The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, proved to be anything but predictable. From upset victories and milestone nominations to heated debates over technology’s role in filmmaking, the ceremony showcased a Hollywood in flux. Indie cinema scored a major triumph, streaming platforms faced unexpected setbacks, and conversations about inclusivity took center stage. Collectively, the night’s biggest winners and controversies illustrate an industry undergoing significant transformation while still grappling with tradition.
Anora, an independent drama distributed by Neon, delivered the evening’s most dramatic surprise by clinching Best Picture—defying pundits who had predicted a win for Netflix’s musical Emilia Pérez. Written and directed by Sean Baker, Anora swept five awards, including Best Picture. This victory marked a pivotal moment for Neon (the studio behind Parasite’s successful Oscar run) and underscored the Academy’s continued reverence for theatrical releases over streaming exclusives.
Despite Emilia Pérez leading the field with 13 nominations, Neon’s modestly budgeted film came out on top. As a result, Netflix remains in pursuit of its first Best Picture win. Baker’s film—a gritty, character-driven story set in the American heartland—demonstrated that risk-taking storytelling from outside the major studio system can prevail in Hollywood’s biggest competition.
Beyond Anora’s triumph as Best Picture, Sean Baker made history with a record-setting performance of his own. He won Best Director as well as additional Oscars for Original Screenplay and Film Editing, tying a decades-old record for most awards by a single individual in one night. His accolades attest to the Academy’s high regard for boundary-pushing indie filmmaking and highlight Baker’s multifaceted craftsmanship—an achievement that resonates in an era often dominated by big-budget franchise films.
The Best Actress category saw newcomer Mikey Madison, star of Anora, score an unexpected victory. Her portrayal of the film’s namesake—a young woman battling hardships in small-town America—captivated voters. Outperforming a field that included industry veterans like Demi Moore (The Substance), Madison’s win underscores the Academy’s openness to honoring breakout talent.
Adrien Brody earned his second Best Actor trophy for his transformative turn in The Brutalist. Directed by Brady Corbet, this art-house film follows a post-war Hungarian architect attempting to rebuild his life. Brody’s nuanced performance beat out other high-profile contenders, including Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice), who generated early awards buzz. Brody’s success reaffirmed his place as a powerhouse performer and brought renewed attention to Corbet’s bold, visually striking film.
One of the ceremony’s most emotional moments came when Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her role as a resilient Mexican lawyer in Emilia Pérez. Known primarily for her work in blockbuster franchises (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy), Saldaña ventured into a more intimate musical drama and seized her first Academy Award. This accolade provided a highlight for Emilia Pérez, which otherwise fell short of securing major category wins despite its numerous nominations.
A key talking point was the increasing use of artificial intelligence on film sets. Both The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez implemented AI-driven technologies in post-production, drawing a mixed response from industry professionals. The Brutalist used software to refine Hungarian-language dialogue, prompting questions about authenticity and labor concerns among purists and guild representatives. Similarly, Emilia Pérez reportedly enhanced Karla Sofía Gascón’s singing voice by blending AI-generated vocals with her own—sparking fresh debates about where the line should be drawn between creative tools and the essence of a performance.
Despite the controversies, neither film was shunned by the Academy. The Brutalist secured several technical awards (including Best Cinematography and Best Original Score), while Emilia Pérez won for Best Original Song (“El Mal”) and earned Saldaña her supporting actress honor. These results suggest the Academy is taking a balanced stance: recognizing innovations in filmmaking while acknowledging concerns that advanced technologies may erode the craft if left unregulated. As the industry grapples with AI’s potential, it remains clear that transparency and ethical considerations will increasingly shape the creative process.
The 2025 Oscars offered a nuanced portrait of Hollywood’s evolving priorities. International stories made significant waves—Emilia Pérez (French-produced, set in Mexico) and The Brutalist (a US-UK co-production with European historical elements) both garnered major nominations—highlighting the Academy’s growing openness to diverse viewpoints. Yet the night’s big winner, Anora, is a quintessentially American story, underscoring that local narratives can still resonate most strongly with voters. This outcome indicates a blending of broader cultural awareness with a lingering preference for narratives that reflect familiar themes and domestic perspectives.
The 2025 Oscars embodied the tension between old and new—celebrating groundbreaking artists, recognizing bold use of AI, and honoring underrepresented talent, all while continuing to reward classic storytelling traditions. Sean Baker’s Anora exemplified how small, heartfelt projects can capture the industry’s highest honor, while the controversies surrounding Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist underscored that technological and social change rarely comes without friction. As Hollywood transforms, the Academy’s choices suggest it still prizes human connection, narrative depth, and theatrical experiences. If this ceremony is any indication, the future of film will be shaped by both cutting-edge tools and timeless storytelling fundamentals, driven by voices that push boundaries yet remain grounded in the craft of cinema.