The 97th Academy Awards befell on 2 March 2025, at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. The movie Anora emerged because the night’s largest winner, securing 5 Oscars — together with Finest Image, Finest Director, Finest Unique Screenplay, Finest Enhancing and Finest Actress for Mikey Madison. The evening was full of memorable moments, but in addition sparked vigorous debates and controversies over the winners. From Adrien Brody’s long-overdue win to Zoe Saldana’s triumph amid movie controversies alongside Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison securing their first-ever Academy Awards, the 2025 Oscars proved to be an evening of surprises and discussions concerning the evolving nature of cinema. Right here is the record of winners and the dialog (or controversies) surrounding their win.
Finest Actor in a Main Position
The Winner: Adrien Brody
The Dialog:
Heading into the Oscars, there was already debate over whether or not Timothée Chalamet would take dwelling the award for his portrayal of a younger Bob Dylan in A Full Unknown. Lately, the Academy has proven a robust affinity for historic biopics of pop-culture icons — suppose Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody and Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in Elvis. This development has raised questions on whether or not younger, critical actors must embody yet one more legendary determine to earn recognition. But regardless of Chalamet’s SAG Awards win, Brody had already swept the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs and the Critics Alternative Awards for his haunting portrayal of a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor in The Brutalist. His Oscars victory additional cements what many critics had predicted — that this was a long-overdue second for the actor, whose final important run on the awards circuit was greater than twenty years in the past.
One potential impediment in Brody’s marketing campaign was The Brutalist’s controversial use of AI to refine the forged’s Hungarian accents. Whereas some critics raised moral issues, retailers like The Hollywood Reporter dismissed it as a non-issue, likening it to straightforward sound-mixing methods utilized in post-production. On a extra private observe, Brody’s acceptance speech additionally turned a speaking level. Experiences surfaced of his informal demeanor — together with spitting out his chewing gum simply earlier than taking the stage — whereas others speculated concerning the Academy’s shifting sentiments towards him within the post-#MeToo period, given his previous relationship with Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife. Whatever the chatter, Brody’s win serves as a reminder of his simple expertise, marking a triumphant return to Hollywood’s heart stage.
Finest Actor in a Supporting Position
The Winner: Kieran Culkin
The Dialog:
Heading into the Oscars, Kieran Culkin was the simple frontrunner for Finest Supporting Actor. With wins on the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, BAFTAs and Critics Alternative Awards, there was little doubt that the Academy would comply with go well with. Not like different main classes that noticed heated debates, Culkin’s victory felt like a foregone conclusion. His efficiency because the offbeat, sharp-witted Benji Kaplan in A Actual Ache — Jesse Eisenberg’s Sundance darling — was extensively praised as a scene-stealing triumph. Critics lauded his skill to stability the movie’s introspective themes of grief and household with easy comedic timing, making him a standout within the awards dialog from the beginning.
A Actual Ache itself made a big affect at Sundance, with IndieWire reporting that it dominated journalist surveys throughout a number of classes — a feat hardly ever seen in current pageant historical past. Nevertheless, regardless of its vital acclaim, the movie solely secured two Oscar nominations: Finest Supporting Actor and Finest Unique Screenplay. Many believed it was unfairly missed for Finest Image. This win marks Culkin’s first Oscar nomination and victory, however his expertise has lengthy been recognised on the tv entrance, notably together with his Emmy-winning efficiency in Succession. As soon as primarily often known as Macaulay Culkin’s youthful brother, Kieran has now firmly established himself as a number one power within the dramedy style, with this award serving as a defining second in his profession. His Oscars triumph additionally performs right into a basic awards-season narrative — an overdue recognition of uncooked expertise in a deeply human, emotionally resonant movie. Whereas A Actual Ache might not have obtained the widespread nominations some anticipated, Culkin’s win ensures the movie’s legacy inside this yr’s awards cycle.
Finest Actress in a Main Position
The Winner: Mikey Madison
The Dialog:
This yr’s Finest Actress race was one of the crucial unpredictable, with momentum shifting repeatedly between Hollywood veteran Demi Moore (The Substance) and rising star Mikey Madison (Anora). Initially of awards season, Madison appeared to have the sting, driving excessive on Anora’s Palme d’Or win at Cannes. However because the marketing campaign heated up, Moore’s victories on the Golden Globes and SAG Awards reshaped the narrative, positioning her because the frontrunner heading into the Oscars. Moore’s efficiency as Elisabeth Sparkle — a fading superstar determined to take care of her youth — resonated deeply with critics and audiences alike. The Substance, — past its grotesque physique horror — served as a searing critique of Hollywood’s remedy of older actresses. A win for Moore would have been poetic: not solely had she delivered one of the crucial daring performances of her profession, however she was additionally having fun with a long-overdue comeback. Given the movie’s robust field workplace efficiency and awards circuit dominance, her victory appeared more and more inevitable.
