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Hollywood’s biggest night delivered everything—epic wins, crushing losses, and a masterclass in comedy from first-time host Conan O’Brien, who turned the Dolby Theatre into his late-night playground. The 97th Academy Awards will be remembered for Anora’s total domination, a Brutalist breakthrough, and the sheer unpredictability that stunned fans—and even the winners—. 

Sean Baker’s Anora reigned supreme, winning Best Picture and netting Baker two more golden statues for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Mikey Madison’s fearless performance as the film’s lead, a sex worker entangled in a billionaire family’s chaos, earned her a well-deserved Best Actress win. In contrast, the film’s sharp, fast-paced storytelling secured Best Film Editing. 

But The Brutalist made a significant statement, with Adrien Brody emerging victorious in the Best Actor category for his decisive, transformative role in the historical drama. The film also took home Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, cementing its artistic impact. 

Adding to the night’s most satisfying wins, Kieran Culkin rode the wave of critical acclaim to win Best Supporting Actor for his work in A Real Pain, proving that stepping out of the shadow of television’s Roy family (Succession, anyone?) was the right move. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña continued her awards-season sweep, securing Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, a role that showcased her unmatched versatility. The film’s signature track, “El Mal,” also won Best Original Song, marking another win for musical-driven storytelling. 

And then there was Conan O’Brien. The late-night king’s hosting debut turned the Oscars into a chaotic, self-aware roast of Hollywood’s biggest names. From opening the show with a sketch where he “accidentally” locked himself out of the theater to calling out the Academy for never nominating stunt performers (“They risk their lives—meanwhile, Meryl Streep wins for eating soup dramatically”), O’Brien kept the crowd in stitches. A particular highlight? His impromptu attempt to “direct” the winners’ speeches, complete with fake stage directions and dramatic zoom-ins. 

Elsewhere, blockbuster cinema proved it still had awards-season muscle. Dune: Part Two cleaned up in the technical categories, winning Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, while Wicked took home Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Best International Feature Film went to I’m Still Here (Brazil), and the animated world had its moment with Flow securing Best Animated Feature Film. 

While some expected contenders (Conclave, The Zone of Interest) were edged out in significant categories, the night belonged to bold, original storytelling. Anora cemented its place in Oscar history, Brody and Saldaña added defining moments to their careers, and Conan O’Brien may have just made himself Hollywood’s most in-demand host. If this year proved anything, the Oscars still know how to shock, delight, and deliver pure entertainment.