Los Angeles (California) [US], March 3: The 97th Academy Awards held a mix of shocking surprises and unexpected snubs that had both fans and critics talking. From Mikey Madison’s Best Actress win to the surprising victory of I’m Still Here over Emilia Perez for Best International Feature, the night was full of unexpected twists. Here’s a look at some of the standout moments from the Oscars 2025:
Surprise: Mikey Madison Wins Best Actress
While Demi Moore seemed like the favorite, having won multiple major awards like the Critics Choice, SAGs, and Golden Globes for her role in The Substance, it was Mikey Madison who snagged the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Anora. Moore’s absence from the trophy race was one of the evening’s most notable surprises.
Snub: Original Song Performances
The Oscars have a long history of unforgettable original song performances, but this year’s nominees didn’t quite hit the same high notes as some past iconic renditions. While songs like My Heart Will Go On and Shallow have become legends in Oscar history, this year’s performances failed to resonate in quite the same way, leaving fans disappointed, according to Variety.
Surprise: I’m Still Here Takes Best International Feature Over Emilia Perez
Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here clinched the Best International Feature Film Oscar, marking a historic first for Brazil in the category. The film triumphed over Emilia Perez, which had garnered 13 nominations, as well as other competitors like Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig and Latvia’s Flow. Many had predicted Emilia Perez would take home the award, but in a surprising twist, I’m Still Here emerged victorious.
Snub: Diane Warren’s 16th Oscar Loss
Veteran screenwriter Diane Warren suffered her 16th loss at the Oscars in the Best Original Song category. This year, she was nominated for The Journey from Six Triple Eight, performed by H.E.R. Despite her numerous nominations, Warren’s wait for an Oscar win continues.
Surprise: Flow Wins Best Animated Feature
Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis’ animated feature Flow won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, defeating high-profile competitors such as The Wild Robot and Pixar’s Inside Out 2. The victory for the smaller Latvian film was one of the night’s biggest surprises.
Surprise: Sean Baker Wins Best Editing
Director and editor Sean Baker surprised audiences by winning Best Editing for his film Anora. Despite expectations that Conclave would win in the category, Baker’s dual role as both director and editor for Anora helped him clinch the Oscar.
Snub: Michelle Trachtenberg, Tony Todd, and Other Big Names Omitted from In Memoriam
The Oscars’ In Memoriam section, which honors those we’ve lost in the past year, notably missed several high-profile names, including Gossip Girl star Michelle Trachtenberg, actor Tony Todd, and Halloween star Shannen Doherty. While many others were honored, these omissions sparked frustration among fans and peers alike.
Surprise: Emilia Perez Ties for Biggest Oscar Loser of All Time
Emilia Perez tied with The Color Purple, The Turning Point, and Becket as one of the most-nominated films in Oscar history to go home empty-handed. With 12 nominations and 11 losses, it became one of the biggest surprises of the night.
Surprise: No Other Land Wins Best Documentary Without U.S. Distribution
In another unexpected turn, No Other Land won Best Documentary despite not having U.S. distribution. It’s unusual for a film without such distribution to gain enough momentum to be nominated, let alone win, but No Other Land proved its worth with Oscar voters.
Final Surprise: Adrien Brody’s Speech Request
Another surprising moment came when Adrien Brody, during his Best Actor acceptance speech, requested the music to stop playing, and it did. This unusual moment left the audience in awe as Brody took his time to express his gratitude and thoughts.
This year’s Oscars were filled with both triumphs and disappointments, leaving plenty to discuss in the aftermath.