8 Reasons The 2025 Oscars Were The Best In Years

The 2025 Oscars proved to be one of the most entertaining Academy Awards ceremonies in years with plenty of great surprises when the awards were announced. As always, the evening began with glamorously dressed celebrities walking the red carpet before the year’s host made his appearance and kicked off the show. The event was long-awaited, with Oscars predictions changing over time thanks to this year’s particularly unusual races and the controversies that surrounded several Oscar nominees.

When the Oscar winners were announced, the delight of the crowd was audible, with everyone coming together to celebrate the best films of 2024. While the Oscars’ ceremony did include several snubs and surprises that defied the biggest predictions, the winners were deserving. Beyond announcing the winners throughout the evening, the Oscars represent so much more to individuals within the film industry and for film fans. The 2025 Oscars served as a great reminder that movies are such an important part of many people’s lives, making them the best Academy Awards ceremony in years.

8

Conan O’Brien Was An Incredible Host

O’Brien Was Funny And Timely

Conan O'Brien Oscars 2025 CinemaStreams bit

While Oscars hosts vary from year to year, with some experiencing far more success than others, Conan O’Brien solidified himself as a great one. O’Brien started off strong with his Oscars opening monologue, which kicked off with the host climbing out of the back of Demi Moore’s body in reference to her role in The Substance. After arriving onstage, O’Brien continued to make clever jokes about many of the night’s biggest nominees that felt funny and not too harsh, even while referencing Karla Sofía Gascón’s social media controversies.

Beyond his delightful opening monologue, O’Brien’s jokes throughout the night were perfectly balanced between self-depreciation, poking fun at nominees, and even getting slightly political. What’s more, while some of his bits, especially the wasting time song, may have been quite silly, that is exactly what the Oscars needed. However, O’Brien also clearly knew when it was time to be serious, as the host also highlighted the significance of some of the biggest accomplishments of the evening by reflecting on their historic precedence.

7

The Show Remembered To Celebrate Movies & Have Fun Again

The Show Kept A Light But Respectful Tone

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The 2025 Oscars managed to create the perfect blend of serious appreciation for movies and funny moments that kept the ceremony light. Conan O’Brien’s hosting highlighted all the biggest nominees of the evening by both celebrating their achievements and poking fun at some of the viral moments that surrounded the movies. However, well beyond O’Brien’s commentary, the stars themselves got in on the fun, laughing at the jokes about their own films. Likewise, the event served as a great reminder of how influential the work is.

Despite the jokes, it was clear that everyone there knew how important the event was and how influential great movies can be.

In fact, keeping the ceremony very lighthearted did not take away from the importance of the event and the film industry’s place in Hollywood. Despite the jokes, it was clear that everyone there knew how important the event was and how influential great movies can be. Conan O’Brien even brought LA firefighters on stage to reflect on the importance of their work following the recent devastating fires. The moments that retained seriousness, whether in reflecting on the circumstances of the movie industry or the heartfelt speeches delivered by winners, proved that the show can be both fun and respectful.

6

Nick Offerman’s Voice Of God Commentary

Offerman’s Commentary Created Funny Moments

Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson in the office in Parks and Recreation

The Voice of God role at the Academy Awards is an important but often underappreciated role at the ceremony that has been undertaken by various actors throughout the years, but this year had an especially recognizable narrator. Nick Offerman took over the Voice of God role for the 2025 Oscars, making it his first time doing so. Interestingly, Ronald Reagan actually originated the narrator role in 1953, and numerous people have played the Voice of God over the years, but Nick Offerman provided his own unique take.

Conan O'Brien is in front of two Oscars.

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The Voice of God narrator is primarily meant to announce the next presenters and give an overview of important points in the ceremony, but Offerman’s version injected some great humor into the 2025 Oscars ceremony. Along with the typical requirements of the job, Offerman poked fun at Conan O’Brien and the responsibilities of hosting the event. He likewise mispronounced his former Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler’s name before she took the stage to present an award. While he may not have been onstage while playing his part, Nick Offerman’s role was a highlight at this year’s Oscars.

5

Technical Categories Were Celebrated

More Attention Was Given To Categories That Have Been Overlooked In The Past

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Many Oscars viewers look forward to seeing the biggest awards of the night given out, and those are undeniably exciting, but the 2025 Oscars finally brought attention to some of the technical categories that often do not get as much attention. In particular, the presentation style for best costuming, which saw actors from each of the nominated films present the award to their respective costumers, honored the nominees with heartfelt statements about their work.

