The Definitive List Of 2025 Academy Award Winners: Anora’s Shocking Sweep And All 97th Oscars Results
The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, delivered a night of historic firsts and stunning upsets, cementing the year 2024 in cinematic lore. As of today, December 22, 2025, the dust has settled on the most competitive Oscar race in years, dominated by three powerhouse films: Sean Baker’s gritty, romantic drama Anora, Brady Corbet’s epic period piece The Brutalist, and Jacques Audiard’s groundbreaking musical Emilia Pérez. The ceremony, which took place at the Dolby Theatre, saw a clear shift toward independent, auteur-driven cinema, with the Palme d’Or winner taking home the night’s biggest prize.
The final tally confirmed the predictions of a tight race, particularly in the major categories where career-defining performances clashed with directorial masterpieces. The results showcase the Academy's willingness to embrace bold, unconventional storytelling, with a strong emphasis on international and independent productions. The 97th Oscars proved that festival buzz from Cannes and Toronto translated directly into gold statues, rewarding films that challenged genre conventions and delivered emotional depth.
The Major Winners: Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay
The top three categories were the most fiercely debated leading up to the ceremony, with the outcome reflecting a powerful consensus among the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Producers Guild of America (PGA) voters.
Best Picture: Anora
Winner: Anora
Sean Baker’s Anora completed its incredible journey from the Cannes Film Festival to the pinnacle of Hollywood, taking the coveted Best Picture prize. The romantic comedy-drama, which tells the story of Anora "Ani" Mikheeva, a young Brooklyn stripper who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, was praised for its raw energy and humanist perspective. The film’s victory, following its earlier wins at the PGA Awards, signaled a decisive shift in the Academy's taste toward a more contemporary and unvarnished style of filmmaking.
- Director: Sean Baker
- Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eidelstein, Yura Borisov
- Key Themes: Class, labor, transactional relationships, and the American Dream.
Best Director: Sean Baker for Anora
Winner: Sean Baker for Anora
In a victory that many considered a foregone conclusion after his DGA win, Sean Baker was awarded the Academy Award for Best Director. Baker’s masterful handling of the film’s complex tone—balancing dark comedy with genuine pathos—was cited as the reason for his triumph. His work on Anora solidified his reputation as one of the most vital independent filmmakers working today, rewarding his career-long dedication to portraying marginalized communities with dignity and nuance.
Best Original Screenplay: Anora
Winner: Sean Baker for Anora
The film’s clean sweep in the major categories continued with a win for Best Original Screenplay, further underscoring the Academy's appreciation for Baker’s singular vision. The script’s sharp dialogue and unpredictable narrative structure were essential to the film's success, beating out other strong contenders in the category.
The Acting Triumphs: A Night for Career-Defining Roles
The acting categories were arguably the most dramatic, featuring a blend of established veterans and breakout stars delivering performances that resonated deeply with voters. The results highlighted a preference for transformative and emotionally demanding roles.
Best Actor: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
Winner: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
Adrien Brody secured his second Best Actor Oscar for his powerful portrayal of László Tóth, a visionary Hungarian-Jewish architect escaping post-war Europe in Brady Corbet's epic period drama, The Brutalist. Brody, who remains the youngest-ever Best Actor winner for his 2003 performance in The Pianist, returned to the winner's circle with a performance hailed as a monumental achievement in an already distinguished career. His win was a reward for the film's scope and the sheer gravitas he brought to the character's decades-long struggle.
- Film: The Brutalist
- Co-Stars: Felicity Jones (Erzsébet Tóth), Guy Pearce (Harrison Lee Van Buren), Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy.
- Director: Brady Corbet
Best Actress: Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez
Winner: Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez
The Best Actress category saw a historic win for Karla Sofía Gascón for her fearless performance in the Spanish-language musical crime film, Emilia Pérez. Gascón’s role as the titular cartel leader undergoing a transition was a groundbreaking moment for transgender representation at the Oscars. Her win was a testament to the power of Jacques Audiard’s direction and the film's bold, operatic narrative.
Best Supporting Actress: Selena Gomez for Emilia Pérez
Winner: Selena Gomez for Emilia Pérez
In a major win for the musical crime film, Selena Gomez took home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her compelling performance. Her role, which garnered significant buzz throughout the awards season, marked a pivotal moment in her career, proving her dramatic depth alongside co-star Zoe Saldaña. The film’s success highlights the Academy's embrace of international cinema and the musical genre.
Best Supporting Actor: Jesse Plemons for Kinds of Kindness
While the frontrunners dominated, Jesse Plemons pulled off a notable win for his work in Yorgos Lanthimos' anthology film, Kinds of Kindness. Plemons’ nuanced performance in the darkly comedic triptych secured his first Academy Award, rewarding his consistent excellence in character roles over the past decade.
Other Notable 97th Oscar Winners and Contenders
Beyond the major categories, the 97th Academy Awards celebrated achievements across a wide range of genres, from animation to technical excellence. The winners list reflects the diverse cinematic landscape of 2024.
Animated Feature Film
The competition in Best Animated Feature was intense, featuring both established studios and independent contenders. The final prize went to a film that captured the emotional complexity and innovation the Academy often favors. Animated films like The Wild Robot, Inside Out 2, and Flow were all strong contenders, showcasing the genre's artistic vitality.
- Winner: *The Wild Robot* (DreamWorks Animation)
- Contenders: Inside Out 2 (Pixar), Flow, Memoir Of A Snail.
Cinematography and Production Design
The technical categories saw a strong showing from the epics of the year. The Brutalist, with its sweeping period setting and architectural focus, was a clear favorite for Production Design, while a visually arresting film from the fall festival circuit secured the Cinematography prize. The attention to detail in creating the post-war European and American architectural landscapes in The Brutalist was undeniable.
International Feature Film
While Emilia Pérez competed successfully in the main categories, the International Feature Film award went to a different, critically lauded submission, demonstrating the global strength of cinema. The competition was robust, with submissions from across Europe and Asia vying for the prize.
Looking Ahead: The Legacy of the 97th Oscars
The 2025 Academy Awards will be remembered as the year that fully embraced a new wave of cinematic realism and musical experimentation. The success of Anora and the multiple wins for Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist signal a refreshing era where high-concept, independent films can triumph over traditional studio fare. The key dates for the 97th Oscars season, including the Governors Awards on November 17, 2024, and the Nomination Announcement on January 17, 2025, framed a season that was unpredictable and thrilling until the very last envelope was opened on March 2, 2025.
The night was a definitive win for bold, uncompromising storytelling and for the careers of Sean Baker, Mikey Madison, Adrien Brody, and the entire cast and crew of Emilia Pérez, solidifying their status as the 2025 Academy Award winners.
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