Oscars 2025 key moments: 'Wicked' opening duet; 'James Bond' tribute; Quincy Jones honored by Queen Latifah
Sean Baker’s acclaimed dramedy dominated the 2025 Oscars ceremony, which also included emotionally searing acceptance speeches and high-energy musical numbers.
“Anora,” a madcap dramedy about a Brooklyn sex worker’s whirlwind romance with the son of a Russian oligarch, dominated the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, nabbing best picture and four other golden statuettes.
Sean Baker, a maverick hailed for his empathetic portraits of working-class outsiders, took home honors for original screenplay, editing and direction. Mikey Madison, the movie’s 25-year-old breakout star, triumphed in the race for best actress.
“I want to thank the academy for recognizing a truly independent film,” Baker said in his fourth and final acceptance speech of the night, adding that “Anora” was “made on the blood, sweat and tears of incredible indie artists.”
Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham accept the documentary feature film award for "No Other Land," Sean Baker accepts the best director award for "Anora," and Cynthia Erivo performs at the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Sunday.Getty Images“The Brutalist,” a sweeping epic about a Hungarian Holocaust survivor, received three awards, including best actor for Adrien Brody. Kieran Culkin picked up best supporting actor for “A Real Pain,” a melancholy comedy about cousins trekking through modern-day Poland.
The science-fiction spectacle “Dune: Part Two,” the genre-busting musical “Emilia Pérez” and the big-screen spin on the Broadway hit “Wicked” each scored two prizes. (“Wicked” was distributed by Universal Pictures, a unit of NBC News’ parent company, NBCUniversal.)
Rating: 5