Anora Triumphs at 2025 Oscars with Historic Wins

The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, took place on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating the best in cinema over the past year. The movie “Anora” emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home the coveted Best Picture award and multiple other honours.

Anora Leads the Night with Multiple Wins and Top Honours

Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her role in “Anora,” defying expectations and beating frontrunner Demi Moore from “The Substance.” Adrien Brody secured the Best Actor award for his performance in “The Brutalist,” his second Oscar win following his 2003 victory for “The Pianist.” Sean Baker also earned the Best Director award for his work on “Anora.”

In the supporting categories, Zoe Saldaña made history by winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Emilia Pérez,” becoming the first American of Dominican origin to receive an Academy Award. Kieran Culkin claimed Best Supporting Actor for his role in “A Real Pain,” delivering a memorable and humorous acceptance speech.

“Flow” won the award for Best Animated Feature, while Brazil’s “I’m Still Here” took home the Oscar for Best International Feature. Peter Straughan’s adaptation of “Conclave” won Best Adapted Screenplay, and Sean Baker’s original script for “Anora” earned the Best Original Screenplay award.

Other notable winners included “Dune: Part Two” for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, “The Brutalist” for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, and “Wicked” for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. “The Substance” claimed the award for best makeup and hairstyling.

The ceremony featured standout moments, including O’Brien’s playful and self-aware opening monologue and a surprise opening performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from “Wicked.” The show also acknowledged real-world heroes, honoring Los Angeles firefighters for their efforts battling recent wildfires.

Despite the celebration, the night was not without controversy. Karla Sofía Gascón’s historic Best Actress nomination for “Emilia Pérez” was overshadowed by backlash from resurfaced social media posts, drawing criticism from co-stars like Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña.

As the evening closed, the Oscars once again showcased Hollywood’s triumphs and trials, with “Anora” standing as the night’s most celebrated film.