Oscars 2025: ‘Anora’ Dominates With Five Wins, ‘The Brutalist’ Follows With Three

 

 Oscars 2025: ‘Anora’ Dominates With Five Wins, ‘The Brutalist’ Follows With Three

Oscars 2025: ‘Anora’ Dominates With Five Wins, ‘The Brutalist’ Follows With Three

The 97th Academy Awards saw Anora emerge as the evening’s biggest winner, taking home five Oscars, including the prestigious Best Picture award. The dramedy, which follows a sex worker who impulsively weds the privileged son of a Russian oligarch, capped off an unpredictable awards season. Films such as Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist experienced fluctuating success, with various controversies—including debates over AI usage and resurfaced offensive social media posts—affecting their campaigns.

The ceremony unfolded against the backdrop of one of Los Angeles’ most devastating natural disasters, a fact that was acknowledged throughout the evening. Tributes were paid to the firefighters who worked tirelessly to protect communities from the wildfires, while a montage honored iconic films shot in the city, from The Long Goodbye to Licorice Pizza.

 Oscars 2025: Celebrating the Triumphs and Upsets

Director Sean Baker achieved a historic feat with Anora, becoming the first individual to win four Oscars for the same film, including accolades for producing, directing, editing, and screenwriting. Known for his independent filmmaking approach with works like Tangerine and The Florida Project, Baker’s sweeping Oscar success marks a significant moment for indie distributor Neon, which previously championed Parasite to a Best Picture victory in 2020.

Despite its critical acclaim, Anora has grossed only $40 million globally, placing it among the lowest-earning Best Picture winners. This year’s Oscar selections largely favored independent productions, highlighting the reluctance of major studios—now heavily invested in franchise-driven blockbusters—to fund character-driven, adult-oriented dramas. Big-budget nominees like Dune: Part Two and Wicked saw success only in technical categories.

Acting Honors and Notable Speeches

The top acting awards went to Adrien Brody for The Brutalist and Mikey Madison for Anora. Brody, a past Oscar winner for The Pianist, delivered a compelling performance as a gifted yet troubled architect, while Madison pulled off a surprise victory for her portrayal of an exotic dancer facing intense pressure to annul her marriage.

Mikey Madison: 'A Star on the Rise'  Secures Best Actress Oscar for 'Anora'

A visibly stunned Madison, who was widely considered an underdog against The Substance star Demi Moore, expressed her disbelief in her acceptance speech. “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me, so to be here, standing in this room today is really incredible.” She also took a moment to advocate for sex worker rights, stating, “an ally.”

Brody’s win, one of three for The Brutalist, came after years of professional challenges that had sidelined him in Hollywood. Acknowledging this, he reflected on the industry’s unpredictability in his acceptance speech. “Acting is a very fragile profession,” he noted before handing his gum to his partner, Georgina Chapman, on his way to the stage. “No matter where you are in your career, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away. And I think that what makes this night most special is the awareness of that. And the gratitude that I have to still do the work that I love.”

In the supporting actor categories, Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) won for his portrayal of a troubled man exploring Poland with his cousin, while Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) took home the award for her role as a lawyer assisting a cartel leader in gender transition.

With tears streaming down her face, Saldaña proudly declared, “I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last.”

Culkin, known for his unpredictable humor, delivered a playful speech, dropping an f-bomb and reminding his wife, Jazz Charton, of a prior agreement. “Let’s get cracking on those kids,” he quipped. “What do you say?”

Other Major Wins

Among other big winners of the night, I’m Still Here, a historical drama set during Brazil’s military dictatorship, was honored as Best International Feature—marking the first time Brazil has won in this category. Meanwhile, Flow, a Latvian fantasy adventure about a cat navigating a massive flood, took Best Animated Feature, beating contenders like The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2.

The Best Documentary award went to No Other Land, a film detailing the Israeli government’s efforts to displace Palestinians in the West Bank. Despite challenges securing distribution, the film resonated with voters.

During his acceptance speech, Palestinian journalist and co-director Basel Adra issued a plea: “We call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.” He also shared a personal moment, saying, “About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope to my daughter that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now.”

A New Era for the Oscars

Hosting the Academy Awards for the first time, former late-night TV personality-turned-podcast host Conan O’Brien replaced three-time emcee Jimmy Kimmel. His opening monologue playfully mocked everything from the early 4:00 PM start time—“everyone here just had brunch”—to Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofia Gascón’s social media controversy—“Karla, if you are going to tweet about the Oscars, my name is Jimmy Kimmel.” The evening also featured a lively song-and-dance number about the ceremony’s notoriously long runtime, and an unexpected appearance by a hoodie-clad Adam Sandler.

Notably absent from the event’s usual discourse was Donald Trump, a stark contrast to previous ceremonies where his name was frequently invoked. While there were general references to “our chaotic times,” explicit criticism of the president was scarce. The only direct political commentary came from presenter Daryl Hannah, who voiced her support for Ukraine following its leader’s recent tense meeting at the White House.

Bond Tribute and Hollywood’s Changing Landscape

One of the night’s standout moments was a tribute to the James Bond franchise, which recently made headlines when Amazon MGM acquired creative control from the Broccoli family. Halle Berry introduced a medley of classic 007 theme songs, including Live and Let Die and Diamonds Are Forever, while praising longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

“Every generation does have their Bond, you know—the world revolves, it evolves, and so does he,” Berry remarked. “But that signature mix of danger, style, and intrigue, well, that’s timeless.”

However, the fact that an e-commerce giant now controls one of cinema’s most enduring franchises underscores how drastically Hollywood is evolving.

A Call to Support Theaters

In a passionate plea to the industry, Anora director Sean Baker used his time on stage to champion the importance of movie theaters, particularly independent venues.

“Movie theaters, especially independently-owned theaters, are struggling,” Baker stated. “During the pandemic, we lost 1,000 screens in the U.S. And we continue to lose them regularly. If we don’t reverse this trend, we’ll be losing a vital part of our culture. This is my battle cry. Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will.”

The 2025 Oscars not only celebrated artistic excellence but also highlighted the ongoing shifts within the film industry. From independent cinema’s growing prominence to Hollywood’s evolving power structures, this year’s awards reflected both triumph and transformation.