The 2025 Oscars had its fair share of surprises, heartfelt moments, and history-making wins. While Anora dominated the night as the little indie that could, the most powerful moments came from the emotion on stage—from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s breathtaking opening to Zoe Saldana’s deeply moving speech.
A Show-Stopping Opening
The night began on a high note with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performing Defying Gravity, giving me chills. Their powerhouse vocals filled the room, and seeing Michelle Yeoh in the audience, visibly moved, made it all the more special. It was a reminder of why live performances still hold magic, setting the perfect tone for the night.
Anora’s Big Night: The $6 Million Indie That Made Oscars History
The biggest winner of the night? Anora. Shot independently on location in NYC for just $6 million, this underdog film swept the awards, taking home:
Best Picture (Sean Baker)
Best Director (Sean Baker)
Best Actress (Mikey Madison)
Original Screenplay (Sean Baker)
Film Editing (Sean Baker)
But beyond the wins, Anora made history—Sean Baker became the first person to ever win four Oscars for a single film. His passion for independent cinema and theatrical experiences shone through in his acceptance speech, where he didn’t just thank the usual names—he passionately encouraged people to support theaters, reminding everyone that cinema is a communal experience. “Make films for the big screen,” he said, and that sentiment hit home in an industry still debating the future of theatrical releases.
Mikey Madison’s Best Actress win was a major moment. While many (including me) thought Demi Moore had it locked down after sweeping other awards, I also had a feeling Mikey could pull off an upset—and she did!
That said, I do feel for Demi. Her performance in The Substance was deeply emotional, and as I mentioned on the podcast, she conveyed so much without words. That really resonated with me, and it’s why I thought she deserved the win. But Mikey Madison was fantastic in Anora, and even though Demi was the clear frontrunner all season, Anora had been gaining momentum. It’s rare to see a complete shift like this at the final moment, and it’s sparked a lot of debate. In the end, both were deserving, and I’m happy for Mikey while still wishing Demi had gotten this one. At least she took home nearly every other award this season!
Adrien Brody Breaks Records with His Speech
Adrien Brody’s Best Actor win was expected, but his acceptance speech became legendary—literally. Clocking in at five minutes and 30 seconds, it is now the longest Oscars speech in history. When the music started playing, he waved it off, saying, “This isn’t my first rodeo,” and went on to deliver two powerful messages.
First, he spoke about how his work often deals with lingering trauma, antisemitism, and racism, and how we can’t let hate go unchecked. Then, he reflected on the contrast between the glamour of Hollywood and the tougher, unglamorous moments in an actor’s career. He acknowledged what a privilege it is to do this work and expressed deep gratitude. It was a speech that went beyond the usual thank-yous, and while it was long, it felt meaningful.
The Most Emotional Moment: Zoe Saldana’s Speech
While I was happy for all the winners, the only moment that truly brought me to tears was Zoe Saldana’s speech after winning Best Supporting Actress. She thanked so many people, but the most touching part was when she spoke about being the first American of Dominican Origin to win an Oscar, and speaking of her how proud her grandmother would be that she won for speaking and singing Spanish. And of course, she made everyone smile when she thanked her husband “for his beautiful hair.” It was a speech full of heart, humor, and cultural significance—easily the most memorable of the night(IMO).
Funniest Acceptance Speech: Kieran Culkin
Kieren Culkin not only won Best Actor, but he also won… baby number four?! At the Emmys, his wife joked she’d give him a third kid if he won—then upped the stakes, saying he’d have to win an Oscar for a fourth. Well, guess what? He did! His speech had everyone laughing as he called her out: ‘Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith. No pressure!
Other Highlights and Tributes
James Bond Tribute—Live and Let Die song brought back so many memories!
Quincy Jones Tribute honored his legendary career.
In Memoriam was especially moving, with Morgan Freeman introducing a tribute to Gene Hackman and reflecting on working with him twice. Seeing legends like James Earl Jones, Kris Kristofferson, and Maggie Smith and so many others honored made it a bittersweet but beautiful moment.
Red Carpet Full-Circle Moment: Halle Berry saw Adrien Brody and couldn’t resist paying him back for their iconic Oscars kiss in 2003. A fun, unexpected moment!
My Predictions: Hits and Misses
I correctly called:
✔️ Anora winning Best Picture
✔️ Adrien Brody taking Best Actor (Rene guessed this too!)
But I missed:
❌ Demi Moore’s loss—she had all the momentum, but Mikey Madison pulled the upset!
Final Thoughts
It was a good show, though not my favorite Oscars ever. Some wins were exciting, others expected, but the real standouts were the emotional moments—the kind that remind us why we love movies in the first place.
What did you think of the Oscars? Any wins that surprised or moved you?
Get out there and watch some movies! Check out my Oscar's Podcast for which ones to watch. Oscars 2025: Best Picture Breakdown and Who Will Win
Happy TV Time!
Diana/Screens in Focus
Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldana and Kieran Culkin
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