Oscars 2025: ‘Anora’ Dominates with Five Wins, Adrien Brody Claims Second Best Actor Award
The 2025 Academy Awards concluded on Sunday, with Anora emerging as the biggest winner of the night, taking home five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Sean Baker, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. The star-studded ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, celebrated Hollywood’s finest achievements.
Adrien Brody secured his second Best Actor award for his performance in The Brutalist, while Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) won in the supporting acting categories.
Tributes and Special Recognitions
The night also featured heartfelt tributes. Morgan Freeman honored the late Gene Hackman, who passed away last week alongside his wife and dog at their New Mexico home. Additionally, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Queen Latifah paid tribute to Quincy Jones, who died in November.
The ceremony also took a moment to recognize the brave firefighters who battled the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which had caused the nominations to be postponed twice in January.
Anora Wins Best Picture
Anora claimed the night’s top honor, winning Best Picture after dominating five of the six categories it was nominated for. Director Sean Baker, Best Actress winner Mikey Madison, and producers Alex Coco and Samantha Quan accepted the award together.
“To all of the dreamers and young filmmakers out there, tell the stories you want to tell. Tell the stories that move you. I promise you, you will never regret it,” said Quan.
Baker expressed gratitude for the recognition of an independent film, saying, “This film was made on the blood, sweat, and tears of incredible indie artists.”
Mikey Madison’s Powerful Acceptance Speech
Mikey Madison, who won Best Actress for her role in Anora, used her speech to show gratitude to the sex worker community that inspired her character.
“I will continue to support and be an ally,” Madison stated. “Meeting the incredible women from that community has been one of the highlights of this entire experience.”
She also praised her fellow nominees, saying, “I’m honored to be recognized alongside all of you. This is a dream come true.”
Sean Baker’s Call to Support Movie Theaters
As he accepted his Best Director award, Sean Baker urged audiences to support movie theaters and keep the theatrical experience alive.
“Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater,” Baker said. “Watching a film in a theater with an audience is an experience. In a time when the world feels divided, this is more important than ever.”
He highlighted the struggles of independent theaters, revealing that nearly 1,000 movie theaters in the U.S. closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If we don’t reverse this trend, we will be losing a vital part of our culture,” Baker warned, before calling on filmmakers, distributors, and audiences to prioritize theatrical releases and moviegoing experiences.
Complete List of Winners
- Best Picture: Anora
- Best Director: Sean Baker (Anora)
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Best Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
- Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker (Anora)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan (Conclave)
- Best Cinematography: Lol Crawley (The Brutalist)
- Best Film Editing: Sean Baker (Anora)
- Best Production Design: Judy Becker and Heather Loeffler (The Brutalist)
- Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell (Wicked)
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance
- Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
- Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
- Best Original Score: Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist)
- Best Original Song: Emilia Pérez
- Best International Feature: I’m Still Here
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
- Best Live Action Short Film: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
- Best Animated Short Film: In the Shadow of the Cypress
- Best Documentary Short Subject: I’m Not a Robot
With Anora leading the way, the 2025 Academy Awards delivered an unforgettable night celebrating the best in cinema. Stay tuned for more highlights, reactions, and behind-the-scenes moments from Hollywood’s biggest night.
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