Oscars 2025: ‘Anora’ Wins and Conan Works in Solid Academy Ceremony

Preview:

• The 2025 were a big night for indie movies.
• Conan O’Brien proved to be a sure-handed host.
• A Bond music tribute felt like flabby padding.

Following last year’s decent if unspectacular return to Conan O’Brien), the need to pay tribute to Los Angeles in the wake of the devastating wildfires and speculation as to whether many of the categories would break the way they have in other awards shows.

As it turned out, it was a giant night for one movie which, while it had certainly been seen as a major contender, hadn’t been performing that way elsewhere. Some history was made and while the speeches had a political flavor at times, the show itself largely eschewed politics (beyond one smart gag about a certain sitting president and his attitude to Russia).

All said and done, despite a hefty running time (three hours and 45 minutes all told), this year’s Academy Awards is likely to be seen as largely a success. Read on for more of our thoughts…

Related Article: ‘Anora,’ ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Wicked’ Among the Big Prize Winners at the 2025 Academy Awards

A ‘Wicked’ Overture Wows

Wicked’s standout song.

The pair began with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” before segueing into “Defying Gravity” and the stylish presentation combined with powerhouse pipes proved to be just the right mix of celebration and spectacle.

Conan Crushed It

There were the usual concerns in some quarters when Conan O’Brien was announced as this year’s Oscars host –– would he be too intellectual for audiences, was he enough of a “name”? As it turns out, he might just have scored a regular gig (assuming he wants this much pressure every year). Because by all estimations, he was a stellar emcee for the night.

Opening with a ‘Substance’ gag that was fairly expected but still played well, O’Brien’s monologue set the right tone: witty, entertaining and as usual, full of his trademark self-deprecating humor.

From threatening long-winded speeches with ‘Adam Sandler from the audience, he was assured and calm.

There were also solid gags about Timothée Chalamet’s yellow suit and bike safety, and a funny bit about promising to show stars’ early headshots if they rambled (Chalamet again, with an ultrasound image).

Later in the show there was the crack at Anora’ (“I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian”) and a promise that the show was not made using A.I. (“We would never do that; we used child labor — hey, they’re still people!”)

Yet despite a funny musical number (featuring a dancing Deadpool and a ‘Dune’ sandworm on piano) about not wasting the audience’s time, the show still ran very long, though that was more on the producers than the host. Which bring us to…

Troubled Tributes

Perhaps the most egregious example of padding was the choice of the tribute to the music of James Bond. Introduced by former ‘Doja Cat and Lisa from Blackpink.

It’s a little ironic that the celebration of the venerable espionage franchise comes just as it has been fully swallowed up its corporate overlords at Amazon.

On a better note, recent ing is perhaps excusable, but Todd died in November.

Also given special memorial treatment was music icon The Wiz’ was a vaguely confounding one.

Still, if the opening montage fell flat, the respect for First Responders (who have been more a staple of recent award shows than Joker 2.’ ”

‘Anora’ Adored

If last year was all about big-budget blockbusters with “Barbenheimer,” 2025 was the year indies struck back.

Mikey Madison named Best Actress.

Baker became the first person since Walt Disney in 1954 to win four Oscars in one night (and the first for one movie they have personally directed), and showed that the Academy was ready to root for the little guys again.

Madison’s win was something of a surprise itself –– while she’d been going toe-to-toe with ‘The Substance’ star Demi Moore all awards season –– there had been a narrative of Moore’s legacy forming around the Best Actress gong. Yet it was Madison who ended up taking the stage for a teary, heartfelt speech.

Speeches get Subjective

Madison wasn’t the only winner to express her feelings. While the Oscar stage is no stranger to strong emotion, there was the usual blend of politics and heart-string plucking.

Baker used his various triumphs as a combined rallying call to movies big and small and for seeing films in theaters in this age of shrinking windows and streaming dominance.

Best Documentary Feature ‘Yuval Abraham insisted that there can be peaceful solution to the war in Gaza that honors both Palestinian and Israeli people, adding that “the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path. Can’t you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe and Basel’s people can be truly free?”

There were shoutouts to sex workers and immigrant children, while Team ‘Daniel Blumberg) seemed surprised and overawed by their wins, giving real, nervy speeches.

And then there was the comedic speech of the night, with predicted Best ing Actor winner, ‘Kieran Culkin proving once more to be anything but on stage. He was enthusiastic and funny, and got further laughs by pointing out to his wife, Jazz Charton that they’d talked about having more children after his Emmy win, and that she’d mentioned she’d only consider a fourth child if he won an Oscar. Whoops!

Culkin wrapped up his moment in the spotlight with:

“You that, honey? You do? Then, I just have this to say to you, Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith. No pressure. I love you. I’m really sorry I did this again. And let’s get crackin’ on those kids. What do you say? I love you!”

Best reaction to that? Culkin’s former ‘J. Smith Cameron, who played the long-suffering Gerri Kellman to his foul/motormouthed Roman Roy, offering the perfect tweet:

There’ll be no living with him now?

— J. Smith-Cameron? (@j_smithcameron) March 3, 2025

Presenting Popularity

For the most part this year, the presenters did not embarrass themselves and the bits were relatively painless.

We got Robert Downey Jr. following Conan’s comedic lead and then going sentimentally honest handing out Best ing Actor.

Some awards, such as Best Costume Design were presented by the stars of the nominees’ movies, and that proved to be a mixed bag, since they worked on an emotional level, but tended to drag a little. Thank goodness then, for John “I love a roomy cassock” Bowen Yang bringing the funny.

A highlight? Rock icon A Complete Unknown’ to host and perform, and he turned them down).

Was this the start of a stealth campaign to get Jagger a belated, throwback Oscar for ‘Freejack’? Your guess is as good as ours. And our guess is, “maybe?”

History Happens

Sean Baker wasn’t the only filmmaker making history on Oscar night. ‘Wicked’ costume maestro Paul Tazewell became the first black person to win his category, making emotional note of the fact.

And while we all knew she would scoop her trophy (despite, er, being much more a lead than a ing turn), Emilia Pérez.’

‘Flow’ surprised in the Animated Feature category, and became the first Latvian Oscar winner. “Ball’s in your court, Estonia,” quipped O’Brien after the team left the stage.

When Harry Reunited with Sally

Proving that stars don’t have to just recreate classic scenes for Super Bowl commercials, ‘Meg Ryan came on stage to give out Best Picture.

They were a classy, classic wrap to a successful event, which ended with ‘Anora’s Best Picture triumph.

List of Best Picture Nominees:

• Anora’  - WINNER
• ‘The Brutalist’
• ‘A Complete Unknown'
• ‘Conclave'
• ‘Dune: Part Two'
• ‘Emilia Pérez'
• ‘I’m Still Here'
• ‘Nickel Boys'
• ‘The Substance'
• ‘Wicked'