The 2025 Academy Awards are officially underway as Hollywood celebrates the best films and acting performances of the last year.
Sunday’s ceremony is hosted by Conan O’Brien, who takes over from Oscars stalwart Jimmy Kimmel.
Nominations were announced in January, with Netflix’s divisive musical Emilia Pérez leading the pack on 13 nominations, setting a record for a non-English-language film. Meanwhile, The Brutalist and Wicked tied with 10 nominations apiece. A Complete Unknown and Conclave followed with eight mentions each.
In the acting categories, Demi Moore (The Substance), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), and Ariana Grande (Wicked) are among the nominees.
Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón is also in attendance after sitting out most of awards season due to her racist tweet controversy.
There is likely to be some kind of tribute to film icon Gene Hackman, whose death under “suspicious” circumstances at 95 is currently under investigation.
This year’s ceremony will air on ABC and stream on Hulu on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. British viewers can tune in on ITV1 and ITVX.
The Independent will be bringing you live updates from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Follow along below:
Key points
- Who is nominated?
- How to watch the ceremony
- The Independent's Oscar predictions
- What's in the Oscars gift bag?
Mikey Madison wins Best Actress; Anora wins Best Picture in shock victories
03:50
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Tom Murray
Well, well, well. A classic Oscars upset as 25-year-old Mikey Madison beats Demi Moore and Anora beats The Brutalist and Conclave.
It was a deserved win for Sean Baker’s “sad and sexy glitter bomb of a film,” writes The Independent’s Adam White.
“At the centre of it all is Mikey Madison. After small but memorable parts as an acid-soaked Charles Manson acolyte in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and an unassuming Ghostface in the Scream franchise, Anora arrived at an opportune moment for the actor, a star-making role if ever there was one. And as the hard-talking, fast-speaking Ani, Madison goes for broke.”
Read more:
What stars are wearing to the afterparties
03:40
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Tom Murray
Stars are already starting to celebrate across town at Vanity Fair‘s exclusive after-party inside the Beverly Hills Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
While many A-listers played it safe, posing against the sunset-hued backdrop in glamorous couture garb, others turned up in questionable outfits. Olivia Wilde smiled for the cameras in a totally sheer gown with a plunging neckline that exposed her naked figure underneath.
See all the boldest looks here:
Palestinian-Israeli winners call for Middle East peace as they accept their Oscars
03:35
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Tom Murray
The winners of Best Documentary Feature Film used their acceptance speech to highlight the need for peace in the Middle East and called for the liberation of Palestine, as well as the safety of Israel.
Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, and Yuval Abraham, an Israeli investigative journalist, won the Oscar for their film No Other Land, which shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank’s Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and explores the alliance that develops between the two men.
Adra told crowds of A-listers, which included actress and former IDF soldier Gal Gadot, that he had recently become a father, and hoped his young daughter would not have to live in fear, as he had “under Israeli occupation.”
Read more:
Adrien Brody wins Best Actor... and takes his time on stage
03:33
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Tom Murray
Adrien Brody showed his power over the Oscars producers as he demanded they stopped trying to play him off during his speech on stage. The actor became a two-time Oscar winner after taking home Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist.
“I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world,” he said. “I believe if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”
Mick Jagger shares unexpected Bob Dylan admission
03:21
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Tom Murray
The Rolling Stones frontman, 81, was a surprise attendee as he received a standing ovation from Hollywood stars, including fellow musician Elton John.
But when Jagger graced the stage to applause from the audience, he humbly revealed that he wasn’t actually the first choice to present the Best Original Song category. Jagger claimed that Dylan had been asked to attend due to the biopic of his life, A Complete Unknown, being nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet.
“As much as I love doing it, I wasn’t the first choice to give this award out,” Jagger said, adding candidly: “The producers really wanted Bob Dylan to do this.”
Read more:
Conan gets political
03:17
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Tom Murray
O’Brien appeared to mock Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin in his latest bit.
“Anora is having a good night. Two wins already,” he said. “I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian.”
'Emilia Pérez' loses Best International Feature Film
03:09
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Tom Murray
Best International Feature Film seemed to be a lock for Emilia Pérez. However, it’s I'm Still Here that goes home with the win.
Director Walter Salles accepted the first Oscar win for Brazil after five 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 to not to bend, and to resist.”
The film is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s 2015 memoir of the same name about Eunice Paiva — a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband, the dissident politician Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), during the military dictatorship in Brazil.
Morgan Freeman pays tribute to Gene Hackman
02:50
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Tom Murray
Morgan Freeman introduced the annual In Memorium segment with a tribute to Gene Hackman, who died under “suspicious” circumstances just weeks ago.
