The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2025 Oscars
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After one of the most unpredictable Oscar seasons in recent history, the 97th Academy Awards sought to bring back a sense of old Hollywood glamour, theatricality, and most importantly, fun. Hosted by the ever-boisterous and quick-witted Conan O’Brien, the ceremony embraced excess, leaning away from the restrained, snark-laden approach of Jimmy Kimmel’s past stints.
O’Brien’s genuine enthusiasm for cinema was on full display, as was his love for absurdity—cue the frequent cutaways to John Lithgow, a sandworm in a bow tie, and an extravagant musical number about how he “wouldn’t waste anyone’s time” (which, of course, did exactly that). Beyond the spectacle, O’Brien took moments to acknowledge the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, highlight underappreciated craftspeople, and passionately advocate for the irreplaceable experience of watching films in theaters.
While political commentary was largely absent (save for a few notable moments), so too was any acknowledgment of the ongoing controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez and its lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón. Netflix seemed to ensure that Gascón remained a silent presence in the audience, steering clear of any further backlash.
With a ceremony that ran long, featured a whirlwind of upsets, and culminated in an Anora sweep, the evening was equal parts chaotic, celebratory, and occasionally awkward. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest moments from the night:
HIGH: A Stunning Wizard of Oz/Wicked Opening
The show kicked off with a dazzling tribute to Hollywood and home. Opening with Judy Garland’s iconic “There’s no place like home” from The Wizard of Oz, the sequence seamlessly transitioned into an emotional performance by Wickedstar Ariana Grande, who sang “Over the Rainbow” in a ruby slipper-red gown. Cynthia Erivo followed with a powerhouse rendition of “Home” from The Wiz, before both performers joined forces for Wicked’s showstopper “Defying Gravity.” A breathtaking, goosebump-inducing start to the evening.
HIGH: Sean Baker Sets an Oscars Record with Anora
In a historic achievement, director Sean Baker shattered records by winning four Oscars in a single night for Anora, the most wins across distinct categories for any individual. The film, a late-season favorite, dominated with wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing, cementing Baker’s reputation as one of the most exciting voices in independent filmmaking. His acceptance speeches were humble yet triumphant, emphasizing the importance of grassroots storytelling and independent cinema. It was a victory not just for Baker, but for filmmakers who continue to push creative boundaries outside of the studio system.
High: Ben Stiller Presents Oscar for Production Design with 'Stage Malfunction'
In a rare and hilarious use of the Oscars stage itself, Ben Stiller, known for his comedic timing, presented the award for Best Production Design with a “stage malfunction” bit that had the audience in stitches. As he stepped forward to announce the nominees, a section of the stage appeared to glitch, causing Stiller to feign panic before improvising a monologue about the importance of precision in production design. The unexpected bit added a lighthearted moment to the ceremony, making it one of the most talked-about presentations of the night.
HIGH: Adam Sandler’s Awards Season Payoff
Months after the Golden Globes introduced the internet to the sheer comedic gold of Adam Sandler yelling “Timothée Chalamet!”, the Oscars gave us the ultimate payoff. This time, Sandler—dressed in his signature basketball shorts and sweatshirt—heckled Conan from the audience before running over to Chalamet himself and gleefully shouting his name. A perfect example of awards-season comedy coming full circle.
HIGH: Conan O’Brien’s Pitch-Perfect Hosting
O’Brien was a natural fit for the gig—witty, sharp, and endlessly entertaining without ever making it about himself. Whether making wry observations about industry politics (“I guess Americans are excited to see someone finally stand up to a powerful Russian,” he quipped about Anora’s sweep) or engaging in completely absurd bits (including a pipe-smoking, map-pointing tableau straight out of a Wes Anderson film), Conan brought a fresh, dynamic energy to the night.
HIGH: John Lithgow’s Running Gag
O’Brien promised to cut to a disappointed-looking John Lithgow whenever a winner’s speech ran too long. Lithgow, ever the good sport, played along beautifully—his disapproving glares becoming an unexpected highlight of the night.
WHOA: Kieran Culkin’s Family Planning Speech
Fresh off his win for A Real Pain, Kieran Culkin delivered one of the funniest—and most personally revealing—acceptance speeches of the night. A callback to his Golden Globes speech, Culkin doubled down on his previous plea for more children, this time holding his Oscar up as proof of fulfillment. A hilarious, slightly unhinged moment that felt quintessentially Culkin.
