2025 Oscars Recap: Top Standout Moments & Historic Wins

The 2025 Oscars showcased a night of cinematic excellence,  A-list star power, and breakthrough milestones. Anora emerged as the standout, earning five major awards, including Best Picture. Notable performances included Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo‘s tribute to The Wizard of Oz and their starring roles in Wicked, which secured multiple wins.

Zoe Saldaña made history as the first American of Dominican origin to win an Oscar, drawing attention to her acclaimed role in Emilia Pérez, the ceremony’s most-nominated film. The evening also celebrated diversity and resilience in filmmaking, with a spotlight on independent cinema and the enduring magic of storytelling.

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists from Us Weekly.