Hollywood’s most prestigious night, the 97th Academy Awards, honored the best of cinema at the Oscars 2025. This year’s ceremony saw some surprising wins and historic firsts as the biggest stars gathered to celebrate the finest in filmmaking. Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, and Zoe Saldana took home top honors, while Sean Baker’s Anora dominated the night.
Major Winners at Oscars 2025
Best Picture: Anora (Neon) – Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, Producers
Best Director: Sean Baker, Anora
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez
Screenplay and Technical Achievements
Best Original Screenplay: Anora – Sean Baker
Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave
Best Cinematography: The Brutalist – Lol Crawley
Best Film Editing: Anora – Sean Baker
Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two – Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer
Best Sound: Dune: Part Two – Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill
Animation and Documentary
Best Animated Feature Film: Flow – Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman
Best Animated Short Film: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Best Documentary Feature Film: No Other Land – Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham
Best Documentary Short Film: The Only Girl in the Orchestra (Netflix) – Molly O’Brien and Lisa Remington
Music and Design
Best Original Score: The Brutalist
Best Original Song: “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez
Best Production Design: Wicked – Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, Wicked
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Pierre-Olivier Persin, The Substance
Historic Moments and Highlights
One of the standout moments of the night was Paul Tazewell’s win for Best Costume Design, making him the first Black man to win in this category for his work on Wicked. The evening also saw Anora sweep several top categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
Adrien Brody, who previously won an Oscar in 2003, returned to the spotlight with his win for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in The Brutalist. Meanwhile, Mikey Madison’s breakout role in Anora earned her Best Actress in a Leading Role.
With powerful performances, groundbreaking achievements, and unforgettable moments, the 97th Academy Awards celebrated the best that cinema had to offer in 2025.