LOW: Adrien Brody’s Lengthy Acceptance Speech
Adrien Brody has always been known for his eccentric moments at the Oscars, but his acceptance speech this year tested the patience of even the most dedicated awards-show viewers. Winning for his powerful supporting performance, Brody took the stage with a speech that started heartfelt but soon spiraled into an epic monologue covering everything from his childhood dreams to an impromptu piano recital and even a dramatic reading of his favorite poem. Audience members, including presenter Emma Stone, were visibly amused but increasingly restless as the orchestra played him off—twice. Conan O'Brien even jokingly cut to John Lithgow looking at his watch. While Brody’s passion is undeniable, the speech ultimately became one of the most talked-about endurance tests of the evening.
LOW: Wicked Wins Best Production Design?
A postwar chair sits in the middle of the library that production designer Judy Becker sketched out while location scouting at a mansion in Hungary. COURTESY OF A24
A baffling choice in a category stacked with visually inventive contenders (The Brutalist was literally about the power of architecture!). Wicked’s win felt more like a victory lap for one of the night’s most hyped films rather than a deserving recognition of production design excellence.
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HIGH: No Other Land’s Powerful Acceptance Speech
Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra, filmmakers behind the searing documentary No Other Land, took the stage to deliver a politically charged and deeply moving speech. Their impassioned words about Palestinian displacement and American foreign policy were among the few overtly political moments of the night, providing a stark contrast to the otherwise controversy-averse tone of the ceremony.
Worst: Give Diane Warren a Best Song Oscar Already
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At this point, it feels like a running joke—except no one’s laughing. Diane Warren, one of the most prolific and celebrated songwriters in the music industry, remains the ultimate Oscars bridesmaid. With a career that boasts legendary hits like Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” and Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me,” Warren has earned every accolade imaginable—except, bafflingly, a competitive Academy Award. Her latest loss marks her 16th nomination without a win, a streak that’s become almost comical in its cruelty. This year, her stirring anthem “The Journey,” performed by Oscar-winning artist H.E.R. for The Six Triple Eight, seemed like a prime contender. The film, which tells the story of the all-Black, all-female battalion during World War II, carried historical weight, and Warren’s song was a soaring, emotional centerpiece.
Instead, the award went to Clément Ducol and Camille for “El Mal,” performed by Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez. The winning duo delivered an enthusiastic speech, which Camille capped off by bursting into song—a moment that landed with more awkwardness than applause. Meanwhile, Warren, ever the good sport, smiled through yet another loss. At this point, the Academy should either retire the category in her honor or just give her the damn Oscar already.
Low: The Hulu Feed Cutting Out Before Best Actress
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It’s almost like streaming has been bad for our communal appreciation of cinema! Just as Emma Stone was about to announce the winner for Best Actress—one of the most anticipated moments of the night—Hulu’s live feed abruptly cut out, leaving thousands of frustrated viewers in limbo. Social media immediately erupted with panicked posts as audiences scrambled for alternate streams, while some resorted to following along via X (formerly Twitter) updates. By the time the feed was restored, Mikey Madison had already taken the stage to accept her shocking win over frontrunner Demi Moore. The incident reignited the debate over the reliability of streaming services for live events, with many arguing that it was further proof that traditional cable TV still has its advantages.
BEST: The Best Actress Shock Upset
It was supposed to be Demi Moore’s year. Having swept nearly every major precursor, Moore’s The Substanceperformance seemed destined for Oscar gold. Instead, Emma Stone announced Mikey Madison as the winner for Anora, pulling off one of the most shocking upsets in recent memory. Gasps, stunned faces, and a Hulu feed that conveniently cut out at the announcement only added to the drama.
A Night of High Energy and Big Surprises
The 2025 Oscars were nothing if not entertaining. With Conan O’Brien at the helm, the ceremony felt alive, unpretentious, and full of standout comedic moments. While the night delivered plenty of expected wins (Anoradominated as predicted), it also threw in some major surprises—none bigger than Mikey Madison’s Best Actress triumph over Demi Moore.
The Academy played it safe politically, but the few moments that addressed global crises (No Other Land’s speech, for instance) proved how impactful awards-show platforms can be. And despite a few missteps (Wicked’s puzzling production design win, Sing Sing’s continued snubs), this year’s ceremony was a welcome return to the kind of grandeur and excitement that makes the Oscars worth watching.
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