"CODA" was the big winner of the night, taking home the Academy Award for best picture, while Jessica Chastain and Will Smith won best actress and actor in a leading role.
Winners who made history Sunday night included "The Power of the Dog" director Jane Campion, who became the third woman to win best director, and Troy Kotsur, who became the first deaf man to win an Academy Award for acting.
The 31-year-old actress beat out fellow nominees Jesse Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”), Judi Dench (“Belfast”), Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”) and Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”).
Ariana DeBose accepts the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in "West Side Story" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., March 27, 2022.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
DeBose’s big night comes exactly 60 years after Rita Moreno won for playing Anita in Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise’s 1961 version of “West Side Story,” which is based on the 1957 Broadway show of the same name.
“Dreams do come true,” DeBose said during her acceptance speech.
“To anyone who questions your identity - ever ever ever or find yourself living in gray spaces, i promise you this, there is a place for us,” she added.
Mar 27, 2022, 8:30 PM EDT
Co-hosts Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer open the show
Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer kicked off the star-studded award show with a hilarious monologue. DJ Khaled appeared onstage to hype up the trio on before they launched into their act.
Co-hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall speak onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, Calif.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
“This year the Academy hired three women to host – because it’s cheaper than hiring one man,” Schumer began.
“But I’m still excited to be hosting, representing Black women who are standing proud,” Hall said, while Schumer added, “And I’m representing unbearable white women who call the cops when you get a little too loud.”
They then touched on COVID, the Academy’s controversial decision to present eight categories before the show, 2022 Oscars snubs and the 2022 Golden Globes – laughing as they stated that it belonged in the Oscars “in memoriam” section.
“There was a lot of snubs this year -- Rachel Zegler for “West Side Story,” then Jennifer Hudson for “Respect” -- and Lady Gaga and Jared Leto for “House of Random Accents,” Sykes said.
“I was very disappointed that ‘Space Jam 2’ did not get nominated in that special effects category for that hairline they gave LeBron James,” Hall joked. “It was really good.”
They also commended Samuel L. Jackson for his honorary Oscar, before Sykes started joking about his qualifications. “I mean, I love him, he’s my guy, but I’ll be honest, there’s a few holes in his resume,” Sykes said. ” For real, like, where is the Sam Jackson rom-com?”
Sykes finished the opening act with, “We’re going to have a great night tonight, and for you people in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night.”
Hall and Schumer then began chanting “Gay! Gay! gay!”
Mar 27, 2022, 8:12 PM EDT
Beyoncé opens the Oscars
Superstar Beyoncé opened the Oscars with a bang with her performance of “Be Alive” from the film, “King Richard.”
The singer, who is nominated for her first Oscar, paid tribute to Compton, California, with her pre-recorded performance, which was filmed on a tennis court in the city.
Beyonce performs during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., March 27, 2022.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Tennis players Serena and Venus Williams also paid tribute to their hometown when they introduced the singer before her performance.
“We are proud to be joined by some very special movie lovers at a place that has played such an important part in our lives,” Venus said.
“Our hometown tennis courts in the heart of the beautiful Compton, the vibrant hub of L.A., where we truly came alive as young athletes,” Serena continued.
Mar 27, 2022, 7:56 PM EDT
‘Dune’ wins 4 Academy Awards
“Dune” has won three Oscars for best film editing, best original score and best sound.
Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson perform in a scene from "Dune".
Warner Bros.
Other winners include "The Long Goodbye" for best live action short film, "The Queen of Basketball" for best documentary short subject and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" for best makeup and hairstyling.
This year, eight categories were presented prior to the live telecast. The categories affected by this change include: documentary (short subject), film editing, makeup and hairstyling, music (original score), production design, short film (animated), short film (live action) and sound. Those segments will be edited down and cut into the live telecast.
