Oscars 2025 Full Winners List: 'Anora' Leads With Five Prizes, 'The Brutalist' Grabs Three Awards

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It was a night of surprises as indie film 'Anora' swept the 2025 Academy Awards including the top prize, followed by 'The Brutalist', 'Emilia Perez', 'Dune: Part Two', and 'Wicked'.

March 3, 2025

AceShowbiz - The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien, brought an unexpected surprises and snubs. "Anora," a gritty, Brooklyn-set screwball flick directed by Sean Baker, stood out as the night's biggest winner, taking home five Oscars, including best picture and best director.

Baker, who also won awards for best screenplay and best editing, emphasized the importance of the theatrical experience in his acceptance speeches. "Where did we fall in love with movies? At the movie theater," Baker said, urging filmmakers to continue making films for the big screen as more and more movies are going straight to streaming platforms.

Adrien Brody, who portrayed a Holocaust survivor in "The Brutalist," took home the best actor award, adding to his previous win for "The Pianist." Brody's heartfelt speech touched on the "lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression and of antisemitism and racism and othering," and called for a more inclusive world.

Mikey Madison, winning best actress for her role in "Anora," also made history as the first Gen Z lead acting prize winner. Madison's victory marks a significant milestone, highlighting the evolving talent in Hollywood.

Supporting roles saw Kieran Culkin winning his first Oscar for "A Real Pain" and Zoe Saldana for "Emilia Perez." Saldana, the first American of Dominican origin to win an Academy Award, proudly celebrated her heritage and the "quiet heroism and power in a woman" represented by her character.

In the animated category, the wordless Latvian environmental film "Flow" won best animated feature, signaling a shift towards more international and unconventional storytelling. Director Gints Zilbalodis expressed hopes that the win would "open doors to independent animated filmmakers around the world."

Editors' Pick

The ceremony also acknowledged the resilience of Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires earlier this year, with tributes and a charitable component to support fire victims.

While host Conan kicked off the show with humorous jabs at celebrity attendees, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo set an emotional tone with a medley from "Wicked," which won awards for production and costume design.

Other notable wins included "No Other Land" for best documentary, highlighting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and "I'm Still Here" for best international feature, a poignant look at resistance during Brazil's military dictatorship.

Among the snubs was Demi Moore who previously collected numerous Best Actress wins at the pre-Oscars awards including the Golden Globes for her acting comeback in "The Substance".

In a rare politically charged moment, co-director Basel Adra of "No Other Land" expressed a heartfelt wish for his daughter to not live under the same conditions of "surveillance and home demolitions" that his community faces daily.

While the night favored musical performances and light-hearted moments, it didn't shy away from delivering powerful messages through film, proving that cinema remains a vital and resonant art form.