"Anora" was the top film of the night, taking home five Oscars including best director for Sean Baker.
The top acting prizes went to Adrien Brody, who won best actor for "The Brutalist," and Mikey Madison, who won best actress for "Anora." Winning in the supporting categories were "Emilia Pérez" star Zoe Saldaña and "A Real Pain" star Kieran Culkin.
This year's show honored the city of Los Angeles in the wake of the wildfires that left at least 29 dead and destroyed thousands of homes earlier this year, bringing firefighters onto the Oscars stage and hosting a charitable component to raise money for fire victims.
Mikey Madison won the Oscar for best actress for her performance in "Anora."
Mikey Madison in "Anora."
Neon
This is Madison's first nomination and first win.
The category was presented by last year's best actress winner, "Poor Things" star Emma Stone.
Other nominees in the best actress race included Cynthia Erivo for "Wicked," Karla Sofía Gascón for "Emilia Pérez," Demi Moore for "The Substance" and Fernanda Torres for "I'm Still Here."
Mar 03, 2025, 3:31 AM GMT
Sean Baker urges people to visit movie theaters in acceptance speech
During his best director acceptance speech, Sean Baker thanked the academy and spoke about the importance of supporting movie theaters.
He urged people to visit independently owned movie theaters, pointing to the screens lost during the pandemic.
"Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater," he said. "Watching a film in the theater with an audience is an experience. We can laugh together, cry together, scream in fright together, perhaps sit in devastated silence together, and in a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever. It's a communal experience you simply don't get at home. And right now, the theatergoing experience is under threat. Movie theaters, especially independently-owned theaters, are struggling, and it's up to us to support them."
US producer Sean Baker accepts the award for Best Director for "Anora" onstage during the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, March 2, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Baker called the moviegoing experience "a vital part of our culture."
He then vowed that he will continue making films for the big screen and urged parents to introduce their kids to feature films in the movie theater.
"Parents, introduce your children to feature films in movie theaters, and you'll be molding the next generation of movie lovers and filmmakers," he added. "And for all of us, when we can, please watch movies in the theater and let's keep the great tradition of the moviegoing experience alive and well."
He ended his speech by thanking his mom, whose birthday is also today.
Mar 03, 2025, 3:30 AM GMT
Sean Baker wins best director Oscar for 'Anora'
Sean Baker won the Oscar for best director for "Anora.”
Best director, Sean Baker for Anora, at Academy Awards, March 2, 2025.
Rob Latour/shutterstock
Other nominees in the category included Brady Corbet for "The Brutalist," James Mangold for "A Complete Unknown," Jacques Audiard for "Emilia Pérez" and Coralie Fargeat for "The Substance."
Mar 03, 2025, 3:22 AM GMT
Adrien Brody says his Oscar 'signifies a destination' in acceptance speech
During his best actor acceptance speech, Adrien Brody thanked his team, the cast of "The Brutalist," his family and more.
"Acting is a very fragile profession. It looks very glamorous -- and at certain moments, it is. But the one thing that I've gained, having the privilege to come back here, is to have some perspective, and no matter where you are in your career, no matter what you've accomplished, it can all go away," he said.
Adrien Brody accepts the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "The Brutalist" during the Oscars show at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood,, March 2, 2025.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
He said the award signified "a destination," calling it "a chance to begin again and the opportunity to hopefully be fortunate enough so that the next 20 years of my life, that I can prove that I am worthy of such meaningful and important and relevant roles."
He concluded by speaking about the film's message.
"I'm here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression and of antisemitism and racism and of othering, and I believe that -- I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world. And I believe if the past can teach us anything, it's a reminder to not let hate go unchecked," he said.