The big winners from the 97th Academy Awards

Anora stole the spotlight at the 97th Academy Awards, dominating the night with five major wins, including Best Picture, Best Director for Sean Baker, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The dramedy, which tells the gripping story of a sex worker who marries the privileged son of a Russian oligarch, struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. The night also saw Adrien Brody take home Best Actor for The Brutalist, Kieran Culkin claim the Best Supporting Actor title for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldana win Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, which also bagged Best Original Song. Conclave triumphed with the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Conan O’Brien brought his unique comedic style to the 97th Academy Awards as the first-time host, injecting energy and humour into the ceremony. In a year overshadowed by the Los Angeles wildfires, O’Brien kept the atmosphere light and entertaining, serving up witty jokes and playful moments that had the crowd laughing throughout the night.

Here are some of the major moments from the award ceremony

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo deliver a ‘Wicked’ performance

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande kicked off the 2025 Oscars in Los Angeles on Monday, setting a vibrant tone for the 97th Academy Awards. The duo captivated the audience with a medley that blended iconic songs from Wicked, The Wiz, and The Wizard of Oz. They performed beloved classics like Home, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Defying Gravity. Erivo looked stunning in a white gown adorned with floral appliques and her standout nails, while Grande shone in a sparkling red Schiaparelli dress.

Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye celebrate James Bond with iconic performances

At the 2025 Oscars, held at the Dolby Theatre in LA, the legacy of James Bond was honoured with a stunning musical tribute featuring BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye, who delivered breathtaking renditions of the iconic Bond themes. The tribute began with Lisa’s electrifying performance of Live and Let Die from the 1973 Bond film. Doja Cat followed with a rendition of Diamonds Are Forever from the 1971 classic, and Raye closed with a smooth, jazzy version of Skyfall, the theme from the 2012 Daniel Craig film. Before the performers took the stage, actress Margaret Qualley set the tone with a dance to the iconic Bond theme. 

Mikey Madison gives a shout-out to the sex worker community 

Mikey Madison won the Oscar for Best Actress for her powerful performance in Anora, and in her speech, she made a special mention of the sex worker community. “This is very surreal,” Madison began. “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me, so to be here, standing in this room today is really incredible.” She then added, “I just want to recognise and honour the sex worker community. Yes. I will continue to support and be an ally. All of the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this incredible experience.”

Sean Baker scripts history with four wins for one feature

Anora director Sean Baker made history at the Oscars, becoming the first person to win four Oscars in a single year for the same film. Baker took home awards for Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Directing, and Best Picture, tying with Walt Disney, who won four Oscars in one night in 1953—though for different films. In his Best Director acceptance speech, Baker thanked the Academy for recognising the independent film. “We’re all here tonight and watching this broadcast because we love movies. Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater,” he said.

Priyanka Chopra, Guneet Monga’s ‘Anuja’ Loses To Dutch Film ‘I’m Not A Robot’

Priyanka Chopra and Guneet Monga's short film Anuja lost to the Dutch film I’m Not a Robot at the 97th Academy Awards. Anuja, follows a young girl by the same name and her sister Palak as they face a life-changing challenge, and highlights the struggles of girls worldwide. Other nominees in the category included A Lien, The Last Ranger, and The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent. Produced by Mindy Kaling, Anuja is currently streaming on Netflix.

host Conan O'Brien's "Namaskar" video goes viral

Conan O’Brien greeted Indian viewers at the Oscars by speaking in Hindi, saying, “Bharat ke logo ko namaskar. Waha subah ho chuki hai toh mujhe umeed hai ke aap naashte ke saath Oscars ke aanand.” (Greetings to India. It’s morning there, so I hope you enjoy the Oscars with breakfast.)

The attempt didn’t go unnoticed on social media, with one user commenting, “Nice try, but Conan completely butchered the Hindi greeting!” Another wrote, “My ears are bleeding from Conan’s Hindi pronunciation.” A third added, “What did Conan even say in Hindi? I couldn’t make out a single word.”

L.A. Firefighters Roast Joker 2 at Oscars

Oscar host Conan O’Brien handed the mic to Los Angeles firefighters, who had a few jabs of their own during Hollywood’s biggest night. On stage at the Dolby Theater, O’Brien joked, “I know you’re going to find this hard to believe, but there are some jokes even I’m not brave enough to tell.” He then introduced members of the fire service who fought the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, asking them to read from the prompter on his behalf. “Remember—everyone in this audience has to laugh; these are heroes!” O’Brien quipped.

Los Angeles Fire Department captain Erik Scott kicked things off with a sharp jab: “Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes. And I’m talking about the producers of ‘Joker 2.’” The film, which cost $200 million to make and $100 million to market, struggled at the box office, earning just $206 million globally. Even O’Brien couldn’t help but admire the line. “Damn,” he laughed, “best delivery of the night.”

The complete winners list

Best Film: Anora
Best Actor: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
Best Actress: Mikey Madison for Anora
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana for Emilia Pérez
Best Director: Sean Baker for Anora
Best Cinematography: Lol Crawley for The Brutalist
Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker for Anora
Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave
Best Original Score: Daniel Bloomberg for The Brutalist
Best Sound: Dune Part Two
Best Visual Effects: Dune Part Two
Best Original Song: El Mal in Emilia Pérez
Best International Feature Film: I'm Still Here
Best Documentary Short Film: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Best Editing: Anora
Best Documentary Feature Film: No Other Land
Best Animated Film: Flow
Best Animated Short Film: In The Shadow of The Cypress
Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell for Wicked
Best Makeup and Hair Styling: The Substance
Best Production Design: Wicked
Best Live Action Short Film: I'm Not a Robot

All images: Getty Images

Also read: The big winners from the Screen Actors Guild Awards

Also read: BAFTA Awards 2025: ‘Conclave’ reigns, Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison steal the spotlight

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