The biggest night in Hollywood lived up to expectations, bringing exciting victories, unexpected twists, and memorable speeches. The 97th Academy Awards proved to be one of the most unpredictable in recent years.
Unlike previous years, when a single movie stood out as the clear frontrunner—such as Oppenheimer in 2024—this year was a tough race between three strong contenders: Anora, The Brutalist, and Emilia Pérez. These films competed for the top prize, and all of them went home with prestigious awards.
Also Read: Anora Movie Ending Explained: What Does The Climax Reveal About The Characters?
“Anora” Takes Center Stage with Five Wins
From the beginning of awards season, Anora impressed critics and audiences alike. The film, directed by Sean Baker, became a favorite in many categories, and it did not disappoint on Oscar night. The film won five awards, making it the most awarded movie of the evening.
One of the biggest moments of the night was Mikey Madison’s win for Best Actress for her role in Anora. Many expected Demi Moore to win for her performance in The Substance, but the Academy ultimately chose Madison. This victory was a major highlight of the night, proving that Anora had strong support across the board.
Director Sean Baker made history by winning Oscars for Directing, Original Screenplay, and Best Picture, putting him in a league with legendary filmmakers. Before Baker, Bong Joon Ho had achieved a similar feat with Parasite in 2020. Baker’s success made it clear that Anora was not just a critical success but also a major milestone in independent filmmaking.
“The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez” Also Shine
While Anora had an incredible night, The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez also had strong showings.
Adrien Brody, who starred in The Brutalist, won his second Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. His performance was widely praised, and his win was one of the least surprising of the night. The film also won awards for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, making it one of the biggest winners of the evening.
Emilia Pérez, a unique musical crime drama, did not win Best Picture, but it took home important awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for “El Mal”. The film’s bold storytelling and impressive performances helped it stand out.
A Disappointing Night for “Conclave”
Not every film had a great night at the Oscars. Conclave, a tense thriller about Vatican politics, entered the night with high hopes. The film had done well at the BAFTAs, the SAG Awards, and various critics’ circles. However, it only won one Oscar—Best Adapted Screenplay for Peter Straughan.
While Conclave did not perform as expected, its recognition in the screenplay category showed that it still had a strong impact on voters.
Conan O’Brien Brings Humor to the Ceremony
This year, comedian and television host Conan O’Brien made his debut as an Oscar host, bringing his signature humor and wit to the show. His opening monologue poked fun at Hollywood’s biggest stars, and his interactions with the nominees kept the audience entertained throughout the night.
O’Brien’s presence helped lighten the mood during some of the ceremony’s biggest surprises, and many praised him for making the event feel more fun and relaxed.
Complete List of Oscar Winners
The Academy Awards honored outstanding achievements in film across many categories. Here are all the winners:
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) — WINNER
- Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
- Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
- Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
- Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Yura Borisov (Anora)
- Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) — WINNER
- Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
- Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
- Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
- Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
- Mikey Madison (Anora) — WINNER
- Demi Moore (The Substance)
- Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
- Ariana Grande (Wicked)
- Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
- Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
- Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) — WINNER
Best Animated Feature Film
- Flow — WINNER
- Inside Out 2
- Memoir of a Snail
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
Best Cinematography
- The Brutalist — WINNER
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Maria
- Nosferatu
Best Costume Design
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Gladiator II
- Nosferatu
- Wicked — WINNER
Best Directing
- Sean Baker (Anora) — WINNER
- Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
- James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
- Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
- Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
Best Film Editing
- Anora — WINNER
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
Best International Feature Film
- I’m Still Here — WINNER
- The Girl with the Needle
- Emilia Pérez
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig
- Flow
Best Original Score
- The Brutalist — WINNER
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
Best Original Song
- “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez) — WINNER
- “The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight)
- “Like A Bird” (Sing Sing)
- “Mi Camino” (Emilia Pérez)
- “Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late)
Best Picture
- Anora — WINNER
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
- Anora — WINNER
- The Brutalist
- A Real Pain
- September 5
- The Substance
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
- Conclave — WINNER
- A Complete Unknown
- Emilia Pérez
- Nickel Boys
- Sing Sing
Final Thoughts on a Historic Oscars Night
The 97th Academy Awards delivered excitement, celebration, and unexpected wins. Anora stood out as the biggest winner, proving itself to be a major success.
The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez also left with well-earned awards, while Conclave had a disappointing night. Conan O’Brien’s hosting brought humor and energy, making the event even more entertaining.
With so many great films recognized, this year’s Oscars highlighted the power of storytelling and filmmaking. Hollywood’s future looks bright, and the excitement for next year’s awards has already begun!
Also Read: ‘The Brutalist’ Ending Explained: Art, Power, and Betrayal in One Man’s Story
