‘Wicked' stars defy gravity, ‘Anora' wins big, plus more memorable moments from the 2025 Oscars

Boston Globe

03-03-2025

'Wicked' fans got exactly what they wanted during the first performance of the night at the
2. Adam Sandler crashes Conan O'Brien's monologue
Adam Sandler speaks during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on Sunday in Hollywood.
Kevin Winter/Getty
Viewers were treated to an evening hosted by comedian and Brookline native Conan O'Brien, who wasted no time getting silly during his monologue. After O'Brien emerged in a gross scene parodying 'The Substance,' he cleaned up and raced on stage for a nearly 20-minute opener, where he cracked jokes about many of the night's nominees.
But one of the more memorable moments from the monologue came when New Hampshire native Adam Sandler, wearing a hoodie instead of a tux, crashed O'Brien's bit. 'You're dressed like a guy playing video poker at 2 a.m.,' O'Brien joked while addressing the underdressed star in the crowd. The monologue ended with a song-and-dance number by the Bay State native.
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3. Margaret Qualley goes full Bond girl in 007 musical tribute featuring Doja Cat, Lisa, and Raye
Margaret Qualley perfoms onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on Sunday in Hollywood.
Kevin Winter/Getty
'The Substance' star Margaret Qualley channeled her inner Bond girl during a 007 dance and musical tribute. Qualley performed a choreographed number to the James Bond theme song, backed by a crowd of dancers. Blackpink's LISA then descended from the heavens to sing 'Live and Let Die.' Doja Cat followed with a performance of 'Diamonds Are Forever,' with Raye ending the tribute with a rendition of Adele's 'Skyfall.'
4. LA firefighters get standing ovation, crack jokes
Los Angeles first responders are honored onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on Sunday in Hollywood.
Kevin Winter/Getty
The Oscars crowd gave the firefighters who took on the recent Pacific Palisades and Eaton wildfires a standing ovation as they took the stage. In addition to receiving a well-earned applause, the firefighters showed off their comedy skills as well, telling jokes that host O'Brien admitted even he 'is not brave enough to tell.'
5. Queen Latifah honors Quincy Jones, with a little help from Oprah and Whoopi Goldberg
Queen Latifah, center, performs "Ease on Down the Road" during the Oscars on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey took the stage to honor the late Quincy Jones ahead of a musical tribute led by Queen Latifah.
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'When we're talking about Black excellence, we're talking about Quincy,' Goldberg said during the introduction.
Latifah gave a truly royal performance, honoring Jones with a rendition of 'Ease on Down the Road' from 'The Wiz,' which had the 'Wicked' cast and the rest of the crowd dancing and singing along.
6. Morgan Freeman introduces in memoriam segment, pays tribute to late friend Gene Hackman
Morgan Freeman speaks about Gene Hackman with an image of Gene Hackman on the screen during the Oscars on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Morgan Freeman appeared during the introduction for the in memoriam segment, beginning the somber my remembrance by paying tribute to his late co-star Gene Hackman, saying that Hollywood 'lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend.'
Other notable names honored during the in memoriam included David Lynch, Shelley Duvall, Maggie Smith, and Donald Sutherland.
7. Winners leave their mark with memorable speeches
Zoe Saldana accepts the Best Actress In A Supporting Role award for "Emilia Pérez" onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on Sunday in Hollywood.
Kevin Winter/Getty
There were no shortage of memorable speeches on Sunday night, kicking off with Kieran Culkin, who won best supporting actor for 'A Real Pain.' He gave his former 'Succession' co-star and Boston native Jeremy Strong (also nominated in the category for 'The Apprentice') a shoutout in an expletive-filled speech that need a bit of bleeping on the broadcast.
Later, Paul Tazewell made history for his win, taking home best costume design for 'Wicked.' Tazewell noted in his speech that he was 'the first Black man to receive the costume design award.'
The filmmakers behind 'No Other Land,' winner of the best documentary feature prize, made a statement with their acceptance speech. Palestinian co-director Basel Adra called on the world 'to take serious actions' over the conflict in Gaza, with fellow co-director Yuval Abraham, an Israeli, joining in his plea for peace.
Another big winner of the evening was Zoe Saldaña, who earned the best supporting actress award for 'Emilia Pérez.' In her speech, Saldaña noted that she was the 'first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award' and 'a proud child of immigrant parents.'
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Adrien Brody, who won his second career best actor award on Sunday night for 'The Brutalist,' left a mark too with his speech, partly because it was the longest of the night.
8. 'Anora' had the biggest night of all
Lindsey Normington, from left, Alex Coco, Vache Tovmasyan, Sean Baker, Samantha Quan, Karren Karagulian Mikey Madison, Drew Daniels, Luna Sofía Miranda, Mark Eydelshteyn, and Yura Borisov accept the award for best picture for "Anora" during the Oscars on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
No film had a better night than 'Anora,' which cleaned up with the most wins, taking home prize in five categories, including best picture.
Star Mikey Madison won for best actress, her first career Oscar, calling the moment a 'dream come true' in her speech.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Sean Baker won for best director, best film editing, and best original screenplay During one of his many speeches of the night, he made an impassioned plea to movie lovers to get back to watching flicks in theaters, or risk 'losing a vital part of our culture.'
Matt Juul can be reached at