“He won 2 Oscars but most importantly, he won the hearts of film-lovers around the world,” said Morgan.
Colman Domingo instigates dance party during ad break
02:27
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Kevin EG Perry at the Oscars
During the ad break, Best Actor-nominee Colman Domingo came onstage to urge nominees to toast to Los Angeles with little bottles of tequila.
He then instigated a brief “dance party” and encouraged attendees to take selfies. Something to note if everyone seems a bit more relaxed next time you see them on screen.
Conan O'Brien makes Drake joke
02:19
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Tom Murray
“Well, we're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile,” O’Brien jokes, referencing Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show performance of his Grammy-winning diss track “Not Like Us.”
Just when Drake thought it was safe to watch TV again.
Oscars viewers did not like the James Bond tribute
02:07
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Tom Murray
Oscars viewers branded the bizarre James Bond musical segment as “pointless” — and one of the “worst” moments in the ceremony’s history.
“I’m a huge James Bond fan but unless they are announcing the new Bond I don’t see the point…” one person wrote on X/Twitter, with another chiming in: “This James Bond montage and performance is cool and all, but it has no relevance to… anything about the last year in movies.”
An additional viewer wrote: “I’m so confused. Why are we honoring Bond if there’s no new movie out and we don’t even know when the next movie is coming out?”
Read more:
Zoe Saldaña wins Best Supporting Actress
02:00
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Tom Murray
Zoe Saldaña emotionally paid tribute to her mother while accepting her award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez.
Calling herself a “proud child of immigrant parents” — she added, “Everything brave, outrageous and brave in my life that I've ever done is because of you.”
However, Adam White argue Ariana Grande should have won the award.
“Even before Emilia Pérez imploded, Zoe Saldaña’s inevitable Best Supporting Actress win felt askew: she’s more or less the film’s lead, and Emilia Pérez itself is such a calamity that it’s difficult to stand entirely in her corner,” he writes. “... Give the prize to Ariana Grande — she’s incredibly funny and charismatic in Wicked and walks away with the whole film.”
The Academy pays tribute to James Bond
01:50
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Tom Murray
The Oscars just aired a musical tribute in celebration of the James Bond franchise’s 60th anniversary and the outgoing producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson.
In what could be taken as a live audition, the tribute opened with The Substance star Margaret Qualley in a red dress dancing a tango.
Lisa of the K-pop girlband Blackpink, Doja Cat and RAYE then sang iconic James Bond tracks: “Live and Let Die,” “Diamonds Are Forever” and “Skyfall.”
Paul Tazewell: 'This is the pinnacle of my career'
01:28
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Kevin EG Perry at the Oscars
Paul Tazewell, the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked, says backstage: “This is the pinnacle of my career.”
He movingly describes his journey through an industry without role models. “The whole way through, there was never a Black male designer that I could follow, that I could see as inspiration,” he says. “To realize that that’s actually me, is a Wizard of Oz moment. There’s no place like home.”
All the winners — updating live
01:25
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Tom Murray
Struggling to keep up already? We’ve got you covered. Follow the winners list — updating live — here:
Review: 'Conan O’Brien’s incredibly silly Oscar monologue was the best in years'
01:24
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Tom Murray
Featuring digs at controversial Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon and a Dune sandworm playing the piano, the comedian’s opening run of zingers made up for years of plodding mediocrity from Jimmy Kimmel, writes Adam White.
Watch Jeremy Strong’s sullen reaction as he loses Oscar to Succession co-star Kieran Culkin
01:22
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Tom Murray
Andrew Garfield praised for helping Goldie Hawn on stage
01:20
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Tom Murray
Andrew Garfield had to assist Goldie Hawn with the Oscars autocue after she revealed she has cataracts.
Midway through their appearance on stage, Hawn, who was delivering her pre-written dialogue, had to stop as she was unable to see what was on the screen.
She then asked Garfield to step in to help her.
Cataracts are a common part of aging and cause blurry vision.
Garfield has since been praised for his assistance, with the moment branded “beautiful” by viewers.
Read more:
'Anora' wins first upset of the night
01:18
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Tom Murray
Sean Baker wins Best Writing (Original Screenplay) for Anora — an award that many expected to go to Jesse Eisenberg for A Real Pain.
Anora follows a young sex worker from Brooklyn who gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of a Russian oligarch. In his speech, Baker thanked “the sex worker community.”
It may indicate more wins for Baker on the night. For The Independent, Annabel Nugent recently argued the film deserves to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
Read her take here:
'Wicked's' Paul Tazewell becomes first Black man to win Best Costume Design
01:09
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Tom Murray
Paul Tazewell wins Best Costume Design for his work in Wicked, becoming the first Black man to do so.
