The 2025 Oscars Run-Down
The 97th Annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday night at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, delivering an eventful evening filled with memorable moments.
To start, the name Oscar for the Academy Award originated from Margaret Herrick, an Academy librarian and later executive director, who remarked that the statuette resembled her uncle Oscar. Since then, the Academy has officially referred to the award as an Oscar.
Adrien Brody set a Guinness World Record for the longest Oscar speech, speaking for a total of five minutes and 40 seconds. However, many online users felt that despite the length, he did not say much of substance. Adding to the night’s viral moments, Brody casually spat out his gum and tossed it to his wife while walking up to the stage. Later in the evening, he and Halle Berry shared a surprise kiss, seemingly a playful nod to their infamous moment at the 2003 Oscars when Brody kissed Berry after winning Best Actor.
Wicked won two awards. Many viewers had expected it to sweep the categories, but it ultimately won Best Costume Design, awarded to Paul Tazewell, and Best Production Design, awarded to Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales.
Anora won a total of five Academy Awards. The independent film had a modest budget of only six million dollars, a stark contrast to the typical Hollywood film budget, which often falls around one hundred million dollars. Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her portrayal of Ani, a sex worker. Sean Baker won Best Director, and the film also took home awards for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
There was also controversy surrounding the film Emilia Perez, particularly regarding lead actress Karla Sofia Gascon. Old tweets resurfaced in which she made comments about Muslim people, George Floyd, and racial diversity. Despite the backlash, the film won two Oscars. Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actress, though many viewers believed she was undeserving and should have won for a different film. The film also won Best Original Song for “El Mal.”
Katie Feeney, a Sherwood alum, made an appearance at the Oscars and shared behind-the-scenes moments on her TikTok page. She interviewed celebrities including Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, and Jeff Goldblum. Feeney has amassed over 14 million followers across her social media platforms. Currently a senior at Penn State, she has worked as the first official media correspondent for the Washington Commanders and has collaborated with major sports leagues such as the NBA, NHL, and MLB.
Fashion was also a major highlight of the evening.
