Hollywood shines as the Oscars 2025 crown the biggest stars

Lights, camera, action—it’s time for the biggest night in Hollywood.

Awards season might open with the Golden Globes and culminate with the Emmy Awards, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents the most anticipated event overall.

An event of such magnitude and significance goes beyond the golden statues, as the evening is filled with moments that remind us why we love the movies so much.

If you missed it (or just want to relive it), here’s a full recap of the ceremony and the highlights that had us talking:

The red carpet

As Hollywood’s finest gathered at the Dolby Theatre, we had a chance to watch the much-anticipated red-carpet arrivals. Celebrities showed us their most elegant—and sometimes daring—ensembles. Old Hollywood glamour took centre stage, with A-list actresses like Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone, and Elle Fanning donning regal, vintage-inspired looks.

Many stars decided to bring glitter and shimmer to the spotlight, opting for more sparkling outfits. Selena Gomez shone in a Ralph Lauren gown made with over 16,000 glass droplets, while Ariana Grande’s ethereal look shimmered with over 190,000 crystal sequins, rhinestones, and cut beads.

On the other hand, the men of the evening largely kept it classic and elegant. Though, there were the occasional bold touches. Timothée Chalamet made a statement by arriving in a buttery yellow Givenchy suit with a sleek leather finish. Jeff Goldblum’s Prada outfit and Bowen Yang’s embroidered leather Etro jacket brought floral flair to the event.

The Oscars 2025’s big winner

A modern-day Cinderella story set in the world of strip clubs—though without the fairy-tale ending—was the night’s biggest winner. Anora by Sean Baker took home five Oscars, including Hollywood’s most coveted prize, the one for the Best Picture. The movie is unusually explicit for a Best Picture winner, and, what’s more, it’s an indie production made on a modest $6 million budget.

In his acceptance speech, Baker expressed deep gratitude to the cast, crew, and the sex workers community. However, his moments on stage were used mainly to shift focus to a major issue in the cinema world.

“This is my battle cry. Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen.”

Baker called for the return of the 90-day exclusive theatrical window, emphasizing the importance of experiencing movies as they were meant to be seen. During his speech, the camera also showed Quentin Tarantino, another vocal supporter of traditional cinema.

“Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater!” He summed up by declaring, “Long live independent film!”

Celebrating the best actors and actresses of the night

25-year-old Mikey Madison was the biggest talk of the evening.

This put her on the prestigious list of actors who won an Academy Award before the age of 30. The young actress praised her competition during her speech and reached out to Moore post-ceremony, expressing her respect for her work.

The Best Actor award went to Adrien Brody for his role as a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and Bauhaus-trained architect László Tóth in the movie The Brutalist. His win was accompanied by a notably extended acceptance speech, which became a talking point of the evening.

The speech beat the Guinness World Record by six seconds, lasting for 5 minutes and 36 seconds. Oscar winners are usually given a 45-second timer as they accept the award. Brody halted the orchestra’s attempts to interrupt him twice, as he needed more time to express his feelings and heartfelt anecdotes.

The Brutalist received 10 nominations and took home Oscars for Original Score and Best Cinematography.

Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Emilia Pérez". She commented:

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

The honour for the Best Supporting Actor went to Kieran Culkin for his work in “A Real Pain”.

Recognising excellence in other categories

• Dune: Part Two surprised film lovers by snatching just two Oscars. The Denis Villeneuve movie won Best Sound and Best Visual Effects for its stunning audio and visuals, transporting audiences to the vast deserts of Arrakis.
• Conclave also went home with fewer Oscars than expected. The movie’s sole win was Best Adapted Screenplay for screenwriter Peter Straughan's script of the Robert Harris bestseller.
• Flow, a heartwarming tale of self-discovery, charmed its way to victory in the Best Animated Feature award. This was the first Oscar ever for a Latvian film. The director, Gints Zilbalodis, included his cats and dogs in his touching speech accepting the award.
• The Palestinian-Israeli film No Other Land won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film. The narrative explores themes of displacement and identity, focusing on the West Bank and the conflict in the Middle East. The film’s team called for a lasting peace, earning a standing ovation from the attendees.

More memorable moments

Conan O’Brien made his Oscars hosting debut and brought his signature wit and charm to the event. His monologues stroke the perfect balance between humour and admiration for filmmaking, resulting in fans calling him the delight of the evening. More than once did O’Brien use his trademark self-deprecating humour.

Beyond that, O’Brien struck a more heartfelt note when honouring the California firefighters who battled the recent wildfires. Inviting them on stage, he led the audience in a standing ovation for their heroism.

Another hot topic was Adam Sandler's appearance at the ceremony. The actor wore a neon blue hoodie and Steph Curry’s signature basketball shoes. Funnily enough, the $175 hoodie was nearly sold out shortly after his monologue aired.

Conan O’Brien remarked that Sandler was dressed like “a guy playing video poker at 2 a.m.” Though, Sandler returned: “You know what, Conan? I like the way I look because I’m a good person.” Rumour has it that he was later escorted out of the ceremony because he didn’t comply with the dress code.

Halle Berry and Adrien Brody also managed to make headlines by re-creating their infamous kiss from the 2003 ceremony. In 2003, moments after snatching an Oscar for Best Actor for "The Pianist," Brody surprised Berry with an impromptu kiss during his acceptance. Berry initiated the kiss this time, approaching Brody with open arms and saying, “I gotta do it.”

An important part of the evening was the "In Memoriam” segment. The montage honoured and celebrated legends who had passed away over the previous year. Gene Hackman, David Lynch, Maggie Smith, and Gena Rowlands were among the stars in the tribute. However, the segment faced criticism for excluding actors such as Shannen Doherty and Michelle Trachtenberg.

Oscars 2025’s viewership and cultural impact

It’s also important to note that more people aged 18–34 tuned in this year. Even more, Nielsen data shows a 1% increase in viewership compared to last year.

The surge was attributed to younger viewers watching on mobile devices and personal computers, as it’s considered this played a key role in the rise.

Post-ceremony celebrations

Hollywood’s elite doesn’t end the night leaving the Dolby Theatre. There are numerous very exclusive afterparties, but the Vanity Fair Oscar Party is considered the crown jewel of them all.

Among the most-talked-about looks were:

• Julia Fox who turned heads in a transparent slip dress adorned with locks of hair strategically wrapped around her waist and breasts.
• Zoë Kravitz impressing in a sheer-back dress featuring playful porthole designs.
• Olivia Wilde who embraced the boho-chic look by rocking a Chloé gown with dramatic cutouts.

As always, the Vanity Fair event was more than just an afterparty. It’s widely considered a stage for artistic expression and bold style. No wonder stars are saving some of their best looks for the exclusive event, filled with unforgettable post-Oscars moments.

The joy of the Oscars

The 97th Academy Awards were a blast! The ceremony honoured the cinematic achievements, delivered heartwarming moments, made us laugh out loud, and reflected the evolving world of the industry and beyond.