“A night of surprises at the 97th Academy Awards, as Anora wins big while The Brutalist, Conclave, and Dune: Part Two also take home key awards.”
March 3, 2025: The 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles concluded with a mix of expected wins and shocking upsets, making it one of the most unpredictable Oscar nights in recent memory.
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While Sean Baker’s Anora and Edward Berger’s Conclave were locked in a tight race for Best Picture, Anora ultimately took the top prize, cementing its place as one of the year’s best films.
Adrien Brody won his second Oscar for Best Actor in The Brutalist, while Mikey Madison pulled off a stunning upset, winning Best Actress for her performance in Anora, beating out Demi Moore (The Substance) and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here).
Sean Baker, the visionary filmmaker behind Anora, won Best Director, adding to the film’s remarkable night.
🏆 Oscars 2025: Complete Winners List
🏅 Major Categories:
✔️ Best Picture: Anora
✔️ Best Director: Sean Baker (Anora)
✔️ Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
✔️ Best Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)
✔️ Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
✔️ Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana (Emilia Pérez)
🎭 Acting Categories:
✔️ Best Actor in a Leading Role: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
✔️ Best Actress in a Leading Role: Mikey Madison (Anora)
✔️ Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
✔️ Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Zoe Saldana (Emilia Pérez)
📜 Screenplay Categories:
✔️ Best Original Screenplay: Anora (Sean Baker)
✔️ Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave (Peter Straughan)
🎥 Technical & Visual Awards:
✔️ Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
✔️ Best Film Editing: Anora
✔️ Best Production Design: Wicked
✔️ Best Costume Design: Wicked (Paul Tazewell)
✔️ Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
✔️ Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
🎶 Music & Score:
✔️ Best Original Score: The Brutalist
✔️ Best Original Song: El Mal from Emilia Pérez
🌎 International & Documentary:
✔️ Best International Film: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
✔️ Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
✔️ Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
🎬 Short Film Categories:
✔️ Best Animated Short Film: In the Shadow of the Cypress
✔️ Best Live-Action Short Film: I’m Not a Robot
📌 Key Highlights from Oscars 2025:
🎭 Mikey Madison’s Surprising Best Actress Win
The biggest shock of the night came when Mikey Madison won Best Actress for Anora, edging out Demi Moore and Fernanda Torres in a highly competitive race. Madison, at just 25 years old, became one of the youngest winners in the category.
🎬 Anora’s Big Night
With wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay, Anora established itself as the dominant film of the night, solidifying Sean Baker’s reputation as a powerhouse filmmaker.
🎵 Dune: Part Two & Wicked Split Technical Categories
While Dune: Part Two dominated visual effects and sound, Wicked took home Best Costume Design and Production Design, proving its blockbuster appeal.
🇮🇳 India’s Anuja Falls Short in Best Live Action Short Film
India’s Oscar hopeful, Anuja, produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Guneet Monga, lost in the Best Live-Action Short category to I’m Not a Robot.
🏆 Emotional Tributes & Social Impact
The ceremony also honored firefighters who battled the Los Angeles wildfires, while Morgan Freeman paid a touching tribute to the late Gene Hackman.
💭 Final Thoughts: A Night of Surprises & Milestones
The 97th Academy Awards proved to be one of the most unpredictable in recent history, with Anora and The Brutalist taking home the most prestigious honors. Mikey Madison’s win, Adrien Brody’s second Oscar, and Dune’s technical domination made headlines, while emotional tributes and historical wins kept audiences engaged.
With Hollywood’s biggest night wrapped up, the race for Oscars 2026 begins now!
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#Oscars2025, #AcademyAwards, #Hollywood, #BestPicture, #MikeyMadison, #AdrienBrody, #Anora, #Dune2, #Wicked, #SeanBaker, #MovieNews, #OscarWinners,