Oscars 2025 Recap: Anora Wins Big with 5 Major Awards

The 97th Academy Awards ceremony, held on March 2, 2025, saw the independent film "Anora" emerge as the night's biggest winner, securing five major Oscars. Director Sean Baker made history by personally winning four awards for the same film - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing - a feat only previously achieved by Walt Disney in 1954 for different projects.

"Anora," a modern Cinderella story about a sex worker who falls for a Russian oligarch's son, triumphed over initial frontrunners like "Wicked," "Conclave," and "Emilia Pérez". The film's success was particularly notable given its modest $6 million budget and its initial snub by the Golden Globes4.

In a surprising turn of events, Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her role in "Anora," upsetting favorite Demi Moore ("The Substance"). Madison, at 25, became one of the youngest winners in this category.

Other significant wins included Adrien Brody's second Best Actor Oscar for "The Brutalist," making him the first person to win the leading actor category with his first two nominations. Kieran Culkin secured Best Supporting Actor for "A Real Pain," while Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for "Emilia Pérez".

The ceremony also celebrated international cinema, with Brazil's "I'm Still Here" winning Best International Film and Latvia's "Flow" taking home Best Animated Feature. Both wins marked the first Oscars for their respective countries.

Hosted by Conan O'Brien, the event paid tribute to Los Angeles following recent calamitous fires, featuring a moving performance by "Wicked" stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo8.

The 97th Academy Awards showcased the enduring magic of cinema, celebrating both established talents and emerging voices in the film industry.