Likewise, the winners for categories like costume design, makeup and hairstyling, production design, editing, and more were given the complete focus of the audience while giving their acceptance speeches, highlighting the respect that these individuals deserve. Movies could not be made without all the work that happens behind the scenes and is done by many hardworking individuals, so it is nice to see the Oscars highlighting this work, especially since in years past certain categories were not shown live.

4

Each Award Had Great Presenters

Some Well-Known Faces Announced The Awards

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On top of having Conan O’Brien as an entertaining host for the evening, the 2025 Oscars also had great presenters for each of the awards. Some of the recognizable faces included Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, Andrew Garfield and Goldie Hawn, Ben Stiller, Scarlett Johansson and June Squibb, and more. The previous Oscar winners and nominees were, as usual, the perfect way to introduce the current nominees and highlight the achievements of the winners.

Ben Stiller raising his eyebrows in The Watch

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While it is always great to see fan-favorite actors presenting awards at the Oscars, the presenters this year had some particularly enjoyable jokes as well. While presenting for Best Production Design, Ben Stiller was stopped halfway up the rising floor and had to climb out, playing the moment perfectly. June Squibb joked about secretly being played by Bill Skarsgard, highlighting his impressive role in Nosferatu. In contrast, Andrew Garfield and Goldie Hawn shared a sweet moment while reflecting on her impact in his own life.

3

Great Performances

The Opening Performance Was A Highlight

one short day song in wicked movie

The 2025 Oscars also showcased some very impressive performances that honored important moments in the film industry this year. The ceremony opened with a great medley performed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo that highlighted important songs from the history of The Wizard of Oz franchise. Grande began with a moving rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Erivo followed up with “Home” from The Wiz. The two then came together to sing “Defying Gravity,” with Erivo taking center stage for the big musical moment.

While some fans may have been disappointed that the Best Original Song nominees did not perform as in previous years, the performances that we did see were impressive.

Beyond the opening ceremony, the Oscars also featured a James Bond tribute that saw the talented performers: Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye, take the stage. Though reactions to the tribute as a whole have been mixed, given the franchise’s recent acquisition by Amazon, the performances themselves were very impressive. Finally, Queen Latifah performed a moving tribute to Quincy Jones that honored the composer’s legacy. While some fans may have been disappointed that the Best Original Song nominees did not perform as in previous years, the performances that we did see were impressive.

2

Multiple Records Were Broken

The Show Created A Lot Of Firsts For Its Winners

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Undoubtedly the most exciting part of the evening and the reason why audiences tune in to the Oscars each year is to see the awards handed out, but it is especially exciting to see long-standing records being broken in the process. Last night’s Oscars were monumental for multiple reasons, as seven big records were broken at the 2025 Oscars. At the beginning of the night, Wicked‘s costume designer, Paul Tazewell, took home the award for Best Costume Design, making him the first Black man to do so.

Adrien Brody in The Brutalist holding flowers at the train station

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Another big milestone came when Zoe Saldaña took home the Best Supporting Actress award, as she is the first person of Dominican origin to win an acting Oscar. In terms of most awards records, Anora‘s Sean Baker was the big winner of the night, tying for the most Oscars in one night with Walt Disney. Baker took home Best Director, Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture. Adrien Brody also made Oscar history as the first actor to have a 100% success rate for his Best Actor nominations, having won for The Pianist in 2003 and The Brutalist in 2025.

1

The Winners Gave Great Speeches

Winners Gave Their Heartfelt Thanks

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Oscars speeches can vary quite broadly, but the 2025 Oscars saw some heartfelt thanks and recognition of important causes. Some of the most moving speeches of the evening were given by Zoe Saldaña, Paul Tazewell, and the winners for the documentary No Other Land, as these artists highlighted how important the award was to them and what the representation means as a whole. Sean Baker and Mikey Madison used the time to draw attention to the treatment of sex workers while thanking the sex work community.

While many of the speeches felt quite serious, the best speech of the night was given by Kieran Culkin, who hilariously asked his wife for another child while onstage.

While Best Actor winner Adrien Brody gave a long speech that saw him attempting to stop the orchestra from playing him off the stage, he even reflected on the hard work that went into the role. While many of the speeches felt quite serious, the best speech of the night was given by Kieran Culkin, who hilariously asked his wife for another child while onstage. On the whole, each acceptance speech highlights an important moment in the winner’s career, setting up the 2025 Oscars to inspire others going forward and showcase the biggest moments in film.

The Oscars Poster Featuring an Oscars Statue Standing in front of a curtain

Oscars

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Dates

March 2, 2025

Network

ABC

Website

https://www.oscars.org/

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