This year, the Oscars began with subtle foreshadowing, with host Conan O’Brien, first appearing in makeup and red wig, mimicking Amy Madigan in Weapons. Then,children chased him through the immersive worlds of the nominated films, across the red carpet, and finally, onto the Oscars’ stage. In his introduction, he joked that he would be the last human host and the next would be a Waymo. Conan took a dig at Timothée Chalamet, saying that the security detail was tight due to supposed threats from both the ballet and opera communities. On a more serious note, he warned that the night could get political, but that an alternate Oscars would be hosted by Kid Rock if people would rather watch that one instead at the Dave and Buster’s down the street.

Netflix’s CEO was in attendance, and due to strains in relationships between creatives and the suits calling the shots, it was his first time in the theater. Conan’s Hamnet introduction was all too real for the working-class American citizen—he said that giving birth in the woods is just what we call affordable healthcare. His look of disappointment describing F1 was hilarious, saying the whole movie could be summed up to a guy realizing his ability to win if he just drove faster. Although Sinners didn’t need an introduction, he spoke about Ryan Coogler and how he doesn’t like to judge his fellow artists’ work, then turned to the crowd and said, “The rest of you pricks seem to love it.” For One Battle After Another, Sean Penn got an erection at gun-point, and Conan alluded that it wasn’t scripted.

This year a new category was added, Best Casting, and Conan described it best by saying that one would win, and for the others, “We are simply going in another direction,”calling them dream killers. 

Zoe Saldaña presented for Best Supporting Actress, saying she was impressed by all the nominated performances. The nominees were Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas from Sentimental Value, Amy Madigan from Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku from Sinners, and TeyanaTaylor from One Battle After Another. This category was stacked with fan favorites. Having two actresses from the same movie, the odds were leaning towards Sentimental Value, but Amy Madigan from Weapons came out on top, making it her second nomination and first win. She took to the stage laughing, finding it ironic that it took 40 years for her to win, as her first nomination came with 1985’s Twice in a Lifetime. Madigan highlighted how many say these actors just list a bunch of “nobodies,” but they are the people that allow these actors to be on stage accepting awards.

Will Arnett and Channing Tatum presented for Best Animated Feature. Tatum stated he admired Arnett’s work, asking if he ever considered working in front of the camera—ironic due to the fact that

Arnett is also known for numerous roles in live action. A few of these animated films were popular among both kids and adults, expanding their viewership and breaking box office records. Zootopia 2 was highly anticipated and broke numerous records, surpassing Inside Out 2 by grossing 1.87 billion at the box office. KPop Demon Hunters made Netflix history by reaching over 500 million views within months, becoming Netflix’s most watched original film.

Unfortunately for smaller films like Arco, Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, they just didn’t measure up. The audience roared with applause as KPop Demon Hunters was declared the winner, and when Maggie Kang took the stage to accept, she apologized to anyone who looked like her that it took this long to see representation. Despite making history with KPop Demon Hunters, Chris Applehans and Michelle Wong were ushered off stage as they attempted to deliver their speeches. 

Will Arnett took to the microphone and proclaimed that “this is art, not AI, and that we are celebrating real people!” He received a roar of applause that art should be protected at all costs. The Best Animated Short nominees were Butterfly, Forevergreen, The Girl Who Cried Pearls, Retirement Plan, and The Three Sisters, with the winner being The Girl Who Cried Pearls, making it Maciek Szczerbowski’s and Chris Lavis’s first win and their second nomination. They joked about the patience it requires to take five years to make a puppet film, but that it takes even more patience to live with someone who takes five years to make such a film.

Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq performed “I Lied to You” from Sinners in ornate flapper costumes, and then added a bit of modernism with a live DJ mix, breakdancers, and the cherry on top—Misty Copeland, former principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater. It was a star-studded performance, including Shaboozey, Buddy Guy, Alice Smith, and Brittany Howard.

Anne Hathaway and Anna Wintour graced the stage to present Best Costume design in a nod toward Miranda and Emily from The Devil Wears Prada 2. The duo did a bit where Hathaway kept asking for validation about what she was wearing, to which Wintour just listed off the nominees: Frankenstein by Kate Hawley, Hamnet by Malgosia Turzanska, Avatar: Fire and Ash by Deborah L. Scott, Marty Supreme by Miyako Bellizzi, and Sinners by Ruth E. Carter. Frankenstein took home the gold, making it Hawley’s first win and first nomination. She took the stage, recognizing the talent she was up against, and she was right. This category had ethereal costumes, period pieces, and sci-fi effects, making it a tough choice for who would take home the Oscar.