That’s why Madison’s final win got here as each a shock and an announcement. Because the lead in Anora, she carried the movie with exceptional depth and nuance, proving she was extra than simply an indie darling — she was a star within the making. Her BAFTA win over Moore was an early signal that the race was not locked and a few speculated that Anora’s Finest Image momentum might additional enhance her possibilities. Nonetheless, many within the {industry} anticipated the Academy to aspect with the veteran over the ingénue. Madison’s triumph defied these expectations, cementing her as one in every of Hollywood’s most fun new abilities.
Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres (I’m Nonetheless Right here) was additionally thought of a darkish horse within the race. The movie’s political-historical subject material match the Oscars’ conventional “status drama” mould — particularly in comparison with Moore’s gory physique horror — however her possibilities had been undercut by Moore’s awards season sweep. Extra considerably, Torres confronted controversy when an outdated comedy sketch that includes her in blackface resurfaced. Whereas she issued a public apology, the scandal forged a shadow over her marketing campaign, notably in a yr when the Academy was already grappling with backlash over Karla Sofía Gascón’s resurfaced racist tweets. In the long run, Madison’s win alerts a shift within the Academy’s preferences. Whereas Moore’s transformative efficiency and {industry} narrative made her a compelling alternative, the Oscars in the end favoured recent expertise over a legacy comeback.
Finest Actress in a Supporting Position
The Winner: Zoe Saldana
The Dialog:
Zoe Saldana’s win for Emilia Perez was solidified after a strong speech on the Golden Globes, setting the stage for a promising Oscars marketing campaign. Nevertheless, the street to the Oscars was removed from clean, with Emilia Perez‘s season marred by scandal and controversy. The movie’s central give attention to trans points turned much more difficult when co-star Karla Sofia Gascon’s resurfaced controversial tweets forged a shadow over the marketing campaign.
Regardless of the movie’s give attention to trans points, a notable level of competition was how not one of the Emilia Perez winners, together with Saldana, addressed the importance of the movie’s subject material of their speeches — in contrast to the forged of Anora, who made a degree to focus on intercourse employees’ rights. This stark distinction added gas to the fireplace of rising backlash in opposition to Emilia Perez. Many critics have labelled the movie as “overrated” and felt it was not authentically consultant of trans or Mexican folks. Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, some followers even thought of this an inherent misstep, arguing that the movie’s outsider perspective didn’t do justice to the problems it aimed to deal with. Including to the movie’s controversy had been interviews by which Audiard admitted to not totally researching Mexican tradition, whereas Gascon struggled with mastering the Mexican accent, a element many felt was essential to her portrayal.
The movie’s setting was additionally questioned, because it was not shot in Mexico, additional alienating critics. In the meantime, the movie’s musical numbers had been extensively mocked on-line, compounding the damaging reception. Via all of it, Saldana managed to take care of a robust presence within the race, distancing herself from Gascon’s controversy. This technique helped propel her by way of the awards circuit, as she triumphed at Critics Alternative, BAFTA and the SAG Awards — leaving little doubt that she would safe an Oscar win. Nevertheless, her victory didn’t come with out scrutiny. Saldana’s position in Emilia Perez was usually debated because of the actress’s display screen time, which some felt positioned her extra as a co-lead than a real supporting participant. This raised the query of class fraud, a degree that was first introduced up throughout the Golden Globes. Whereas Saldana and Gascon had been each distinguished figures within the movie, many argued that their roles shared equal weight within the narrative, blurring the road between lead and supporting.
This debate just isn’t distinctive to Saldana’s case. Different movies this season — akin to Depraved and A Actual Ache —additionally featured co-leads who had been submitted in supporting classes. The Oscars’ apply of submitting actors in classes with extra competitors could be a strategic transfer to extend probabilities of profitable. In Saldana’s case, it looks as if a tactical resolution by the Emilia Perez crew to push for at the least one main win after the controversy surrounding Gascon and the movie. Whereas Saldana confronted some criticism for taking a job that will have higher suited a real supporting participant, a lot of this critique is tied to the best way the Oscars’ voting system operates. Movies usually submit actors in classes the place they imagine they’ve the most effective probability, generally main to separate votes and less-than-ideal outcomes. That is evident within the 1992 Oscars, when each Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon had been nominated for Thelma & Louise, however neither took dwelling the award. Regardless of the controversy and critiques, Saldana’s victory was solidified by her robust exhibiting within the awards circuit, making her the clear front-runner for Finest Supporting Actress.
