Viewers of the 96th Academy Awards were left surprised by Al Pacino's unconventional delivery of the Best Picture winner. The 83-year-old actor, after receiving a standing ovation, skipped the tradition of listing nominees and directly announced 'Oppenheimer' as the winner. This led to mixed reactions on social media, with some calling it the 'most anti-climatic Best Picture announcement ever.'
Despite the confusion, it was revealed that Pacino's presenting style was a pre-decided creative direction. 'Oppenheimer' won its 7th award of the night out of 13 nominations, with Cillian Murphy winning Best Actor for his role in the film. Christopher Nolan also took home the award for Best Director.
The film beat out strong contenders like 'American Fiction,' 'Barbie,' and 'Killers of the Flower Moon' for the Best Picture award. Emma Thomas, the producer of 'Oppenheimer,' expressed her disbelief at winning, stating that the moment felt like a dream come true.
Other notable winners of the night included Emma Stone for Best Actress in 'Poor Things' and Robert Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor in 'Oppenheimer.' The event also saw awards for Best Original Song, with 'What Was I Made For?' from 'Barbie' and 'Wahzhazhe' from 'Killers of the Flower Moon' among the nominees.
Overall, the 96th Academy Awards showcased a mix of surprises and memorable moments, with 'Oppenheimer' emerging as a standout winner of the night.