To introduce the next category, Makeup and Hairstyling, Hathaway touted the nominees as true art and artistic visions, prompting Wintour to list the nominees. Here Hathaway was called “Emily,” finishing the bit and promoting her newest film. Unsurprisingly, Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey were nominated for Frankenstein, and Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, and Shunika Terry were nominated for Sinners. Additionally, Kyôko Toyokawa, Noami Hibino, and Tadashi Nishimatsu were nominated for Kokuho, Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin, and Björn Rehbein for The Smashing Machine, and Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg for The Ugly Stepsister. Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey won for Frankenstein. The film’s actors stood up, teary eyed as they congratulated these artists for their work. Hill stated that Jacob Elordi sat in the makeup chair for a total of 400 hours! Their time and effort were noticeable on screen, making the handsome Elordi look like an insane monster. Makeup and hairstyling can make or break films, especially period pieces or films that need special effects makeup.

Paul Mescal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chase Infiniti, WagnerMoura, and Delroy Lindo gathered on stage to present the first ever award for Best Casting. Each actor on stage was presenting for their own film’s casting director: Paul Mescal for Nina Gold (Hamnet), Gwyneth Paltrow for Jennifer Venditti (Marty Supreme), Chase Infiniti for Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another), Wagner Moura for Gabriel Domingues (The Secret Agent), and Delroy Lindo for Francine Maisler (Sinners). Gwyneth Paltrow called casting directors “invisible architects that build the film and give it character.” Cassandra Kulukundis won the first ever casting award for her work in One Battle After Another. She thanked those that came before her, and those that fought for this award to be added.

Kumail Nanjiani took to the stage after Conan introduced him as a man with a superhero’s body, with the voice of a superhero comic collector; his introduction to the stage was surrounded by giggles, which he took well, even poking fun at himself by saying, “It hurts because it’s true.”He presented for Best Live Action Short Film, stating that some features would work just as well, if not better, as shorts. This year’s nominees were Butcher’s Stain, A Friend of Dorothy, Jane Austen’s Period Drama, TheSingers, and Two People Exchanging Saliva. In a shocking reveal, there was a tie between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva! The Singers included all first-time actors, which paves the way of hope for those who want to break into this saturated industry, knowing that there are people out there who are still willing to take a chance on those without as much experience or industry ties. Nanjiani joked that it is ironic that the award for Short Film would take twice as long; Conan quipped it potentially ruined 22 million Oscar pools.

After receiving multiple nominations at last year’s ceremony, Kieran Culkin returned to the Oscar’s stage, this time to present the award for Best Supporting Actor. This category had big names, some with multiple nominations and multiple wins over the years. The nominees were Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn (OneBattle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), DelroyLindo (Sinners), and Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value). Sean Penn won, but he was unfortunately not in attendance so Culkin accepted the award on his behalf.

In yet another joke about modern viewers, Conan said that many big name studios are now insisting that filmmakers repeat information and restate the plot several times in their movies. All of this to accommodate the modern viewer, who is obviously distracted and half watching due to their phones.

Marvel stars Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. presented the awards for screenwriting. RDJ said that the script is the driving force of a film, but was interrupted by Chris Evans stating it was the 14th anniversary of their first Avengers movie. After some friendly banter, RDJ got back to business presenting for Best Adapted Screenplay: Will Tracy for Bugonia, Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein, Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell for Hamnet, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, and Clint Bentley and Gred Kwedar for Train Dreams. One Battle After Another won, making it Paul Thomas Anderson’s first Oscar win out of six nominations of the night, and 14th ever nomination. In his speech, Anderson paid tribute to Thomas Pynchon, the author of the book that Anderson adapted. He thanked his family for putting up with a writer, because they know how hectic it can be. Anderson wrote this movie for his kids, as an apology about the mess-of-a-world they are being handed, and wanted them to be reminded about the fact that, while they might have been handed a tumultuous world, they have the ability to change it.

After Anderson exited the stage, Chris Evans appeared solo and RDJ mysteriously disappeared. Upon his reappearance, he was carrying a sparkly speedo, purportedly Channing Tatum’s from Magic Mike. Tatum yelled from the crowd that he wanted them back, igniting laughs from the crowd. In defeat, RDJ listed the nominees for Best Original Screenplay: Robert Kaplow for Blue Moon, Jafar Panahi for It Was Just An Accident, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, and Ryan Coogler for Sinners. In a heavily anticipated win by the world after several snubs at earlier awards shows, Sinners came out on top. Coogler was very nervous, but made sure to thank his cast and crew, as well as his family. He was gracious for those that worked alongside him to create this amazing film.

