Oscars 2025: Anora Dominates as Mikey Madison and Adrien Brody Take Top Honors

The 97th Academy Awards, held on 2 March 2025, celebrated the best in film with Anora emerging as the night’s biggest winner. Sean Baker’s critically acclaimed drama took home Best Picture, while Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her standout performance. Adrien Brody also claimed the Best Actor award for his role in The Brutalist, capping off a night of memorable moments and well-deserved accolades.

Major Wins of the Night

• Best Picture: Anora
• Best Director: Sean Baker, Anora
• Best Actor: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
• Best Actress: Mikey Madison, Anora
• Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
• Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Anora dominated the awards, also winning Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing, solidifying its place as one of the most celebrated films of the year. Meanwhile, The Brutalist earned multiple honors, including Best Cinematography and Best Original Score for British composer Daniel Blumberg.

Other Notable Wins

• Best Animated Feature: Flow
• Best International Feature: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
• Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
• Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
• Best Costume Design: Wicked (Paul Tazewell)

The ceremony also highlighted standout performances in technical categories, with Dune: Part Two winning Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, and Wicked taking home Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.

Memorable Moments

The night was filled with emotional speeches and surprises. Mikey Madison, in her acceptance speech for Best Actress, thanked Sean Baker for his visionary direction and the cast and crew of Anora for their unwavering support. Adrien Brody, winning his second Oscar, reflected on the challenges of portraying a complex character in The Brutalist.

The Best Original Song category saw El Mal from Emilia Pérez take the prize, while Diane Warren’s Never Too Late from Elton John: Never Too Late marked her 16th nomination without a win.

Full List of Winners

Here’s the complete list of winners at the 97th Academy Awards:

Best Picture: Anora
Best Director: Sean Baker, Anora
Best Actor: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Best Actress: Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker, Anora
Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan, Conclave
Best Animated Feature: Flow
Best International Feature: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
Best Costume Design: Wicked (Paul Tazewell)
Best Production Design: Wicked
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance
Best Original Score: Daniel Blumberg, The Brutalist
Best Original Song: El Mal, Emilia Pérez
Best Editing: Sean Baker, Anora
Best Animated Short: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Best Live Action Short: I’m Not a Robot
Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra

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