The 97th Academy Awards were a wild ride—historic wins, shocking upsets, and indie films stealing the spotlight. Sean Baker’s Anora was the night’s MVP, snagging five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
Meanwhile, Adrien Brody made a comeback for the ages, winning his second Best Actor trophy, and Latvia scored its first-ever Oscar. But the real story? Low-budget films absolutely bodied the big-budget blockbusters, proving Hollywood might finally be waking up to what we actually want to watch.
Here’s the lowdown on the 2025 Oscars—who won, who got snubbed, and what it all means for the future of movies.
‘Anora’ Went Hard with Five Wins
The star of the night was Anora, a low-key dramedy about a Brooklyn sex worker who accidentally marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The film premiered at Cannes, won the Palme d’Or, and then straight-up dominated the Oscars.
Sean Baker made history by winning four Oscars in one night—Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Picture. The last person to pull that off? Walt Disney in 1953.
Mikey Madison, the film’s lead, took home Best Actress, and her speech was pure fire. She shouted out the sex worker community, saying:
“This film is about love, survival, and being seen. To all the women whose stories inspired Anora—this is for you.”
Baker also gave props to the real-life sex workers who helped shape the film, shining a light on their struggles.
The success of Anora is a big deal—it shows the Academy is finally paying attention to smaller, character-driven stories instead of just throwing awards at CGI-heavy blockbusters.
Adrien Brody’s Comeback for ‘The Brutalist’
Adrien Brody made his big return to the Oscars stage, winning Best Actor for The Brutalist, a heavy-hitting drama about an architect escaping war-torn Europe.
This is Brody’s second Oscar win, over 20 years after The Pianist (2003).
In his speech, Brody got real about the ups and downs of acting and called for more inclusivity in Hollywood, tackling antisemitism and racism head-on:
“Art should build bridges, not walls. We need to embrace our differences and tell stories that matter.”
The Brutalist also snagged Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, making it one of the night’s standout winners.
"/>Other Big Wins & Ceremony Highlights
While Anora was the star, there were plenty of other moments that had us talking:
Best Adapted Screenplay: ‘Conclave’
This intense papal election thriller won Best Adapted Screenplay, but let’s be real—it was totally overshadowed by Anora’s sweep.
Best Documentary Feature: ‘No Other Land’
This hard-hitting doc about violence in the West Bank won Best Documentary Feature, and the directors used their speech to call for justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (‘Emilia Pérez’)
Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, a crime musical that racked up 13 nominations. Her speech was a tearjerker, as she dedicated the win to her immigrant grandma, who inspired her grind.
Best Animated Feature: ‘Flow’
Latvia made history by winning its first-ever Oscar for Flow, an animated gem that had everyone hooked.
Best International Feature: ‘I’m Still Here’ (Brazil)
Brazil snagged its first Oscar for Best International Feature, proving the Academy is finally giving global cinema its due.
Historic Firsts & Breakthrough Wins
This year’s Oscars were all about breaking barriers:
- Karla Sofia Gascón became the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Oscar. She didn’t win, but her nomination was a huge win for LGBTQ+ representation.
- Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked.
- Latvia won its first-ever Oscar with Flow, a massive moment for Baltic cinema.
Conan O’Brien’s Hosting & Ceremony Highlights
Conan O’Brien hosted the show, and he brought the perfect mix of jokes and heart. His opening monologue roasted Hollywood’s obsession with remakes and franchises while celebrating original storytelling.
Best Moments From the Night:
✅ Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo killed it with a medley from Wicked.
✅ The Oscars celebrated James Bond’s 60th anniversary with a killer performance by Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye.
✅ Morgan Freeman paid tribute to the late Gene Hackman, and yeah, we cried.
✅ Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain and joked about expanding the Culkin family empire: “We need more kids!”
Low-Budget Films Won, Blockbusters Got Shut Out
The biggest shock? Big-budget films got absolutely nothing.
Despite all the hype, Wicked walked away empty-handed, and Dune: Part Two was basically ignored. Instead, smaller films cleaned up:
- Anora – 6millionbudget,40 million box office
- A Real Pain – $3 million budget
- The Brutalist – $10 million budget
This is a huge shift from last year, when Oppenheimer and other blockbusters ruled the Oscars.
Biggest Snubs: Who Got Robbed?
Some critically loved films left the night with nada:
❌ A Complete Unknown
❌ Sing Sing
❌ The Apprentice
❌ Nickel Boys
❌ Nosferatu
Despite the hype, these films got completely shut out.
What the 2025 Oscars Mean for Hollywood
This year’s Oscars sent a clear message:
🎬 Storytelling > Spectacle.
The success of Anora and other indie films proves that audiences—and the Academy—are here for real, character-driven stories over flashy blockbusters.
As Hollywood deals with streaming wars, economic challenges, and changing audience preferences, this year’s Oscars could signal a turning point for the industry.
One thing’s for sure: Independent cinema is here to stay.
What did you think of the 2025 Oscars? Did Anora deserve all the love? Sound off in the comments! ⬇️🎬
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