Billy Crystal appeared on stage, walking out to somber jazz, and began speaking about his close personal friend, Rob Reiner. He spoke about what made his movies unique, saying they were about what makes us laugh and feel, and with that, they will last a lifetime. Crystal highlighted that Rob and Michelle fought for marriage equality and were a pillar to its success in passing. The curtain behind Crystal lifted, revealing those that had the privilege of working with Reiner all standing in the spotlight, holding hands and embracing each other. After Rob and Michelle’s picture faded, a montage began about film workers that have passed away within the last year.

Rachel McAdams then spoke about others that we lost, such as Catherine O’Hara and Diane Keaton. It was truly a tearjerker presentation that tugged on the heartstrings. The montage began again, putting into perspective how many creatives have been lost but also sparking viewers to take to social media and discuss how some of our favorite stars are growing older and how devastating their loss will be. Barbara Streisand took the stage for the first time in seven years to pay tribute to her colleague and friend Robert Redford. She highlighted how he advocated for fellow industry workers and the environment. Streisand called him the intellectual cowboy, because he was tough but would always talk politics with her. She began singing in his honor “The Way We Were.”

In an attempt to lighten the mood, Conan did a bit about brain rot, with a side by side of Subway Surfers with text on the screen, simulating a TikTok video.

The stunning Sigourney Weaver and Pedro Pascal (minus his famous facial hair) took to the stage to present Best Production Design. In a character recall, Baby Yoda was in the crowd and Weaver yelled at Kate Hudson for being near him. The duo spoke about how important production design is to creating an immersive experience on screen. The nominees for Production Design were: Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau for Frankenstein, Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton for Hamnet, Jack Fisk and Adam Willis for Marty Supreme, Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino for One Battle After Another, and Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne for Sinners. Frankenstein won, making this the first Oscar win and second nomination for Tamara Deverell and the second win for Shane Vieau. This category was loaded, with many beloved, immersive sets; it was anyone’s category to win. Each film created the effect that you were transported into another world, realm, or time period, as though you could reach out and almost touch everything, forgetting reality.

Weaver and Pascal then presented for Best Visual Effects. Visual Effects can make or break a film; they need to be seamless, while also being lifelike, which brings immense pressure to the designers. This year’s nominees were Avatar: Fire and Ash, F1, Jurassic World Rebirth, The Lost Bus, and Sinners. Each film is very different from the others; it’s almost impossible to compare them. Avatar sends audiences to the alien world of Pandora, whileJurassic Park transports them to an earth where dinosaurs roam, and in F1, viewers feel like they were on the track themselves, racing against Brad Pitt and time itself. In the end, Avatar: Fire and Ash won for the visual effects that brought the world of Pandora back to life for the third installment of the series. 

Jimmy Kimmel presented for Best Documentary Short Film, and spoke on politics, courage, and how some people risk their lives to create stories. The nominees for this category each touched on heavy topics, such as war (Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud and Children No More: Were and Are Gone), school shootings (All the Empty Rooms), a woman’s right to choose (The Devil is Busy), and even animals discovering new worlds (Perfectly a Strangeness). All the Empty Rooms won, making it the first win and second nomination for Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones. All the Empty Rooms addresses school shootings in the US, where gun violence is the number one cause of death in children. When the duo took the stage, they brought Gloria Cazares, a mother from the Uvalde shooting, with them. Cazares’s daughter Jackie, aged nine, was killed at Robb Elementary School, and in her grief, Gloria helped create the film. Gloria highlighted that Jackie was more than just a headline, she was the light in her life. She said that if people could see the world through the empty bedrooms, America might actually change. The audience was completely silent as they listened to this mother speak of the loss of her daughter and the need for change in America. The emotion in the room was palpable.

For Best Documentary Feature Film, the themes were similar—war, politics, fighting misogyny, prison systems and race, and gun violence. The nominees were: The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cutting Through Rocks, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, and The Perfect Neighbor. In a nail biter, Mr. Nobody Against Putin won, being Pavel Talankin’s and David Borenstein’s first nomination and win! Pavel Talankin spoke on how citizens of these nations don’t see shooting stars to wishon—they see flying bombs—asking that we stop these senseless wars for the sake of the children.

