Capping off an exciting awards season, the film industry came together to celebrate triumphs of the silver screen at the 2025 Oscars. As the undisputed biggest night in Hollywood, this year’s Academy Awards went all out to highlight some truly extraordinary films. With show-stopping performances, historic wins, and the magic of movies on full display, here are the buzziest moments of the 2025 Oscars.
Read More: The SAG Awards 2025 Moments Weโll Be Rewatching All Year
Conan O’Brien Makes A Promising Debut
Although it’s been a few years since Conan O’Brien had a permanent home on late-night TV, the funnyman didn’t miss a beat as he stepped into the spotlight as a first-time Oscars host. After proving that he wouldn’t be sanding down his sharp edges with a graphic introduction inspired by โThe Substance,โ O’Brien continued to put his best foot forward throughout the night. Of course, it wasn’t without a little help from some beloved industry stalwarts like Adam Sandler, Nick Offerman, and even legendary director Martin Scorsese. O’Brien even managed to squeeze in a musical number โ complete with a special appearance by the Sandworm from โDune: Part Two.โ
Elphaba, Glinda, And Bond โ Oh My!
For the 2025 Oscars, the tradition of each Best Original Song nominee performing live at the ceremony was nixxed. Despite this wrinkle, the show remained a delight for the ears, thanks to a number of powerhouse voices and a handful of Grammy winners. From an emotional rendition of โDefying Gravityโ by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande โ both nominated for โWickedโ โ to a trifecta of talent (Doja Cat, Lisa, and Raye!) belting out famous James Bond themes, the pivotal role of music in moviemaking was undoubtably felt. In fact, even fellow Oz-universe musical โThe Wizโ got its time to shine โ with the iconic Queen Latifah performing โEase On Down The Roadโ in honour of the late Quincy Jones.
Kieran Culkin Wins Big (Again)
Nothing is a sure thing at the Oscars โ but the closest this year came was Kieran Culkin’s Best Supporting Actor win for โA Real Pain.โ After picking up a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, and numerous other accolades throughout the 2025 awards season, Culkin’s victory tour concluded with his biggest win yet. Viewers were treated to another witty acceptance speech as Culkin thanked his wife, Jazz Charton, before cheekily reminding her of their deal to have four kids if he ever won an Oscar. With his arresting performance as the eccentric cousinย on a Jewish heritage tour through Poland, the chronic bedwetter from โHome Aloneโ has certainly come a long way!
New Faces, New Places
While it’s fun to watch a standout film sweep multiple categories or a seasoned thespian earn another win, the 2025 Oscars was particularly thrilling due to its many first-time winners. โWicked’sโ innovative costume designer Paul Tazewell became the first black man to win Best Costume Design while the Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor awards all went to first-time nominees! Meanwhile, Brasil and Latvia each took home their first-ever statues with โI’m Still Hereโ and โFlow,โ respectively. One of the most poignant moments of the night, however, came when โNo Other Landโ won Best Documentary Feature Film. Delivering a devastating look at real people living through a monumental conflict, the Palestinian-Israeli activist collective behind the powerful film became Oscar winners and delivered a heartfelt speech on Hollywood’s biggest stage.
Even The Oscars Isn’t A Safe Place For Drake
The list of places where superstar rapper Drake is spared from a well-placed diss got even shorter after the 2025 Oscars. As he confidently settled into hosting duties, Conan O’Brien went straight for the jugular with a quip about how the show’s halfway point means that it’s โtime for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile.โ The surprised laughs from the audience only added to O’Brien’s killer comedic timing as he waited a beat before reassuring viewers that he had already โlawyered upโ.
Dark Horse Mikey Madison Wins
One of the most hotly anticipated categories at the 2025 Oscars was the Best Actress award. After a season of wins ping-ponging among a select few contenders (with Demi Moore taking home a Golden Globe and SAG Award, Fernanda Torres winning a Golden Globe, and Mikey Madison snagging the BAFTA), 25-year-old Mikey Madison emerged victorious for her portrayal of a confident yet complicated sex worker in โAnora.โ Considered the dark horse pick for most of the awards season, Madison’s surprise win also makes her the first Ghostface killer from the โScreamโ franchise to win an Oscar!
Ben Stiller Demonstrates The Importance Of Production Design
If thereโs one awards presenter who likes to go above and beyond โ itโs Ben Stiller. But perhaps once youโve donned full โAvatarโ makeup, everything else feels like a walk in the park. While presenting the award for Best Production Design, Stiller cleverly highlighted the importance of the craft by navigating a series of poor production choices before announcing the winner. After making us laugh on the big screen for decades, watching this familiar face deliver a wonderful bit of physical comedy was an absolute delight.
A Big Night For Independent Cinema
In a year where the most-nominated studio was the streaming juggernaut Netflix, the night ended up being a celebration of independent cinema. The immense love for โAnoraโ โ an independent film shot on location in New York City with a budget of USD$6 million โ was on full display as it claimed the coveted Best Picture award. Sean Baker, the film’s director, editor, and screenwriter, made history by winning an Oscar for each role he played in the filmโs production, breaking the record for the most individual wins for a single movie. In another historic win, adorable cat flick โFlowโ became the first independent movie to win Best Animated Feature. After a year (rightfully) celebrating the studio behemoth that was โOppenheimer,โ the underdogs won big this time!
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
