tribute was presented by Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, who played Bond girl Jinx in the 2002 film Die Another Day. Margaret Qualley performed a dance set to the iconic 007 theme song. 

Raye needs to sing the soundtrack for the next James Bond film. What a performance. What a voice #Oscars pic.twitter.com/8pWVHE5G2C

— Emi Eleode (@EmiEleode) March 3, 2025

Coralie Fargeat’s body-horror film The Substance won Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

It’s time to pump it up!
THE SUBSTANCE wins the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/hni3Wk21RP

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

First win for Anora! Sean Baker won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. 

This win shines like a 4-carat diamond ring!
Congratulations to Sean Baker on the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/4yYxFrSyZT

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

The 97th Academy Awards are underway at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. For the first time, comedian Conan O'Brien hosted the event. Check the winners list here 

Wicked picks the first award of the night! Paul Tazewell won the Oscar for Best Costume Design. 

Paul Tazewell will help you be popular!

Congratulations on winning the Oscar for Best Costume Design. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/nknkPvoeBN

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, took the spotlight as the duo attended the Oscars ceremony together. 

Chalamet is up for the best-actor nomination for his role as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. 

Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet at #Oscars pic.twitter.com/f3ckmOj30e

— comfort kylie stans (@kyliejgfs) March 2, 2025

The Oscar for Best Animated Short Film goes to Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi for In the Shadow of the Cypress.

The Oscar for Best Animated Short Film goes to Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi for IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/0ctJ5SaIqE

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

FLOW wins the Oscar for Best Animated Feature 

The tears are flowing. FLOW secures the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/3RPVaLBz84

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

Kieran Culkin won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his work in A Real Pain, Congratulations!

The 42-year-old Culkin bested Yura Borisov (Anora), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist) and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice).

A real pleasure for Kieran Culkin!

Congratulations on winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/khq888KgJY

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025

The Wicked duo kicked off the night! Ariana Grande opened the night with a performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz, and Cynthia Erivo soon joined her, performing a rendition of "Defying Gravity".

Ariana Grande performs "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" during the opening of the 2025 #Oscars    pic.twitter.com/p4yHY08eLl

— Musa Ali 👀🇺🇸 (@MusaAli152825) March 3, 2025

Demi Moore, the first-time Oscar nominee, walked the red carpet wearing a sparkly, custom-made Giorgio Armani Privé body-hugging gown.

Moore, 62, is among the frontrunners in the Best Actress category for her role in The Substance. 

The stars have begun arriving on the red carpet, and the first ones to arrive are the big nominees of the night: Selena Gomez, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana, Ariana Grande, among others..

Ariana Grande x 97th #Oscars

Photo Credit: John Shearer pic.twitter.com/KdJnLe1pYv

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 2, 2025

Filmmaker Karan Johar gave a glimpse of what Oscars winner Guneet Monga would be wearing at the Oscars. Johar shared a video which gave a glimpse of Monga's after party outfit at the Oscars. Monga's film Anuja has been nominated in the Best Documentary Short category. 

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Released in India three days ahead of the Oscars 2025, A Complete Unknown showcases actor Timothee Chalamet talent in music as well. Chalamet has been nominated in the Best Actor category for his performance as Bob Dylan in the film. 

Read WION's full review of the film here. - A Complete Unknown review: Timothee Chalamet's act as Bob Dylan is worth an Oscar nod

We can't predict anything when it comes to the Oscars, as it's one of the most unpredictable nights of the award season.

Looking at this year's strong contenders, the Spanish-language film Emilia Pérez is leading the list with 13 nominations in top categories, such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress, among others. Anora, The Brutalist, and Wicked are also big nominees of the night.

If early predictions are to be believed, Mikey Madison’s film Anora could clinch the Best Picture trophy. The other films that are very close to winning the Best Picture award are The Brutalist and Conclave. However, anything can happen at the Academy Awards, especially in this category.

On the acting side, Adrien Brody’s prolific performance as Hungarian-Jewish architect Laszlo Toth in The Brutalist makes him one of the strongest candidates for Best Actor. However, Ralph Fiennes in Conclave and Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown are also big nominees who could potentially win.

Demi Moore's extraordinary performance in The Substance deserves an Academy Award. However, the competition is tough, as other strong contenders in the category include Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Pérez), and Mikey Madison (Anora).

Song: "Des ronds dans l'eau” (customization by @alloytracks)
Artist: Françoise Hardy
Video Edit by @sleepyskunk pic.twitter.com/q8rz5WlnuN

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 27, 2025

Adrien Brody for The Brutalist

Timothee Chalamet for A Complete Unknown

Colman Domingo for Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes for Conclave

Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice

Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in THE APPRENTICE. Nominated for Actor in a Leading Role at the 97th Oscars.

Watch the #Oscars LIVE on Sunday, March 2nd, at 7e/4p on ABC and Hulu. pic.twitter.com/TXR6dxVyuZ

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 13, 2025

Karla Sofia Gascon for Emilia Perez

Cynthia Erivo for Wicked

Mikey Madison for Anora

Demi Moore for The Substance

Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here

Mikey Madison (Best Actress nominee for ANORA) attends the 97th Oscars Nominees Dinner at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Photo Credit: Michael Buckner/Penske Media pic.twitter.com/7UnzyTKln8

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 26, 2025

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Perez

I’m Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance

Wicked

Presenting this year’s Best Picture nominees:

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• I'm Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked

Watch the 97th #Oscars LIVE on Sunday, March 2nd, at 7e/4p on ABC and Hulu. pic.twitter.com/LW3ePtHAjj

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 27, 2025

The Spanish-language musical Emilia Perez leads the nominations with 13 nods, setting a record in Oscar history for a non-English-language film. The movie has garnered nominations in top categories, including Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), Best Actress (Karla Sofía Gascón), Best Supporting Actress (Zoe Saldaña), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Jacques Audiard).

Emilia Perez is a musical crime drama about a Mexican cartel leader who fakes her own death to undergo gender transition and start a new life.

Ahead of the ceremony, Academy CEO Bill Kramer addressed the controversy around actress Karla Sofia Gascón, who is the big nominee of this year's ceremony. 

Gascon became the topic of discussion after some of her old and controversial posts went viral. In the years-old statement, the Spanish actress had shared hate words against the Muslim community and racist remarks against diversity at the Oscars.

Ahead of the ceremony on March 2, CEO Bill Kramer addressed the controversy, saying that, ''Academy does not condone hate speech.'' Read the full story here. 

Earlier announced as one of the prominent names who will be seen presenting an award at the Oscars stage, veteran star Harrison Ford has stepped away owing to health issues. As for Harrison Ford, the 82-year-old actors is said to have been diagnosed with shingles which is a “viral infection that causes a painful rash,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Read the full story here: 

Less than 24 hours for the Oscars ceremony and we spotted Hollywood A-listers enjoying time with each other sporting their casual wear as they rehearsed at the Academy Awards stage. Celebrities like Selena Gomez, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Samuel L Jackson and many others were spotted at the Oscars venue aka the Dolby Theatre.  

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In India, the Oscar will stream on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 5:30 AM IST. The awards show can be watched live on Star Movies Select and Star Movies.  Viewers can also watch the ceremony on Jio Hotstar, where it will be live-streamed. Read more here.