Oscar Winners 2025: 'Anora' Takes Over, Conan O’Brien Roasts Everyone, and Streaming Services Taunt Us
March 3, 2025
The 97th Academy Awards have wrapped, leaving behind a trail of gold statues, awkward speeches, and at least one actor wondering why they wore that outfit. This year’s ceremony had it all—surprise wins, emotional tributes, and Conan O’Brien proving that comedians should host the Oscars more often. But above all, the night belonged to ‘Anora,’ the indie drama that swept its way into Oscar history, and, more importantly, onto the ever-growing list of movies you now have to figure out where to stream.
‘Anora’ Mania: The Little Indie That Could
Sean Baker’s Anora went from festival darling to Oscars juggernaut, taking home Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. The film, about a Brooklyn stripper who gets caught up in the world of Russian oligarchs, was praised for its sharp storytelling and performances that made even the most cynical critics say, “Okay, that was actually really good.”
Mikey Madison’s journey to Oscar glory was the kind of Hollywood underdog story people pretend they don’t love but secretly do. She went from being the actress you vaguely recognized in indie films to the woman who just gave an Oscar acceptance speech while trying not to ugly cry on live TV. Expect every casting director in Hollywood to suddenly remember her name now.
Adrien Brody Proves He’s Still Got It
Adrien Brody took home Best Actor for ‘The Brutalist,’ a performance that critics described as “career-defining” and audiences described as “Wait, Adrien Brody is still acting?” Yes, he is, and he’s back with an Oscar-winning role in a historical drama about a Hungarian architect navigating post-war America. The man who once played a piano and won an Oscar is now proving that he can play a guy who builds things and still win an Oscar.
His speech was heartfelt, humble, and notably free of surprise kisses—a marked improvement from his infamous Halle Berry moment.
Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin Take Supporting Wins
Zoe Saldaña added Best Supporting Actress to her list of achievements for Emilia Pérez, marking the moment where awards finally caught up with what fans have known for years—she’s a powerhouse. The sci-fi queen who has spent most of her career in motion-capture suits finally got to collect a trophy without needing CGI to make her blue, green, or otherwise unrecognizable.
Kieran Culkin, meanwhile, took Best Supporting Actor for ‘The Brutalist,’ proving that his Succession smirks translate just as well to period dramas. Somewhere, the rest of the Culkin family is either celebrating or quietly wondering how many Oscars this guy is going to rack up before they get one.
Conan O’Brien Brings the Roast Back to the Oscars
After years of Oscar hosts playing it safe, Conan O’Brien reminded the world why comedians should run this show. His opening monologue took shots at everyone, from Hollywood’s obsession with biopics to the fact that Fast and Furious 47 is probably already in production.
Even the nominees weren’t spared. He congratulated Barbie for its cultural impact but noted that somewhere, Ken is filing an Oscars snub lawsuit. When Dune: Part Two won Best Visual Effects, he joked that it was the only category where “the Academy actually knows what they’re voting for.”
And, in true late-night style, he wrapped the night by thanking the Academy for not giving the hosting job to AI—yet.
Where to Stream ‘Anora’ (Spoiler: It’s Complicated)
If you weren’t one of the lucky few to see Anora in theaters, welcome to the great streaming treasure hunt of 2025.
The film is currently not on Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max (because why would things be easy?), but can be rented for $5.99 on Amazon, Apple TV, and Vudu. If you’d rather wait for a subscription option, Hulu is expected to add it on March 17—so prepare to hold out while dodging spoilers.
For those who still believe in physical media, Anora will join The Criterion Collection on April 29 with an exclusive 4K Blu-ray featuring behind-the-scenes interviews, deleted scenes, and an in-depth analysis of why it won every major award.
Other Notable Wins: A Big Night for Firsts
This year’s Oscars weren’t just about Anora dominance. Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for Wicked, proving that capes and corsets never go out of style.
Meanwhile, Dune: Part Two collected Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, because no one else could compete with giant sandworms and Hans Zimmer’s ability to make brass instruments sound terrifying.
Flow took Best Animated Feature, a movie about a sentient puddle that critics swear is more emotional than it sounds. Somewhere, Pixar is side-eyeing this film, wondering how they lost to an existential water droplet.
‘Emilia Pérez’: The Film That Almost Dominated
With 13 nominations, Emilia Pérez had the potential to run the table. Instead, it walked away with only two wins, making it the Leonardo DiCaprio of this year’s ceremony. Fans were baffled by its near shutout, while awards analysts chalked it up to "the Academy just being the Academy."
Zoe Saldaña’s win softened the blow, but the film’s lack of a Best Picture win left audiences debating whether the Oscars truly got it right. (Spoiler: They never fully do.)
The Future of the Oscars: Where Do We Go From Here?
This year’s ceremony proved that original storytelling still has a place in Hollywood, with Anora leading the charge. The dominance of a low-budget, high-impact indie film suggests that audiences and critics are ready for something new.
As streaming platforms continue to shift how we watch movies, the Oscars are evolving—but thankfully, not fast enough to eliminate the chaos and drama that make them fun.
So, until next year, keep arguing about who should have won, pretend you’ve already seen Anora, and get ready for another year of Hollywood finding new ways to confuse us.
