The star-studded event promised to be filled with remarkable appearances, featuring nominees and presenters such as Cynthia Erivo, Mindy Kaling, Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, and Emma Stone, all ready to impress on this illustrious night.
Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the Oscars served as a celebratory conclusion to an awards season that honored talents like Timothée Chalamet, who took home a SAG Award for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, and Demi Moore, who has already garnered accolades including a Golden Globe and Critics Choice for her role in The Substance. Additionally, Zoe Saldaña, also nominated for her work in Emilia Pérez, has collected multiple awards including a Golden Globe and BAFTA.
Joining the ranks of first-time nominees are Grande, Moore, and Saldaña, alongside a talented group of newcomers including Barbaro, Rossellini, Kieran Culkin from A Real Pain, and Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong from The Apprentice. This year’s Oscars not only celebrate established stars but also shine a light on fresh talent making their mark in the industry.
This year marks a historic occasion as Conan O’Brien takes on the role of host for the first time at the 97th Oscars, celebrating the year’s most acclaimed films, visionary directors, and standout performances.
The nominations showcase a star-studded lineup, featuring prominent names such as Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Ralph Fiennes, and Adrien Brody. For those interested in the complete list of nominees, it is available for viewing.
Among the frontrunners are first-time nominees Demi Moore for The Substance, Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez, all of whom have made significant waves during the awards season with wins at both the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. However, emerging talents like Mikey Madison and Yura Borisov from Anora should not be underestimated.
In the race for the prestigious Best Picture award, Anora, Emilia Pérez, and The Substance will compete against formidable contenders including Dune: Part 2, Wicked, Nickel Boys, Conclave, I’m Still Here, The Brutalist, and A Complete Unknown.
Aside from the awards, the Oscars promise to deliver an evening of unforgettable entertainment and surprise moments. O’Brien has hinted at his plans to inject some outrageous fun into the night, joking about an unconsented audience stunt involving actor Stanley Tucci.
“I want to ensure that the show is anything but dull,” O’Brien shared with ABC News. “I’m not concerned if my ideas are unconventional; I just want them to be fresh and exciting.”
Viewers can also look forward to spectacular performances by Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Queen Latifah, and Lisa from BLACKPINK, along with a star-studded lineup of presenters including Halle Berry, Sterling K. Brown, Penélope Cruz, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, and Bowen Yang.
Stay tuned for live updates as the winners are announced throughout the evening at the 2025 Academy Awards!