Oscars 2025 as it happened: Anora wins best picture; Mikey Madison and Adrien Brody take out best actor awards

Take a look at the list of Oscar nominees and winners here.

Well, that’s it for the 97th Academy Awards, everyone!

There were tears, laughter, and, yes, even a sandworm playing the piano. But the real highlight, as it is every year, are the films it celebrates. From the night’s biggest winner (Anora) to the fan favourites (Wicked), this year’s Oscars ceremony certainly paid worthy tribute to the power of the silver screen.

Thank you for joining us today (especially those of you who stuck around for the full three and a half hours… And Adrien Brody’s speech, which felt like three and half hours). We’ll see you next year!

Speaking backstage, supporting actress winner Zoe Saldaña said her win was an opportunity to reflect on her younger self, and her struggle as a younger actress to be seen.

“It’s every time I went after a part and I didn’t get it, and I cared so much, I was so heartbroken – sometimes a day, sometimes a week, but I got up again,” she said. “At the end of the day, if I don’t do my art, who am I, what am I?”

Zoe Saldana accepts the award for best supporting actress for her role in Emilia Perez.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

“When you let that go, and [you realise] it’s about the work, that day you go in, you have a deeper appreciation for it, and you have a deeper appreciation for every day that brought you here, ” the actress said.

Saldaña said her biggest hurdle, in some ways, was herself.

“There are so many external factors that can impede you ... I had a hard time getting out of my own way, and self-sabotaging, trying to believe what others saw in me and not listening to my own voice.”

Saldaña was also asked to address the portrayal of Mexico in Emilia Pèrez, which drew criticism from locals who claimed it stereotyped Mexicans and portrayed Mexican crime culture as violent and excessive.

“I’m very, very sorry ... that was never our intention,” she said. “I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about friendship. We were making a film about four women.”

Introducing the best picture presenters, Conan O’Brien said “it’s When Harry Reunited With Sally”, and on came Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan (co-stars of the 1989 rom-com When Harry Met Sally, which was nominated for, but did not win – how, you might well wonder – best original screenplay).

O’Brien says Crystal was “the best Oscars host ever”, and it’s not an unreasonable claim.

After a bit of dithering, Ryan says, “let’s cut to the chase”, and Crystal agrees. “When you have a chance to be an Oscar winner for the rest of your life,” he observes, “you want it to start as soon as possible”.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal announce the fifth award to go Anora’s way.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

The award goes to Anora. That’s five wins from six nominations, making the $US6 million indie comedy-drama the biggest winner of the night.

For Sean Baker, the rest of his life as an Oscar winner had already begun – this is his fourth personal win for the night (as one of the producers of the film, he shares in the best picture award). But no award means more than this one.

“I want to thank the academy for recognising a truly independent film,” says Baker when he steps up to the microphone, the last of the film’s producers to do so. “This film was made on the blood, sweat and tears of indie filmmakers. Long live independent film.”

It’s really a remarkable run for the little film about a stripper (Mikey Madison, who won best actress immediately before this award was handed out) who thinks she’s met her Prince Charming when the son of a Russian oligarch hires her to be his girlfriend for a week, and then marries her. As the fauxmance goes off the rails, all hell breaks loose, but the film never sacrifices heart for laughs or tension.

It’s a perfectly judged piece of work, and it’s great – and a little surprising – that it’s been so fully embraced by the Academy’s 10,000 or so members. Almost makes you feel good to be alive.

Quentin Tarantino presents the award for best director to Sean Baker.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

And what about Sean Baker? Well, he joins a very small and elite group of people who have won four Oscars in a single year. Very small. Very elite.

It’s him and Walt Disney.

Walt picked up four Oscars in 1954. But they were for four different projects, on which he was producer. Baker’s multiple wins are for a single film, and a film on which his fingerprints were everywhere.

Well done, Mr Baker. Well done.

Adrien Brody’s first words in accepting his award for best actor were “thank you, God”. He’s in pretty good company there.

With thanks again to Stephen Follows, who has tracked religious references in acceptance speeches, we find – a little surprisingly, perhaps, given the general decline in spirituality – that God or some other higher power has been among the call-outs in 22 per cent of speeches since 2020, way more than in the 1950s, say. That’s slightly down on the peak of 24 per cent (between 2000 and 2010).

Brody perhaps deserves a special award for ability to ignore every indication that it’s time to STFU. His speech goes on and on – it’s almost as long as the film itself. I reckon he might just have blown a hole in Follows’ calculations for most words, that’s for sure.

Perhaps my favourite bit of data from Follows is his tracking of references to God, Steven Spielberg and the disgraced former head of Miramax, Harvey Weinstein in acceptance speeches.

Spielberg’s significance as a producer and director is undisputed, and tracks back to the 1970s. Weinstein’s power rested largely on his ability as a marketer, and a canny Oscars campaigner. Since his spectacular fall from grace … not so much.

We’ve conflated two of his charts for the sake of ease here. You’re welcome.

It wouldn’t be an Academy Awards ceremony without at least one major shock and it seems we finally have it, with Mikey Madison winning best lead actress for crime comedy Anora.

But first, spare a thought for Demi Moore. Moore was a hot favourite to win for her work in body horror The Substance, having previously taken home the Golden Globe in the same category.

