Strip club fairytale ‘Anora’ takes top honor at 97th Oscars
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Anora,” a storybook drama with a gritty edge set in a Brooklyn strip club, claimed the Academy’s top honor as best picture at the 97th Oscars on Sunday, solidifying filmmaker Sean Baker’s indie farce as the night’s biggest winner.
Through an unpredictable and shifting awards season, “Anora” – which premiered at Cannes and took home the Palme d’Or – emerged as the surprise leader. The film, an unfiltered tale of a dancer hastily marrying the heir of a Russian tycoon, carried a modest $6 million budget and managed to walk away with five major accolades, four of which went to Baker himself.
In bypassing big-budget thrillers like “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two,” Academy voters continued their recent trend of celebrating smaller, art-house productions. “Anora,” with only $16 million at the box office, now joins previous indie Oscar champions like “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “CODA,” and “Nomadland.”
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In an industry shaken by financial shifts and the streaming revolution, Baker made a plea for cinema’s roots, urging filmmakers to embrace traditional theatrical releases. Receiving his best director award, he said, “Our love affair with movies began on the big screen. That’s where they belong.”
With trophies for best picture, directing, editing, and screenplay under his belt, Baker matched Walt Disney’s 1954 feat of winning four Oscars in one night — a twist of fate considering his film “The Florida Project” was set near the gates of Disney World.
“Here’s to indie cinema!” Baker declared to roaring applause in the Dolby Theatre.
Awards widely distributed
Adrien Brody accepts the best actor award for “The Brutalist” on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Adrien Brody accepts the best actor award for “The Brutalist” on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Eight of the ten best picture nominees took home at least one prize in a lively ceremony emceed by Conan O’Brien. The event leaned into musical numbers and moments of levity rather than overt political commentary. Acting honors went to Madison, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, and Zoe Saldaña.
Brody, two decades removed from his win for “The Pianist,” earned another best actor Oscar for portraying a Holocaust survivor in “The Brutalist,” overtaking Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), who was aiming to become the youngest ever in the category — a title Brody himself still retains.
“I’m once again standing here bearing witness to history’s wounds — war, oppression, racism, antisemitism,” said Brody. “Let us choose a world of compassion over cruelty.”
Madison triumphed in the best actress race for her daring performance in “Anora,” edging out frontrunner Demi Moore. Both she and Baker highlighted the dignity of sex workers, echoing sentiments previously shared at Cannes.
Though once a favorite, Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” secured only two wins — best original song and best supporting actress for Saldaña — following controversy over offensive tweets by its lead actress.
“My immigrant parents’ dreams brought me here,” Saldaña said tearfully. “As the first American of Dominican heritage to hold this honor, I know others will follow.”
Surprises and expected outcomes
The first award of the evening went to Kieran Culkin as best supporting actor for his pairing with Jesse Eisenberg in “A Real Pain.”
Zoe Saldaña accepts the best supporting actress award for “Emilia Pérez” during Sunday’s Oscars. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Zoe Saldaña accepts the best supporting actress award for “Emilia Pérez” during Sunday’s Oscars. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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“Honestly, I don’t know how I made it here,” Culkin joked. “But I’ve been at this since I was a kid.”
Kieran Culkin accepts the award for best supporting actor for “A Real Pain.” (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Kieran Culkin accepts the award for best supporting actor for “A Real Pain.” (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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The night’s most surprising win came from “Flow,” a silent Latvian animated feature that bested DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot.” “Flow” tells a post-apocalyptic tale of a feline navigating a flooded world, marking Latvia’s first Oscar win.
“Thanks also go to my four-legged friends,” quipped director Gints Zilbalodis in his acceptance speech.
Double wins for ‘Wicked’ and ‘The Brutalist’
“Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the show with an emotional homage to Los Angeles and its battle with recent wildfires. They performed “Over the Rainbow,” “Home,” and “Defying Gravity.”
Later in the night, “Wicked,” this year’s top-grossing nominee, scored wins in both production and costume design.
Paul Tazewell, honored for costume design on “Wicked,” poses backstage at the Oscars 2025. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Paul Tazewell, honored for costume design on “Wicked,” poses backstage at the Oscars 2025. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
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“As the first Black man to win for costume design,” Tazewell said, his voice catching, “this moment means the world to me.”
Best makeup and hairstyling went to “The Substance” for its gruesome yet artistic prosthetics. “Dune: Part Two” earned two Oscars — in sound and visual effects — with its colossal sandworm becoming a comic focal point of the night.
“The Brutalist” also managed two victories: Lol Crawley’s cinematography and Daniel Blumberg’s score. Meanwhile, “Conclave,” expected by some to rival “Anora,” only won for adapted screenplay.
Subtle political notes
Despite hosting the first Oscar-nominated role of a sitting U.S. president — Sebastian Stan as a youthful Trump in “The Apprentice” — the ceremony remained politically quiet for most of the night.
Trump’s name wasn’t mentioned, even as politics surfaced briefly, such as presenter Daryl Hannah issuing a “Slava Ukraini!” midway through the show.
“No Other Land,” a poignant documentary created by both Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers about the West Bank occupation, won best documentary feature. Despite lacking a distributor, they self-released and outgrossed its category competitors.
Basel Adra, left, and team behind “No Other Land” hold their Oscars in the press room at the Dolby Theatre. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Basel Adra, left, and team behind “No Other Land” hold their Oscars in the press room at the Dolby Theatre. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
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“There’s another way forward — one of justice, not domination,” said Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham, joined by Palestinian Basel Adra. “Peace cannot exist for my people without freedom for his.”
Walter Salles' Brazilian political drama “I’m Still Here” claimed best international film, overtaking early frontrunner “Emilia Pérez” and gaining momentum through fervent support at home and abroad.
O’Brien wins over the audience
Introduced with mock modesty as a “four-time Oscar viewer,” Conan O’Brien kicked off the night with sharp wit and signature sarcasm.
“‘A Complete Unknown.’ ‘A Real Pain.’ ‘Nosferatu.’ Turns out those are just insults hurled at me on the red carpet,” he joked.
Marking his first time as host, the former late-night mainstay poked fun at the celebs, bowed to a disappointed John Lithgow, and teased Jeff Bezos’ arrival in a cardboard Amazon box.
O’Brien saved his heartfelt words for Los Angeles and the power of movies, singing through a musical number titled, “I won’t waste time.”
Host Conan O’Brien performs at the 2025 Oscars. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Host Conan O’Brien performs at the 2025 Oscars. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine in a duet of “Defying Gravity” during the 2025 Academy Awards. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine in a duet of “Defying Gravity” during the 2025 Academy Awards. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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A turbulent season for Oscars
This season marked one of the most unpredictable in memory. Box office performance dropped 3% year-over-year, and the lingering scars of the 2023 writers and actors strikes reshaped schedules and production pipelines. Added to that were devastating wildfires across LA in January.
Last year brought blockbuster viewing figures thanks to “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie,” amassing 19.5 million viewers. With indie films leading this year, the Academy faces a challenge in replicating that level of attention.
This year’s broadcast came just days after the death of cinematic legend Gene Hackman. Morgan Freeman paid tribute, saying, “We lost an icon this week — and I lost a brother-in-arms.”
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