Finest Image
The Winner: Anora
The Dialog:
Anora emerged victorious regardless of fierce competitors from The Brutalist and Conclave. All three movies had garnered vital acclaim forward of the awards season, with standout performances from Mikey Madison, Adrien Brody and Ralph Fiennes making the race notably shut. Previous to the awards season, all three movies had been critically lauded, however Anora gained notable traction because of its director’s imaginative and prescient and the spectacular efficiency of Mikey Madison, whose win on the BAFTAs solidified her as a key contender. With nominations in all 5 main {industry} teams — the Producers Guild of America, Administrators Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, and the BAFTAs — Anora appeared poised for fulfillment. Its robust exhibiting in these classes made it a critical contender for Finest Image, backed by the palpable momentum surrounding its vital reception and Madison’s award wins.
As for The Brutalist, its place was largely pushed by Adrien Brody’s efficiency and the course of Brady Corbet. Each Anora and The Brutalist garnered nominations within the Finest Director class, which tends to bolster their standing within the Finest Image race. In distinction, Conclave —although a formidable contender — lacked a Finest Director nomination, which arguably hindered its standing on this key class. Nevertheless, Conclave had its personal strengths — notably in its ensemble forged — which was awarded Finest Ensemble at each the SAG Awards and Critics’ Alternative, elevating its profile considerably regardless of lacking out on the Finest Director class.
As described by APNews, Anora securing the Finest Image Oscar on the 97th Academy Awards marks a big shift in direction of unbiased and arthouse cinema. The movie’s success displays the Academy’s evolving tastes, with youthful members favouring daring narratives. Anora is famous as essentially the most sexually express movie to win Finest Image, highlighting altering {industry} norms. By shining a highlight on the position of intercourse employees with out essentially glamorising it (although some might disagree with this sentiment), Anora was profitable in tapping into the cultural zeitgeist — exploring sexual relationships in a manner that viewers noticed as groundbreaking. The movie dives into problems with consent, energy dynamics and the nuances of intimate relationships, usually specializing in younger characters navigating their sexual identities. This uncooked portrayal of sexuality — usually absent or closely censored in mainstream cinema — caught the eye of youthful viewers who felt it mirrored their very own struggles with sexuality, identification and autonomy.
Finest Director
The Winner: Sean Baker
The Dialog:
Sean Baker’s distinctive course of Anora earned him the Academy Award for Finest Director in 2025, capping off a exceptional awards season. His achievements included securing each the Administrators Guild of America (DGA) and Producers Guild of America (PGA) awards for Finest Director and Finest Producer, respectively, underscoring his industry-wide acclaim. Baker’s adept storytelling and nuanced portrayal of advanced characters resonated with each critics and audiences, solidifying his standing as a number one filmmaker.
Traditionally, the alignment of Finest Director and Finest Image awards has been a robust indicator of a movie’s general affect and excellence. Baker’s twin victories not solely affirmed his directorial prowess but in addition bolstered Anora‘s standing as a cinematic masterpiece. This synergy between director and movie has been a trademark of many acclaimed productions, reinforcing the interconnectedness of storytelling and course in reaching creative recognition. Baker’s win additionally marked a big milestone in Oscar historical past. He turned the primary particular person to obtain 4 Academy Awards for a single movie, tying the report for essentially the most Oscars gained in a single evening, beforehand held by Walt Disney. This achievement highlighted Baker’s distinctive expertise and the movie’s profound affect on the {industry}.
Finest Unique Screenplay
The Winner: Anora
The Dialog:
Anora took dwelling the Oscar for Finest Unique Screenplay, confirming its dominance all through awards season. The movie had already secured a big win on the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards, which pointed to its robust probability on this class. Anora’s win solidified its standing because the frontrunner, particularly given its spectacular monitor report in different key awards. The screenplay, praised for its daring and creative method, was seen as one of the crucial impactful of the yr, and its success on the WGA set the stage for the Oscar win. Traditionally, Finest Unique Screenplay usually aligns with Finest Image and Finest Director, and since Anora had swept these main classes, the screenplay award was seen as a pure development. The one notable exception to this momentum got here on the BAFTAs, the place Anora was handed over. Nevertheless, the BAFTAs have hardly ever aligned with the Oscars on this class, making their alternative much less predictive.