Cynthia Erivo was seen shooting to her feet to applaud the designer while Coleman Domingo was filmed screaming, “Bravo!”
“This is absolutely astounding,” he said in his speech.
The first Black person to win the category was Ruth E. Carter, who won for her work in Black Panther.
Kieran Culkin cracks jokes backstage
01:03
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Kevin EG Perry at the Oscars
Kieran Culkin is the first winner into the backstage interview room, clutching his Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He seems like he’s floating.
Dazzled, but still grinning. “I’m not fully inside my body right now. I’m trying my best to be present,” he says.
He's full of praise for Jesse Eisenberg's screenplay, saying: “The script was incredibly tight. It was the first time I ever read something and thought, I fully understand this guy.”
Despite his dazed look, he's characteristically still cracking jokes — making light of the numbers journalists have to hold overhead to get the moderator's attention: “Number two-thousand eight hundred and sixty four… what’s your question?”
'Flow' gets big backstage reaction from Latvian press
00:55
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Kevin EG Perry at the Oscars
There’s a huge reaction backstage as Flow wins the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. The Latvian contingent in the press room are cheering and hugging each other.
Flow is the first Latvian film to ever be nominated at the Academy Awards.
Oscar viewers fume as Hulu experiences outages
00:49
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Tom Murray
Streaming service Hulu has experienced widespread outages just as the Oscars began, leaving many viewers frustrated.
Over 22,000 customers reported experiencing problems across multiple states, according to DownDetector.com. Users reported frozen and pixelated images.
“Seriously? During the Oscars?” wrote one user. “So ready to ditch Hulu,” wrote another.
Read more:
Kieran Culkin takes home the first award of the night for 'A Real Pain'
00:35
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Tom Murray
In his acceptance speech, Culkin displayed a rare moment of earnestness, thanking Robert Downey Jr for presenting him the award for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to thank Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote, directed, and starred alongside him in A Real Pain.
Conan O'Brien mocks Karla Sofía Gascón controversy in opening monologue
00:29
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Tom Murray
Oof. Conan did not shy away from Karla Sofía Gascón’s social media controversy.
“Anora uses the F-word 479 times,” he said.
“That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist: ‘You tweeted WHAT?'” he joked, adding: “And Karla if you are going to tweet about the Oscars, remember my name is Jimmy Kimmel.”
Kimmel hosted the Oscars four times, including last year.
Gascón found herself in hot water when journalist Sarah Hagi drew attention to a series of problematic tweets made from the actor’s X account between 2020 and 2021.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande kick things off with 'Wicked' performance
00:16
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Tom Murray
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande held a lot of space on stage as they kicked off the Oscars with “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz and the Wicked hit “Defying Gravity.”
Grande watched in adoration as her co-star belted out those iconic final notes.
Oscars announcer Nick Offerman makes Kevin Spacey joke
00:09
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Kevin EG Perry at the Oscars
Announcer Nick Offerman draws laughs and groans as he reminds nominees not to take too long to get to the stage, so don't spend too much time hugging those around you “whether consensual, or with Kevin Spacey.”
Oscar nominee struck by tragedy hours before ceremony
00:02
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Tom Murray
The Oscar-nominated short film The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent has been struck by tragedy on the eve of the Academy Awards.
Darko Buzov, the son of the Croatian man whose heroic true story inspired the film, and who was himself an important force behind the film’s creation, died suddenly of a heart attack aged 52 on Saturday (1 March).
Read more:
Ben Stiller remembers Gene Hackman on the red carpet
Sunday 2 March 2025 23:52
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Tom Murray
Ben Stiller called his The Royal Tenenbaums co-star a “giant” on the red carpet.
Stiller played Hackman's son Chas Tenenbaum in Wes Anderson’s 2001 drama. The legendary French Connection star was found dead, aged 95, in his Santa Fe home along with his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, and one of their pet dogs on Wednesday.
Video: The Oscars red carpet looks: The good, the bad and the outrageous
Sunday 2 March 2025 23:30
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Tom Murray
Timothée Chalamet arrives to screaming fans
Sunday 2 March 2025 23:20
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Kevin EG Perry at the Oscars
There's a very particular, high-pitched squeal that greets the arrival of Timothée Chalamet. He's turned up dressed head-to-toe in a striking daffodil suit.
The A Complete Unknown star has replicated various old Bob Dylan looks at many of the key events this awards season, but this bright yellow look is pure Chalamet. (Dylan, everyone knows, prefers to be tailored up in blue.)
