The 97th Academy Awards were a blend of the predictable and the jaw-dropping. Anora, the film that had everyone buzzing, led the charge with five wins, including Best Film. But beyond the expected, there were plenty of moments that left us all scratching our heads—or laughing out loud.
Let’s dive into the real surprises:
1. Best Actress Shocker: Mikey Madison Steals the Spotlight Mikey Madison’s victory for Anora was nothing short of a surprise. The actress had a phenomenal performance, but no one predicted she’d knock out Demi Moore, who had been sweeping the awards season. Moore was the clear favorite, with buzz surrounding her performance in The Substance. Yet, when Madison’s name was called, the room was stunned. Looks like the buzz didn’t quite make it to the stage after all!
2. The Brutalist’s Big Snub In a stunning turn of events, The Brutalist—which garnered eight nominations—walked away with zero wins. Adrien Brody’s performance in the film was expected to earn him Best Actor, but the category was once again ruled by Timothée Chalamet’s stellar work in Dylan. The surprise snub has me wondering: was Brody’s time just not yet? Or was it simply Chalamet’s night?
3. I’m Still Here Triumphs Over Emilia Perez for Best International Feature I’m Still Here upset Emilia Perez to claim the coveted Best International Feature Oscar. Emilia Perez, with its 13 nominations, only managed to walk away with two wins, making it one of the biggest disappointments of the night. Meanwhile, I’m Still Here snagged the top prize in the category, leaving many of us asking: did we miss something here?
4. Diane Warren: The Unluckiest Nominee Diane Warren’s 0-for-16 record in the Best Original Song category is starting to feel like an Oscar curse at this point. She’s been nominated time and time again, but the elusive win still hasn’t come her way. This year, despite the strength of The Journey, the award went to El Mal. Diane, we all love you, but is it time to face the music? Maybe next year?
5. Sean Baker Breaks Records In one of the most historic moments of the night, Anora’s Sean Baker made history by winning four Oscars for the same film, tying Walt Disney’s record. But the real kicker? He became the first director to achieve this feat for a single movie. Baker’s win for Best Editing over Nick Emerson was a major surprise that had Twitter buzzing. His triumph is nothing short of monumental, and it makes me wonder what we’ll see from him next.
A Side Note: Conan’s Hosting and Adam Sandler’s Memes Let’s not forget Conan’s performance as the host—he did an excellent job, keeping things lighthearted and engaging, with just the right amount of humor. But the real viral moment of the night? Adam Sandler. In a move that perfectly encapsulates his comedic genius, Sandler trolled Donald Trump by showing up in a sweatshirt and gym shorts. He immediately became an internet meme, and honestly, I don’t think anyone can top that level of troll game.
Final Thoughts: A Night Full of Surprises The 97th Oscars left us with a lot to talk about. From shock wins to historic moments, this year’s ceremony proved that anything can happen in Hollywood. While some predictions were spot-on, others caught us completely off guard. One thing is for sure: the Oscar conversation is going to be a wild one in the days to come.
