The 97th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, but despite the star power, it was widely considered one of the least memorable ceremonies in years.

Anora dominated the night, winning Best Picture, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, and Best Actor for Adrien Brody, along with two other awards. Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez, which led with 13 nominations, fell short of expectations, while Wicked and The Brutalist remained strong contenders.

The night featured an emotional tribute to firefighters who battled the deadly Los Angeles wildfires in January, providing one of the few heartfelt moments of the event.

Hoping to boost ratings, producers enlisted Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from Wicked, along with Doja Cat and Lisa from Blackpink, for live performances. However, the musical numbers failed to match last year’s viral Barbie-themed spectacle.

For the first time, the Oscars were streamed live on Hulu, alongside ABC, reaching over 200 territories. In India, it was available on JioHotstar.

Hosting for the first time, Conan O’Brien brought his signature humour, but even his presence couldn’t save the night from feeling predictable and uneventful.

Despite Anora’s success, the lack of surprises and underwhelming moments made Oscars 2025 more of a forgettable affair than a night of Hollywood magic.