The Bridesmaids cast took the stage to announce Original Score; before doing so, they had their own bit where they each had a handwritten note pertaining to either the Oscars or how long their bit was. Many viewers were excited when they took the stage but were left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with the level of humor. Once the bit was over, the nominees were finally revealed: Jerskin Fendrix for Bugonia, Alexandre Desplat for Frankenstein, Max Richter for Hamnet, Jonny Greenwood for One Battle After Another, and Ludwig Göransson for Sinners. Ludwig Göransson won, making it his third win; previous wins being for Black Panther and Oppenheimer.

The Bridesmaids group also presented for sound, stating that without sound we wouldn’t hear anything . . . crazy! They poked fun at Scorsese’s favorite sound effect, a cheesy little boing. The Best Sound nominees were F1, Frankenstein, One Battle After Another, Sinners, andSirāt. Many in the audience felt as though One Battle After Another, Sinners, or Frankenstein would win easily; however, surprisingly, F1 came out as the winner. Gwendolyn Yates Whittle made sure to shout to the audiences to go see the blockbuster films, the indie films, independents, and to just go see films!

Lynette Howell Taylor, current President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, came out to talk about the Academy and who they are. She mentioned Marlee Matlin, a pioneer for deaf actresses and actors. Movies can change perspectives, and we might not be where we are today without these amazing storytellers.

Film editing can seem like an invisible art form, often overlooked because great editors make the cuts so seamless that the audience is sometimes unaware they even occurred. This year’s nominees were StephenMirrione for F1, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie fir Marty Supreme, Andy Jurgensen for One Battle After Another, Olivier Bugge Coutté for Sentimental Value, and Michael P. Shawver for Sinners. Underdog Andy Jurgensen won for One Battle After Another,  his first nomination and first win! He was adorable onstage, thanking his friends who were at a bar watching him, which was relatable for so many of the younger generations of filmmakers.

Who better to present the award for Best Cinematography than the illustrious Demi Moore. She graced the stage in a fitted, feathery dress that wowed the crowd. This category held Dan Laustsen from Frankenstein, Darius Khondji from Marty Supreme, Michael Bauman from One Battle After Another, Autumn Durald Arkapaw from Sinners , and Adolpho Veloso from Train Dreams. In the second historic win of the evening, Autumn Durald Arkapaw won, making her both the first woman and first Black person to win in this category. This was her first win and first nomination as a cinematographer. Her cast gave her a very warm and long standing ovation, looking on proudly. During her speech, she made all the women stand up, making sure to address that without those that broke through the glass ceilings and paved the way for her, she wouldn’t be there.

A pre-filmed tribute to Korean culture and KPop DemonHunters began, then the screen lifted and the three stars of the film held their own performance singing “Golden.”

Who better than Indian actress, Priyanka Chopra, and Spanish actor, Javier Bardem, to present Best International Feature Film. Bardem came right out and said, “No to war and free Palestine!” receiving applause from the crowd. The Secret Agent represented Brazil, It Was Just an Accident represented France, SentimentalValue represented Norway, Sirāt represented Spain, and The Voice of Hind Rajab represented Tunisia. The winner was Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier’s first win after seven nominations. Neon, whose name is becoming more prevalent every award season, brought this film to the US from Norway. Trier recognized those that he was nominated with, and quoted James Baldwin: “We are responsible for the children and shouldn’t vote for politicians who don’t take that into account.”

The radiant Lionel Richie waltzed on stage, receiving such overwhelming applause that he had to shush them so he could present Best Original Song. Many of the nominated songs went viral on TikTok, but “Golden” by Ejae received the most recognition. Other nominees included “Dear Me” by Diane Warren, “Train Dreams” by Nick Cave, “Sweet Dreams of Joy” by Nicholas Pike, and “I Lied to You” by Raphael Saadiq. “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters won, making history for all of K-Pop and the third historic win of the night. Ejae reminisced about how she used to be made fun of for liking K-Pop and now she’s having people sing her songs and enjoy K-Pop as well. With how groundbreaking the win was, the group and the audience were very upset at the fact they were ushered off the stage, especially after making history, begging for more time and not receiving it.

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson presented for Best Directing. Directors call most of the shots on set, executing the artistic vision brought forth from the writers, producers, and talent. This category was full of high-profile names: Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, and Ryan Coogler for Sinners. Many thought Ryan Coogler would win, but Paul Thomas Anderson won for One Battle After Another, making it his second win out of 14 nominations. He joked that the Academy makes you work very hard for the awards, but that he was grateful for those that were also nominated. He was very open about how sometimes you have imposter syndrome and sometimes doubt that you are deserving of such success and awards.

