Oscars 2025: A Night of Triumph and Turmoil at the 97th Academy Awards

On the evening of March 2, 2025, Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles transformed into the epicenter of the film world as the 97th Academy Awards unfolded. Billed as one of the most unpredictable Oscar seasons in years, the Oscars 2025 ceremony, hosted by the sharp-witted comedian Conan O’Brien, promised a blend of dazzling performances, stunning red-carpet fashion, and a few unexpected twists. The current date is March 3, 2025. The event is still fresh and echoes of acceptance speeches reverberate across the globe. Fashion critiques are also being discussed worldwide.

A Star-Studded Affair

The Oscars 2025 kicked off with a glamorous red carpet, where stars like Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Timothée Chalamet, and Zoë Saldaña showcased unforgettable looks. Grande shimmered in a champagne ballgown, while Saldaña’s elegant ensemble hinted at the powerful moment she’d later deliver on stage. The red carpet wasn’t just about fashion—it set the tone for a night that would celebrate cinematic achievement while subtly addressing broader cultural shifts. For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast live on both ABC and Hulu, reaching audiences in over 200 territories worldwide, a testament to the Oscars’ evolving global footprint.

The presenter lineup was a who’s-who of Hollywood royalty and rising stars: Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey, Willem Dafoe, and even Joe Alwyn graced the stage, adding star power to the proceedings. Gomez, tied to the night’s most-nominated film, Emilia Pérez, was a focal point, presenting an award while her movie loomed large in the conversation.

The Favorites and the Underdogs

Going into the night, Emilia Pérez, a French-Spanish musical thriller from Netflix, led the pack with a record-breaking 13 nominations for a non-English-language film. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film had been a critical darling—until controversy struck. Offensive tweets from its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, resurfaced late in the awards season, turning what seemed like a surefire winner into an Academy pariah. Critics speculated that the backlash could cost it major wins, despite its technical and artistic merits.

Meanwhile, Anora, a gritty indie dramedy, emerged as the odds-on favorite for Best Picture. Its raw storytelling and standout performance by Mikey Madison had pundits buzzing, with many calling it the night’s potential dark horse. The Brutalist, a three-hour epic starring Adrien Brody, and Wicked, the musical blockbuster featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, each nabbed 10 nominations, setting up a fierce competition. A Complete Unknown, with Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, also entered the fray with strong Best Picture and Best Actor buzz, fresh off Chalamet’s SAG Award win.

In the animation category, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 faced stiff competition from the low-budget Flow, which some predicted might snatch the Best Animated Feature prize despite the former’s $1.7 billion box-office haul. Diversity shone through elsewhere, with international films and female directors making their mark—six years running, a woman-directed film was in contention for Best Picture, signaling Hollywood’s ongoing evolution.

The Ceremony Unfolds

Conan O’Brien took the stage at 7 p.m. ET (1 a.m. CET on March 3), delivering a monologue that playfully skewered the Oscar statue itself—previewed in a quirky trailer showing the two in a mock marital spat. His humor set a light tone, though the night wasn’t without gravitas. Early wins hinted at surprises: Zoë Saldaña claimed Best Supporting Actress, delivering a fiery speech about her immigrant grandmother, injecting a rare political note into the evening.

Musical moments dazzled, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reportedly planning a Wicked-inspired performance that had been teased as a highlight. The ceremony, expected to run about three and a half hours, balanced spectacle with substance, honoring achievements across 23 categories.

Controversy and Commentary

Behind the glamour, the Oscars 2025 weren’t immune to scrutiny. Posts on X earlier in the season had called out perceived snubs of Black performances, the use of AI in The Brutalist, and Anora’s lack of intimacy coordinators—issues that lingered in the discourse. Emilia Pérez’s fall from grace underscored how off-screen behavior could sway voters, while insiders whispered that talent alone didn’t dictate wins; unspoken “Oscar rules” of campaigning and politics played their part.

A New Era for the Oscars

As the night progressed, the 97th Academy Awards reflected a Hollywood in transition. Streaming giants like Netflix (Emilia Pérez) and Apple TV+ (Inside Out 2) flexed their muscle alongside traditional studios, while international productions gained ground. The red carpet’s best-dressed lists—featuring Lupita Nyong’o, Emma Stone, and Jeremy Pope—would dominate headlines, but the real story was the industry’s shifting landscape.

By the time the final award was handed out, the Oscars 2025 had delivered a mix of predictability and shock, cementing its place as a night where art, ambition, and controversy collided. Whether Anora clinched Best Picture or Emilia Pérez defied the odds, one thing was clear: this was an Oscars to remember, a snapshot of a film world navigating change with every gold statuette handed out.