The 98th Academy Awards has been announced to take place on March 15, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA. As anticipation builds for this year’s ceremony, let’s revisit the highlights of last year’s unforgettable event.
The 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) honored excellence in filmmaking across 23 prestigious categories. The night celebrated visionary directors, powerful performances, and stories that defined the year in cinema.
Anora emerged as the biggest winner of the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025), securing a total of five Oscars. The film triumphed in major categories including Best Picture, Best Director for Sean Baker, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Mikey Madison, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. These victories showcased its dominance across both creative and technical fields, cementing Anora as the most awarded film of Oscars 2025.
Emilia Pérez led the nominations at the 97th Academy Awards with an impressive 13 nods, making it the most nominated film of the year. Its recognition spanned across Best Picture, Best Director for Jacques Audiard, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress (with Zoe Saldaña winning), as well as Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best International Feature Film. The film also earned multiple nominations in the Best Original Song category, with “El Mal” taking home the Oscar. With its wide recognition and multiple wins, Emilia Pérez became one of the most celebrated films of Oscars 2025.
Below is the complete list of Oscars 2025 winners and nominees.
Best Picture – Anora (WINNER)
- The Brutalist – Epic architectural drama
- A Complete Unknown – Musical biopic brilliance
- Conclave – Political intrigue at its finest
- Dune: Part Two – Sci‑fi spectacle
- Emilia Pérez – Genre‑bending storytelling
- I’m Still Here – Emotional international drama
- Nickel Boys – Powerful adaptation
- The Substance – Bold and provocative
- Wicked – Musical fantasy reimagined
Best Director – Sean Baker, Anora (WINNER)
- Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
- James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
- Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
- Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
Best Actor in a Leading Role – Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (WINNER)
- Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Mikey Madison, Anora (WINNER)
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
- Demi Moore – The Substance
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (WINNER)
- Yura Borisov – Anora (intense character portrayal)
- Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown (veteran presence)
- Guy Pearce – The Brutalist (gritty performance)
- Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice (commanding role)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez (WINNER)
- Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown (captivating support)
- Ariana Grande – Wicked (musical magic)
- Felicity Jones – The Brutalist (layered performance)
- Isabella Rossellini – Conclave (classic elegance)
Best Writing (Original Screenplay) – Anora, Sean Baker (WINNER)
- The Brutalist – Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold (architectural drama)
- A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg (bittersweet storytelling)
- September 5 – Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum (tense narrative)
- The Substance – Coralie Fargeat (provocative originality)
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) – Conclave, Peter Straughan (WINNER)
- A Complete Unknown – James Mangold, Jay Cocks (musical adaptation)
- Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard & team (genre fusion)
- Nickel Boys – RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes (powerful adaptation)
- Sing Sing – Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley (raw realism)
Best Animated Feature Film – Flow (WINNER)
- Inside Out 2 – Pixar’s emotional sequel
- Memoir of a Snail – Quirky storytelling
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – Classic claymation return
- The Wild Robot – Heartfelt adventure
Best International Feature Film – I’m Still Here (Brazil) (WINNER)
- Emilia Pérez – France (genre‑bending drama)
- Flow – Latvia (animated artistry)
- The Girl with the Needle – Denmark (historical suspense)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Germany (political allegory)
Best Documentary Feature Film – No Other Land (WINNER)
- Black Box Diaries – Personal investigative journey
- Porcelain War – Art amidst conflict
- Soundtrack to a Coup d’État – Political music narrative
- Sugarcane – Cultural and historical exploration
Best Documentary Short Film – The Only Girl in the Orchestra (WINNER)
- Death by Numbers – Stark social commentary
- I Am Ready, Warden – Emotional prison story
- Incident – Real‑life confrontation
- Instruments of a Beating Heart – Poetic storytelling
Best Live Action Short Film – I’m Not a Robot (WINNER)
- A Lien – Sci‑fi twist
- Anuja – Cultural drama
- The Last Ranger – Survival tale
- The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent – Historical resistance
Best Animated Short Film – In the Shadow of the Cypress (WINNER)
- Beautiful Men – Satirical animation
- Magic Candies – Whimsical fantasy
- Wander to Wonder – Surreal adventure
- Yuck! – Comedic short
Best Original Score – The Brutalist (WINNER)
- Conclave – Atmospheric composition
- Emilia Pérez – Musical fusion
- Wicked – Broadway‑inspired score
- The Wild Robot – Emotional orchestration
Best Original Song – “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez (WINNER)
- “The Journey” – The Six Triple Eight (inspirational anthem)
- “Like a Bird” – Sing Sing (soulful ballad)
- “Mi Camino” – Emilia Pérez (uplifting track)
- “Never Too Late” – Elton John: Never Too Late (legendary performance)
Best Sound – Dune: Part Two (WINNER)
- A Complete Unknown – Musical authenticity
- Emilia Pérez – Dynamic soundscape
- Wicked – Theatrical audio design
- The Wild Robot – Immersive effects
Best Production Design – The Brutalist (WINNER)
- Conclave – Intricate political settings
- Dune: Part Two – Expansive sci‑fi worlds
- Nosferatu – Gothic atmosphere
- Wicked – Magical stage‑inspired sets
Best Cinematography – The Brutalist (WINNER)
- Dune: Part Two – Epic desert visuals
- Emilia Pérez – Stylish framing
- Maria – Intimate storytelling
- Nosferatu – Dark gothic imagery
Best Makeup and Hairstyling – The Substance (WINNER)
- A Different Man – Transformative effects
- Emilia Pérez – Bold character styling
- Nosferatu – Horror‑inspired artistry
- Wicked – Fantasy‑driven looks
Best Costume Design – Wicked (WINNER)
- A Complete Unknown – Period musical attire
- Conclave – Regal costumes
- Gladiator II – Historical epic wardrobe
- Nosferatu – Gothic fashion
Best Film Editing – Anora (WINNER)
- The Brutalist – Precise dramatic pacing
- Conclave – Tense political rhythm
- Emilia Pérez – Musical flow
- Wicked – Energetic cuts
Best Visual Effects – Dune: Part Two (WINNER)
- Alien: Romulus – Sci‑fi horror spectacle
- Better Man – Musical fantasy visuals
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – Realistic CGI creatures
- Wicked – Magical effects
FAQs
When and where did the Oscars 2025 take place?
The 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) were held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA.
Who won Best Picture at the Oscars 2025?
The Best Picture award went to Anora, directed by Sean Baker.
Who won Best Director at the Oscars 2025?
Sean Baker won Best Director for Anora.
Which actors won the leading role categories at the Oscars 2025?
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Mikey Madison – Anora
Which film won Best International Feature Film at the Oscars 2025?
The award went to I’m Still Here from Brazil.
Which movie won Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars 2025?
The winner was Flow, representing Latvia’s creative animation industry.
How many categories were awarded at the Oscars 2025?
The 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) honored achievements in 23 official categories.
When is Oscars 2026?
The 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) is scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.