The Independent's Kevin EG Perry is reporting live from the Dolby Theatre
Sunday 2 March 2025 23:17
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Kevin EG Perry at the Oscars
Hello from backstage at the Dolby Theatre! The red carpet is buzzing with excitement outside, but in here, there’s a palpable feeling of nervous tension in the air. This is the night that Hollywood’s long awards season has all been building towards, an occasion when so many will find out whether they’ll be going home empty-handed or delivering a speech they’ve been dreaming about since they were children stood in front of the mirror clutching a hairbrush like a statuette.
Best dressed on the red carpet — updating live
Sunday 2 March 2025 23:10
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Tom Murray
The Independent’s Lifestyle team is casting a scrupulous eye over the red carpet, determining who are this year’s fashion winners — and who should take the wooden spoon.
You can follow along with the best — and most questionable — outfits, updating live here:
Conan O'Brien shares his pre-show ritual
Sunday 2 March 2025 22:34
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Tom Murray
Conan O’Brien is doing exactly what you’d think Conan O’Brien would be doing before his Oscars hosting gig.
“Preshow ritual,” he captioned a photo on X, which showed him holding a guitar with a pipe in his mouth. “I’m hosting the #Oscars tonight on @ABC and @hulu. See you there!”
Preshow ritual. I’m hosting the #Oscars tonight on @ABC and @hulu. See you there! pic.twitter.com/4VEydsQPvI
— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) March 2, 2025
James Bond music tribute confirmed by Oscars president
Sunday 2 March 2025 22:24
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Tom Murray
The Oscars will air a special tribute to the music of James Bond, Academy president Janet Yang told Variety on the red carpet.
“The Bond tribute is going to be amazing,” she said. “It’s going to be one of the highlights of the show.”
It comes weeks after long-serving 007 producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced they were handing over creative control of the iconic franchise to Amazon MGM Studios.
The pair also received honorary Oscars Governors Awards in November.
Read more:
Ethan Slater arrives on the red carpet without Ariana Grande
Sunday 2 March 2025 22:16
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Tom Murray
Ethan Slater has arrived on the red carpet without his Wicked co-star and girlfriend, Ariana Grande.
The musical’s Oscar-nominated stars, Grande and Cynthia Erivo, will perform during the ceremony, it was confirmed earlier this week.
The Oscars’ 10 greatest Best Picture winners, from All About Eve to Parasite
Sunday 2 March 2025 22:00
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Greg Evans
The Independent's Geoffrey Macnab chooses the best films to have ever won Hollywood's most prestigious award
Who is presenting award tonight?
Sunday 2 March 2025 21:20
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Greg Evans
Selena Gomez, Ben Stiller and Oprah Winfrey, Elle Fanning, Halle Berry and Penélope Cruz are among the top names confirmed as presenters.
Red carpet gets underway
Sunday 2 March 2025 20:53
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Tom Murray
It’s barely lunchtime in Los Angeles, but the Oscars red carpet is officially underway as this year’s nominees begin to trickle into the Dolby Theatre. For a second year, the ceremony will begin an hour earlier than usual in an effort to retain viewers on the East Coast.
ABC’s official red carpet coverage won’t start until 6:30 p.m. ET. It will also be available to watch on Hulu.
Stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you all the best and — ahem — most daring looks from the red carpet.
Oscar nominations 2025: The full list of movies, actors and directors
Sunday 2 March 2025 20:20
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Greg Evans
All the movies and actors that are in contention for trophies at tonight’s ceremony.
15 worst films that ever won Oscars, ranked
Sunday 2 March 2025 19:20
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Greg Evans
Any belief that the Oscars award the right films, directors and performances has faded over the years.
While every ceremony has a smattering of correct decisions – trophies handed to the right people for the right films – more often than not, the pervading feeling is one of pessimism caused by a deluge of undeserving recipients.
The Oscars are a far cry from what they claim to be – a celebration of the previous year’s cinematic offerings. But this does not stop people from trawling the internet the following morning in the hope that maybe, just maybe, the winners list impresses rather than disappoints.
With the 2025 ceremony taking place in March, we have highlighted 15 films that really should not have been awarded Oscars.
Oscars 2025 predictions: Who will win and who should win at this year’s Academy Awards
Sunday 2 March 2025 18:20
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Greg Evans
Will it be Demi Moore or Mikey Madison? Timothée Chalamet or Adrien Brody? And is Emilia Pérez really, truly dead in the water? Ahead of the Sunday’s Academy Awards, Adam White predicts who will reign supreme in the show’s major categories.
Emilia Pérez is a mess of a film – it is also a worrying tale of our time that it was nominated for so many Oscars
Sunday 2 Marc