The 97th Academy Awards brought plenty of drama, unexpected wins, and frustrating losses. From shocking upsets in major categories to overlooked talents, here are the biggest snubs and surprises of the night.
Mikey Madison Wins Over Demi Moore
Demi Moore had been the frontrunner for The Substance, sweeping the Golden Globes, SAGs, and Critics Choice Awards. However, in a stunning upset, Mikey Madison took home Best Actress for her performance in Anora, which later secured the Best Picture win.
I’m Still Here Wins Best International Feature
Despite Emilia Pérez leading with 13 nominations compared to I’m Still Here‘s three, the Brazilian film scored the win, marking a historic moment for the country.
Flow Wins Best Animated Feature
Despite competition from blockbuster hits like The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2, the small Latvian film Flow secured the win, proving that underdog stories still have power.
Sean Baker Wins Best Editing for Anora
Sean Baker, the film’s writer-director, also won Best Editing, defying predictions that Conclave would take the prize. The film’s fast-paced, high-energy cuts clearly resonated with voters.
Emilia Pérez Matches the Record for Most Losses
With two wins out of 13 nominations, Emilia Pérez joins The Color Purple and The Power of the Dog as one of the biggest Oscar losers in history.
No Other Land Wins Best Documentary Without U.S. Distribution
Despite lacking U.S. distribution, the documentary No Other Land took home the Oscar, showing that critical acclaim and industry support can still drive a film to victory.
Adrien Brody Stops the Music During His Speech
During his Best Actor acceptance speech, Adrien Brody asked for the exit music to stop—and it actually did! Who knew winners had that kind of power?
Young Hollywood Stuns on the Red Carpet
After a lackluster awards season, stars like Lisa, Rachel Sennott, Marissa Bode, Doja Cat, and Elle Fanning delivered on fashion, reminding everyone that the Oscars are still Hollywood’s biggest night.
No Best Original Song Performances
Fans hoping for musical moments were left disappointed as the Oscars cut performances of the Best Original Song nominees. While none may have been as iconic as “My Heart Will Go On” or “Shallow,” they still deserved their spotlight.
Supporting Actor and Actress Categories Misused
With all due respect to winners Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin, their roles in Emilia Pérez and A Real Pain were undeniably lead performances. If category fraud continues, why even bother having supporting categories?
Diane Warren Loses Again
With 16 nominations and zero wins, Diane Warren’s streak of Oscar losses continued, as The Journey from Six Triple Eight fell short. Maybe next year?
Major Names Left Out of In Memoriam
Fans quickly noticed omissions in the annual tribute, including Michelle Trachtenberg and Tony Todd. Given the time allotted to the show, there’s no excuse for these oversights.
The 2025 Oscars delivered plenty of unexpected moments, proving once again that no matter how much we predict, Hollywood always has a few surprises up its sleeve.