Adrien Brody came on stage next, after Conan joked that he saved the previous Oscars from running short. Brody then pulled out pages and pages from his suit, which prompted the Academy to play the ushering music, calling back to his speech last year that went on for six minutes. Who better than Brody to present the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. This year, the predictions kept fluctuating, popularity swayed, and it seemed like anyone could take home the award. The A-listers included Ethan Hawke, Wagner Moura, Michael B. Jordan, TimothéeChalamet, and Leonardo DiCaprio. In a heavily anticipated, nail-biting win, Michael B. Jordan came out on top. When he graced the stage, he had a look of “Mama, I Made it’, just soaking in the applause and the venue. His mom and dad were in the audience to celebrate him, and he thanked Ryan Coogler for embracing original ideas and stories. Jordan thanked the audience for betting on him, noting that it keeps him going and keeps him striving for greatness. This win was not only anticipated due to the success of Sinners, but also due to recent events in pop culture, specifically recent comments made by fellow nominee Timothée Chalamet. Chalamet is under fire for his comments of disregard to ballet and opera, which his mother, sister, and grandmother were a part of. Many took it as though he was speaking down on them, which tanked his projected winning percentage.

In exasperation, Conan kept whispering, “We are almost there,” and then introduced Mikey Madison, saying she might be an awkward reminder that we watched Anora with our parents. As the winner from 2025, Madison was the best person to present the award for Best Leading Actress. This year’s nominees were Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone. Jessie Buckley won for her role in Hamnet. She caught a case of the giggles on stage, in utter shock that she beat out so many fellow big named actresses. Ireland bought her family flights, and she thanked her family for teaching her and her siblings not to be scared to dream and to not worry about expectations. Her speech hits deep to those that come from small areas that dream for bigger things. She dedicated her award to the chaos of a mother’s life, as it was Mother’s Day in the UK.

For the final award, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregorcame on stage as a nod to the opera, since they were co-stars in Moulin Rouge! The nominations list for Best Picture featured blockbuster after blockbuster, each boasting a star-studded cast, phenomenal crews, varying themes, and an ever-growing fanbase. Bugonia was a black comedy thriller, where two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnap the CEO of a major company when they become convinced she is an alien that wants to destroy the Earth. F1 was about Sonny, a former driver that survived a near-death accident, who is convinced to return to the track and become the best in the world. Frankenstein is a timely adaptation of Mary Shelley’s seminal work about a brilliant but egotistical scientist that brings a monstrous creature to life in a daring experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Hamnet is an intimate look at the family life of the Bard—from the birth of his children, to the untimely death of his young son, Hamnet, which later inspires Shakespeare’s greatest work. Sports drama Marty Supreme was about ping-pong player, Marty Mauser, who fights for a dream no one else believes in. In another action thriller, One Battle After Another, a former member of the revolutionary group, French 75, battles the consequences of his past when his daughter goes missing. The Secret Agent is a Brazilian political film about Marcelo, who moved to Recife to escape a dictatorship, only to find that he is still under surveillance. Sentimental Value touches on a real topic within the industry: nepotism. The father, a director, tries to give the lead role to his daughter, who declines, only to find out he gave the role to an eager Hollywood star, straining their already tumultuous relationship. The beloved allegorical horror film, Sinners, follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who return to Jim Crow–era Mississippi after working for the Chicago outfit but find themselves in the crosshairs of a group of surprisingly musical vampires. The last nominated film was the period drama Train Dreams. This drama is about a railroader named Robert Grainier, living in the 20th century Pacific Northwest, helping to create a new world, and navigating the loss of his family. Each film brought their own stories in immersive manners, and the category was so saturated with talent that no one knew who might win.The winner for best picture went to One Battle After Another, making Paul Thomas Anderson a three-for-six in wins to nominations for the night. He said he blew it by not thanking his cast when he won for best director, so he made sure to celebrate with them after this win. His speech was touching, because many glaze over the “lower level” cast and crew and don’t acknowledge how they assist in the making of successful films.

The closing segment featured Conan getting thanked and then being given Oscar’s Host for Life. As he got settled into his chair, a mysterious green mist came out, and then he was put in a chamber, with Mr. Beast’s name replacing Conan’s on the door begging the question of who might host next year’s Oscars?

Written by Kody Dillon