Some speculated that Eisenberg’s excessive profile would possibly give A Actual Ache an edge within the race, however Anora’s momentum in the end proved insurmountable. With Kieran Culkin already established as a shoo-in for Finest Supporting Actor, A Actual Ache lacked the broader awards circuit success wanted to make a robust case within the screenplay class. Regardless of its robust writing, it couldn’t compete with Anora’s sweeping victories throughout the board.
Finest International Movie
The Winner: I’m Nonetheless Right here
The Dialog:
This yr’s race for Finest International Movie took an sudden flip, with I’m Nonetheless Right here rising because the front-runner after a turbulent awards season. Whereas Emilia Perez was initially thought of the favorite for the Oscar, its current controversies concerning the movie’s portrayal of Mexican tradition and the backlash surrounding director Jacques Audiard’s method to the fabric left the Academy looking for a safer alternative. Enter I’m Nonetheless Right here, which has steadily risen to the highest, buoyed by the real-life comeback story of Fernanda Torres, whose heartfelt efficiency within the movie captivated audiences and critics alike.
For Brazil, I’m Nonetheless Right here represents a milestone, as a win would mark the first-ever Oscar for the nation on this class. Brazil has firmly rallied behind the movie, which not solely gained widespread assist for its creative advantage but in addition turned an emblem of resilience within the face of adversity. Nevertheless, it was Emilia Perez’s fall from grace that undoubtedly opened the door for I’m Nonetheless Right here to grab the title, making the movie’s victory a bittersweet one, given its personal vital acclaim. Torres’ efficiency garnered her a fair proportion of nominations and wins all through the awards season, underscoring her expertise and the movie’s broad enchantment.
Regardless of the hurdles, I’m Nonetheless Right here has remained robust all through the awards circuit, securing nominations on the Critics Alternative Awards and the BAFTAs. Whereas it didn’t clinch the wins at these exhibits, the nominations themselves had been a constructive indicator of its potential come Oscar time. It’s noteworthy that I’m Nonetheless Right here, alongside Emilia Perez, is now a part of a broader dialog by which foreign-language movies are more and more competing not just for Finest International Movie but in addition for Finest Image, a shift that has been extra evident lately. Movies like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite and the 2 foreign-language Finest Image nominees in 2023 — Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Curiosity — have paved the best way for better recognition of worldwide cinema in mainstream classes. I’m Nonetheless Right here and Emilia Perez‘s vital reception is a testomony to the rising internationalisation of the Oscars.
Finest Documentary
The Winner: No Different Land
The Dialog:
The documentary No Different Land by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of their directorial debut just isn’t solely a big win for the 2024 Finest Documentary class, nevertheless it additionally stands as a groundbreaking exploration of the continued points surrounding apartheid and displacement in opposition to the Palestinian folks. Directed with a daring imaginative and prescient and an empathetic lens, the documentary has develop into a strong testomony to the resilience of the Palestinians, tackling delicate and divisive themes whereas providing hope for solidarity in essentially the most unlikely locations. The documentary delves into the lives of each Israeli and Palestinian people who, regardless of the political and historic limitations between them, come collectively to create a shared narrative of unity. The movie’s central focus is on how these two communities, usually framed as enemies, work in direction of mutual understanding, difficult the boundaries set by many years of battle. No Different Land affords an unprecedented take a look at the human aspect of a long-standing geopolitical battle.
Given the present state of apartheid and the escalating stress within the occupied West Financial institution and Gaza, No Different Land comes at a time when the necessity for a extra compassionate dialogue is bigger than ever. It offers a uncommon second of hope for audiences, suggesting that change — although troublesome and gradual — is feasible when human connections are prioritised over political variations. The movie’s skill to stability its portrayal of harsh realities with a hopeful imaginative and prescient for the longer term is without doubt one of the many causes it has been extensively celebrated. It’s not only a documentary however a name to motion, encouraging each Israelis and Palestinians to seek out widespread floor regardless of the hardships they face. No Different Land’s win is an acknowledgment of the facility of storytelling to interrupt down partitions and to shift public notion. Its triumph on the Oscars marks a pivotal second in each the world of documentary filmmaking and the continued dialog about peace and reconciliation within the Center East.
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