Mikey Madison’s award for best lead actress added to Anora’s Oscars tally.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

At the time, Moore said: “I’m just in shock right now, I’ve been doing this a long time, like over 45 years, and this is the first time I’ve won anything as an actor.”

While many suspected that long wait would be over this evening, the shifting momentum towards Sean Baker’s Anora ultimately spelt trouble for Moore and her sentimental-drive campaign.

Hot favourite Demi Moore was no match for Anora’s winning streak.Credit: Jae C. Hong/Invision/AP

Instead, the trophy went to Mikey Madison, whose raw and unflinching portrayal of an opportunistic Brooklyn escort has proven popular with audiences and voters alike.

“I grew up in Los Angeles but Hollywood felt so far away for me. Thank you to the sex worker community, meeting those people has been a highlight for me,” said Madison.

“I am honoured to be recognised alongside all of you and I need to thank Sean. I adore you, this is all because of you.”

Anora has proven a hit at the 97th annual Academy Awards, taking home best picture, best editing, best original screenplay, best director and best lead actress.

Anora has cleaned up at the Oscars, taking five awards including best picture.

The movie, about a 23-year-old lap dancer who meets the son of a Russian oligarch, has also taken home best original screenplay, best editing, best director, and best actress.

Our reviewer Sandra Hall described the film as typical of writer-director Sean Baker’s style, “it shines with inspired bits of improvisation delivered by a cast so spirited that anything seems possible”.

“It’s a rollercoaster ride, yet Baker never confuses movement with action. Every twist takes you somewhere you hadn’t quite expected to be, revealing an emotion you hadn’t expected to share.”

Read our full review here.

Without directors, the films celebrated tonight simply could not exist. This year’s line-up was not only particularly strong, but also filled with directors who had never been nominated in the category before.

But the person who ultimately came out on top was Sean Baker for his work on Anora, beating major contenders like Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown). This is the film’s third award of the night, bringing it on par with The Brutalist (which also has three awards so far).

Sean Baker takes the prize for best director for his work on Anora.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

His passionate acceptance speech, if anything, merely reinforced why he deserved this statuette tonight.

“We’re all here tonight because we love movies. And where did we fall in love with movies? At the movie theatre,” he said. “At a time in which the world can feel really divided, this is more important than ever. Right now, the movie-going experience is under threat … It’s up to us to support them.

“This is my battle cry. Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will. Distributors, please focus first and foremost on theatrical releases of these films. Parents, introduce your children to feature films in cinemas ... My mother introduced me to film at five years old. Today is also her birthday … This is for you.”

Mikey Madison has won best actress for her performance as a sex worker in Anora.

A former Oscar winner for The Pianist, Adrien Brody has been firm favourite to win best actor since The Brutalist debuted at the Venice Film Festival last year. He plays a talented Hungarian-Jewish architect who flees postwar Europe and takes on a monumental project for a power-hungry industrialist in America.

After becoming the youngest winner of best actor at 29 for The Pianist, Brody has now won it a second time at 51.

“They are counting me down already. Thank you, God,” he said as he accepted the Oscar. “Thank you for this blessed life.”

Adrien Brody has been crowned best actor for his leading role in The Brutalist.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Brody went on to say he hoped to be “worthy of such meaningful and relevant roles” over the next 20 years of his career. He noted that his character portrayed the lingering effects of war, antisemitism and racism.

“I pray for a healthier and happier and more inclusive world,” he said. “If the past can teach us anything, it’s to not let hate go unchecked. Let’s fight for what’s right.”

Brody refused to let his speech be cut off, and asked for the music to be turned off.

“I have done this before. It is not my first rodeo, but I will be brief,” he said.

An interesting piece of trivia: Brody’s character in The Brutalist is Laszlo Toth. In real life, Laszlo Toth was a Hungarian-born Australian geologist who vandalised Michelangelo’s Pieta in 1972.

The only way to honour a powerhouse as extraordinary as Quincy Jones is to get a collective triple threat on stage. Cue: Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah.

The tribute to the 28-time Grammy Award winner, who died in November, began with Goldberg and Winfrey on stage laying out Jones’ outstanding career.

Whoopi Goldberg, left, and Oprah pay tribute to Quincy Jones.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

“When one hears the name Quincy, the first thought is musical genius,” Winfrey said. “Twenty-eight Grammy Awards. A conductor for legends like Frank Sinatra… and Ella Fitzgerald. But the man had an equally powerful impact on the world of film.”

Goldberg then described Jones as the epitome of “black excellence”, someone who set the stage for black conductors at the Oscars.

Queen Latifah performs Ease on Down the Road.Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

“In 1967, Quincy Jones was the first black composer nominated in the original song category for Eyes of Love in the film Banning. Quincy was also nominated that year for original musical score for In Cold Blood.”

Jones – “love lived out loud in human form”, according to Winfrey – was a true American legend, one worthy of an extravagant musical send-off. Queen Latifah certainly delivered this.

She entered the stage with maximum energy to belt out Ease On Down the Road, Jones’ song from The Wiz. There were fireworks, back-up dancers, there were big sleeves. It was a worthy farewell to an astonishingly impressive musician.