The 97th Academy Awards have wrapped up, with *Anora* standing out as the night’s main victor, claiming Best Picture and three additional awards. One of the evening’s most shocking moments was Mikey Madison’s surprise win for Best Actress.
Aside from the winning and losing, the ceremony featured numerous unforgettable instances—both positive and negative. From Conan O’Brien’s engaging hosting to some annoying technical issues, here’s a summary of the most notable highs and lows from the 2025 Oscars.
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### **The Best Moments**
#### **Conan O’Brien’s Hosting Genius**
Conan O’Brien showcased his unique humor on the Oscars stage, delivering an amusing opening monologue laced with clever quips about AI and Netflix. His performance featured a surprise musical number, a *Substance*-themed sketch, and playful banter with Adam Sandler and Nick Offerman, solidifying him as one of the most entertaining hosts in recent memory.
#### **A Stunning *Wicked* Opening Performance**
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the stars of *Wicked*, opened the ceremony with an impressive tribute performance honoring *The Wizard of Oz*, *The Wiz*, and *Wicked*. Their rendition of “Defying Gravity” was a show-stealer, concluding with an awe-inspiring final note from Erivo.
#### **John Lithgow’s Memorable Disappointed Expression**
O’Brien introduced a comical new technique for interrupting lengthy acceptance speeches—cutting to John Lithgow’s mildly disappointed face. The *Conclave* star’s well-timed expression quickly turned into a viral meme and one of the evening’s most amusing recurring jokes.
#### **Colman Domingo’s Audience Dance Party**
During a commercial break, *Sing Sing* star and Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo took it upon himself to uplift the audience. He hopped on stage, Champagne in hand, getting everyone in the room dancing, creating a welcome moment of lightheartedness amid the drawn-out ceremony.
#### **Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham’s Impactful Speech**
When *No Other Land* won Best Documentary, co-directors Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham delivered one of the most heartfelt speeches of the evening. Adra, a Palestinian journalist, shared his hopes for his newborn daughter to live without anxiety, while Abraham, an Israeli journalist, highlighted the strength found in unity. Their address served as a poignant reminder of storytelling’s real-world significance.
#### **Kieran Culkin’s Emotional Tribute to Jeremy Strong**
Despite portraying competitive siblings in *Succession*, Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong shared a tender moment at the Oscars. After winning Best Supporting Actor for *A Real Pain*, Culkin took a moment to recognize his former co-star and fellow nominee, showcasing their strong off-screen friendship.
#### **The Musical Sandworm**
The *Dune* franchise has turned sandworms into a notable cultural icon, and the Oscars elevated this concept even further. A person dressed as a sandworm was spotted playing the piano—and later, the harp—during the event. Conan O’Brien summed it all up perfectly: “When you invest that much money in a joke, you must execute it *twice*.”
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### **The Worst Moments**
#### **Significant Omissions in the In Memoriam Section**
While the In Memoriam tribute recognized icons like Dame Maggie Smith, David Lynch, and James Earl Jones, fans quickly noticed several glaring omissions. Among those absent were *Candyman* star Tony Todd and *Gossip Girl* actress Michelle Trachtenberg, leading to an online backlash.
#### **Hulu’s Livestream Disaster**
Fans streaming the Oscars through Hulu faced frustration when the feed cut out just before the announcements for Best Actress and Best Picture. The blunder drew widespread criticism, with many likening their disappointment to John Lithgow’s now-famous expression. Ironically, this incident underscored Sean Baker’s Best Director speech regarding the necessity of viewing films on the big screen.
#### **The *Emilia Pérez* Sing-Along That Flopped**
Award speeches can be memorable for the wrong reasons, as evidenced by the *Emilia Pérez* songwriters’ attempt to engage the audience in a sing-along of “El Mal” after winning Best Original Song. Unfortunately, the audience’s lack of enthusiasm turned it into an awkward and cringeworthy situation.
#### **Adrien Brody’s Endless Speech**
Upon winning Best Actor for *The Brutalist*, Adrien Brody’s acceptance speech dragged on for an agonizing six minutes, marked by long pauses and a botched attempt to signal him off by the orchestra. Social media erupted, with many playfully calling for John Lithgow’s disappointed expression to resurface once more.
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Despite a handful of blunders, the 2025 Oscars provided numerous unforgettable moments. Want to see