Oscars 2025 recap: Biggest moments from the 97th Academy Awards

The 97th Academy Awards took place Sunday night.

ByHayley FitzPatrick, Carson Blackwelder, Angeline Jane Bernabe, and Mason Leib via GMA logo
Last Updated: March 2, 2025, 11:05 PM EST

The 2025 Oscars honored the best in cinema from the past year Sunday night.

The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien, ended with "Anora" taking home the coveted trophy for best picture.

"Anora" was the top film of the night, taking home five Oscars including best director for Sean Baker.

The top acting prizes went to Adrien Brody, who won best actor for "The Brutalist," and Mikey Madison, who won best actress for "Anora." Winning in the supporting categories were "Emilia Pérez" star Zoe Saldaña and "A Real Pain" star Kieran Culkin.

Heading into the ceremony, "Emilia Pérez" led the field of nominees with 13 total Oscar nominations. It ended the night with two trophies.

This year's show honored the city of Los Angeles in the wake of the wildfires that left at least 29 dead and destroyed thousands of homes earlier this year, bringing firefighters onto the Oscars stage and hosting a charitable component to raise money for fire victims.

The Oscars ceremony aired live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu for the first time.

Scroll down for a recap of the 2025 Oscars.

Key moments:

Here's how the night unfolded. All times Eastern.
Mar 02, 2025, 4:15 PM EST

Colman Domingo and more Oscar nominees gather for pre-Oscars party

Several Oscar nominees attended a pre-Oscars celebration in Los Angeles on Saturday evening, ahead of Hollywood's biggest night.

Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Demi Moore, Monica Barbaro, Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison were among the nominees who attended the Motion Picture and Television Fund's 23rd Annual Night Before event on the Fox Studio Lot.

Mikey Madison, Cynthia Erivo, Demi Moore, Colman Domingo and Yvette Nicole Brown attend MPTF's 23rd Annual Night Before, Mar. 1, 2025 in Los Angeles
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

They were joined by Yvette Nicole Brown, Kim Kardashian, Mindy Kaling and more.

See more moments from the evening below.

Colman Domingo and Monica Barbaro attend MPTF's 23rd Annual Night Before at Fox Studio Lot, on March 1, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MPTF

Adrien Brody and Colman Domingo attend the CHANEL and Charles Finch Annual Pre-Oscar Dinner at the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel, on March 1, 2025, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Stefanie Keenan/WireImage via Getty Images

Mar 02, 2025, 4:12 PM EST

What won big at last year's Oscars?

"Oppenheimer" was the big winner at the 2024 Oscars, taking home seven trophies -- including the coveted best picture prize.

The film also won for best director for Christopher Nolan, best actor for Cillian Murphy, best supporting actor Robert Downey Jr., best cinematography, best editing and best original score.

A scene from the movie "Oppenheimer."
Universal Pictures

Other big wins from the 2024 Oscars included Emma Stone winning best actress for "Poor Things" -- which won four total Oscars -- and Da'Vine Joy Randolph winning best supporting actress, the sole Oscar for "The Holdovers."

"The Zone of Interest" won best international feature film, "The Boy and the Heron" won best animated feature film and "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie" won best original song.

Check out a recap of the ceremony here.

Mar 02, 2025, 4:10 PM EST

Adrien Brody shares message of 'joy and appreciation' ahead of Oscars

Adrien Brody offered a note of appreciation to loved ones in a post on social media ahead of the 2025 Oscars.

Brody first thanked his friends and colleagues for sharing the day with him before directing a message to his parents.

Adrien Brody is seen in a still from the film "The Brutalist."
Lol Crawley/A24

"No matter the outcome I am so full of joy and appreciation to be able to share this special moment with my mom and dad who have given me the hope to dream, the encouragement to become the person I am, and to be brave enough to do what I still love to do today," he wrote.

He also shared sentimental throwback images.

Brody is up for best actor for his role in "The Brutalist."

Mar 02, 2025, 4:02 PM EST

Demi Moore's daughters show support for mom ahead of the Oscars

Demi Moore has the greatest fan club a mom could ask for: her three daughters.

Moore, who is nominated for best actress at the 2025 Oscars for her career-defining role in "The Substance," was joined by daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Willis at a pre-Oscars event on Saturday.

Rumer Willis, Demi Moore and Tallulah Willis attend MPTF's 23rd Annual Night Before, Mar. 1, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, Scout Willis, and Demi Moore attend the CHANEL and Charles Finch Annual Pre-Oscar Dinner at the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel, on March 1, 2025, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Stefanie Keenan/WireImage via Getty Images

On Sunday, her daughters opted to show their support with some unique fashion choices on social media.

Scout Willis shared a photo of herself on her Instagram story wearing a graphic T-shirt themed after "The Substance," while Rumer Willis shared a photo of herself on Instagram wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words "Demi F------ Moore" across the front.

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