Oscars 2025 Winners List: Anora Wins Big as Mikey Madison, Adrien Brody, and Sean Baker Take Top Honors

The 97th Academy Awards have come to an end, with Anora taking Best Picture and Sean Baker winning Best Director. Mikey Madison won Best Actress, while Adrien Brody claimed Best Actor for The Brutalist. Other big winners included Dune: Part Two, Wicked, and Brazil’s I’m Still Here. That’s all for this year’s Oscars—see you next time!

Sean Baker’s Anora has won Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. The indie film beat strong contenders like Dune: Part Two, Wicked, The Brutalist, and A Complete Unknown. This marks a big night for Anora, with Baker also winning Best Director and Mikey Madison taking Best Actress.

Mikey Madison has officially cemented her place in Hollywood, taking home the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Anora. The 25-year-old delivered a powerful performance as Ani, an exotic dancer whose impulsive marriage to a Russian oligarch’s son leads to unexpected turmoil. Madison was considered a dark horse earlier in the season, but her BAFTA win signaled she was a serious contender. She triumphed over The Substance star Demi Moore, Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo, Emilia Pérez lead Karla Sofía Gascón, and Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here). “This is very surreal,” Madison said as she accepted her award. “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me, so to be here, standing in this room today is really incredible.” She also used her speech to highlight the real-life stories behind her character. “I just want to recognize and honor the sex worker community,” she said. “I will continue to support and be an ally. All of the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this incredible experience.”

Sean Baker has won the Best Director award at the 2025 Oscars for Anora. In his acceptance speech, Baker used the moment to advocate for traditional movie-going, saying: "Movie theaters, especially independently owned theaters, are struggling. If we don't reverse this trend, we'll be losing a vital part of our culture." He also encouraged filmmakers to continue making films for the big screen, adding, "I know I will." This marks Baker’s third Oscar win of the night, making it a standout evening for the Anora director.

Adrien Brody has won the Best Actor award at the 2025 Oscars for his role in The Brutalist. The 51-year-old actor played László Tóth, an architect who escapes postwar Europe to start a new life in America. He won over Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice), and Colman Domingo (Sing Sing). In his acceptance speech, Brody said: "I appreciate the love I’ve received, and it’s taken me 22 years to receive this level of love again. That is so meaningful to me, because that’s all I do with my life. It is devoted to this work, and it’s not like I wasn’t looking for material of this caliber or a role of this magnitude." This win comes after a strong awards season, where Brody also won at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice Awards. However, the race was still competitive, as Chalamet won the SAG Award just a week earlier for playing Bob Dylan. In his Critics’ Choice speech in February, Brody reflected on his career and mentioned his partner, Georgina Chapman, who he has been dating since 2020.

Daniel Blumberg Wins Best Original Score for The Brutalist! Daniel Blumberg won Best Original Score for The Brutalist at the 2025 Oscars. The film, directed by Brady Corbet, follows a Hungarian architect who emigrates to America with his wife, only to face unexpected challenges in his pursuit of success. This marks his first Academy Award win.

I’m Still Here, the Brazilian film that was also nominated for Best Picture, has won Best International Film at the 2025 Oscars. Director Walter Salles accepted the award, marking Brazil’s first-ever Oscar win after five previous nominations. “Thank you first in the name of Brazilian cinema in such an extraordinary group of filmmakers,” Salles said. “This goes to a woman … who decided not to bend, and to resist.”

Denis Villeneuve's spectacle claims another well-earned victory, taking home the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

Though Dune: Part Two seemed at risk of being overlooked, this category was never in doubt. The winners were played off quickly, but the impact of their work lingers- perhaps even with some hearing loss! 

Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard take home the Oscar for Best Original Song for El Mal from Emilia Pérez.

Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales take home the Oscar for Best Production Design for Wicked. Their incredible work transformed the world of Oz into a breathtaking spectacle, bringing magic to the big screen!

Zoe Saldaña takes home her first Academy Award, winning Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. She triumphed over nominees Monika Barbara (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave). Overcome with emotion, Saldaña tearfully called out, “Mommy! Mommy!” as she dedicated the win to her family. “My mom is here. My whole family is here. I am floored by this honor,” she said. She thanked the Academy for recognizing “the quiet heroism and power in a woman like Rita” and celebrated her fellow nominees, calling their support a “true gift” she promises to pay forward. Saldaña received the award from last year’s winner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph. #Oscars

Sean Baker wins his second Oscar of the night, taking home Best Film Editing for Anora. His sharp storytelling and seamless editing make this a well-deserved victory.

Lisa, Raye, and Doja Cat deliver a stunning musical tribute to James Bond at the 97th Academy Awards. The performance honors legendary Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who were previously recognized with honorary Oscars at the 15th Governors Awards for their contributions to cinema.

Marilyne Scarselli, Pierre Olivier Persin, and Stephanie Guillon take home the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for The Substance. Their work brought the film’s striking transformations to life, making this a well-deserved win.