The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, celebrated cinematic excellence with standout wins and historic moments. Sean Baker’s Anora dominated the evening, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Adrien Brody earned Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, while Zoe Saldaña made history as the first Dominican-American to win Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. Kieran Culkin received Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain. Wicked garnered accolades for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, with Paul Tazewell becoming the first Black man to win in the costume category. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, featured performances by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and paid tribute to industry legends like Gene Hackman.
