The 2025 Oscars had the internet in a frenzy, delivering shocking wins, major snubs, and unforgettable fashion moments on Hollywood’s biggest night.
But it wasn’t just the awards that had people talking—celebrity antics stole the show, sparking instant memes and viral reactions.
Host Conan O’Brien took playful jabs at the A-list crowd, even prompting Adam Sandler to dramatically storm out. Off-camera, stars let loose, dancing, mingling, and creating moments that fans couldn’t get enough of.
From jaw-dropping surprises to behind-the-scenes fun, here are the biggest Oscars highlights you need to see.
Mikey Madison triumphs over Demi Moore
Mikey Madison surprised many when she picked up Best Actress at the Oscars.
Moore was widely considered the frontrunner for her role in The Substance, a psychological horror film in which she plays an aging fitness instructor who undergoes a dramatic transformation after taking a mysterious youth-restoring potion.
However, it was 25-year-old Madison who took home the award, delivering a surprise victory that left many at the Dolby Theatre stunned.
Announced as the winner by Emma Stone, Madison admitted the moment felt “very surreal,” saying, “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood felt so far away.”
She went on to pay tribute to the sex worker community, vowing to continue being an ally and advocate. Madison also praised her fellow nominees, calling their work “intelligent, beautiful, and breathtaking.”
Adam Sandler storms out
Adam Sandler’s laid-back style became the punchline at the Oscars, leading to a dramatic exit after Conan O’Brien took aim at his signature casual look.
The 58-year-old comedian, known for skipping formalwear at award shows, found himself in the spotlight when O’Brien playfully highlighted his fashion choices before sharing a hilarious moment with best actor nominee, Timothée Chalamet.
While presenting a montage of early Hollywood headshots, O’Brien praised the stars for dressing appropriately—before pointedly pausing and turning to Sandler, who stood out in an aqua blue hoodie, basketball shorts, and sneakers.
Before making his exit following O’Brien’s ribbing over his choice of attire, Sandler took a detour to Oscar nominee Chalamet, calling out, “And one more thing, CHALAMET!” before hugging him—an inside joke that had roots in a hilarious moment from the Golden Globes.
At the Globes, host Nikki Glaser had joked that Chalamet’s name sounded like something Sandler would say in one of his signature exaggerated voices.
She then put him on the spot, prompting him to say it aloud—which he happily did, in full Sandler style.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande put on a Wicked performance
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s powerhouse performance of Defying Gravity was a showstopper, exceeding all expectations.
As Erivo, dressed in an elegant white gown, delivered the final soaring note, the audience erupted into a standing ovation.
The Wicked co-stars treated viewers to a medley of classics, including Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which Grande opened in a dazzling red sequined dress. Earlier in the evening, she turned heads on the red carpet in a champagne-hued Schiaparelli gown, channeling her role as Glinda the Good Witch.
Ben Stiller stage mishap
Ben Stiller had the audience in stitches with a staged mishap while presenting at the Oscars at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.
As Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman, narrating the ceremony, introduced him once—then again when he failed to appear—Stiller finally emerged from below the stage via an elevator. But the gag took a hilarious turn when the lift seemingly malfunctioned, leaving him awkwardly stuck at chest level, staring blankly at the crowd.
The laughter grew when Stiller, 59, announced the category he was presenting—Best Production Design—joking: “It’s a field where the slightest miscalculation can lose the trust of the audience and humiliate the performers on screen.”
As he delivered his lines, he struggled to clamber out of the stalled lift, stumbling onto the stage before finally reaching his mark. Once upright, he presented the Oscar for Best Production Design to Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales for Wicked.
Kieran Culkin remind wife of Oscars promise
Succession star Kieran Culkin kept his winning streak alive at the Oscars, taking home Best Supporting Actor—but it was his speech that stole the show.
While accepting his award, Culkin reminded his wife, Jazz Charton, of a promise she once made: if he ever won an Oscar, they’d have a fourth child.
“About a year ago, I publicly said I wanted a third kid because she promised if I won, she’d give me one,” he said. “Turns out she only said that because she didn’t think I’d actually win.”
But Culkin had bigger plans. “I told her, ‘Actually, I want four.’ And she replied, ‘You get four when you win an Oscar.’”
Now holding the trophy in his hands, he playfully turned to Charton: “I held out my hand, you shook on it… So, I guess I owe you. No pressure, I love you. Let’s get cracking on those kids.”
Coleman Domingo’s dance break
Colman Domingo invited the #Oscars to dance at that commercial break. pic.twitter.com/r73ZgEJAs3
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) March 3, 2025
During an ad break, Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo brought some energy to the Oscars stage, rallying the crowd for a dance break.
With a drink in hand, he swayed his hips and encouraged the star-studded audience: “We’ve got one more minute—let it out, y’all! Come on, dance it up!”
The guests didn’t hesitate, jumping to their feet and showing off their best moves.
But as soon as the cameras started rolling again, they quickly settled back into their seats, ready for the show to continue.
Morgan Freeman’s tribute to Gene Hackman
Oscar winner Morgan Freeman paid tribute to actor Gene Hackman saying he was a “generous performer” who had “won the hearts of film lovers around the world”.
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead, along with one of their dogs, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26.
Taking to the stage at the 97th Oscars, ahead of the In Memoriam segment, Freeman, 87, said “this week our community lost a giant and I lost a dear friend”.
He added: “I had the pleasure of working with Gene on two films, Unforgiven and Under Suspicion, and like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.
“He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world. Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work’.
“So I think I speak for us all when I say, Gene, you’ll be remembered for that and for so much more. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Goldie Hawn reveals health issues
Goldie Hawn was forced to share a health update on stage while presenting the award for Best Animated Feature alongside Andrew Garfield.
The Hollywood icon suddenly paused mid-speech, struggling to read the teleprompter.
"I was so lucky to make movies… and making people laugh," she began before stopping.
Turning to Garfield, she admitted: “OK. Sweetheart, can you read that? I can't read that."
When he leaned in to help, Hawn continued: "I'm completely blind. I mean, I am!" before revealing the reason behind her struggle: "Cataracts."
Garfield remained composed, reassuring her with: "OK, I've got you," as he picked up where she left off.
Despite the unexpected moment, the presentation still delivered one of the night’s most touching highlights.
As they announced the winner for Best Animated Feature, Garfield surprised Hawn with a heartfelt tribute, sharing how she had a profound impact on his late mother—leaving the legendary actress visibly moved and hiding her tears behind the winner’s envelope.
The Social Network star’s mother Lynn Garfield died in 2019 following a battle with cancer.
Daryl Hannah makes a political statement
Daryl Hannah expressed support for Ukraine as she took to the stage at Sunday night’s Oscars.
The actress was presenting an award in honour of the 20th anniversary of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 2 when she made an unscripted statement.
As she stepped up to the microphone, the 64-year-old raised a victory sign and declared, “Slava Ukraine!”—a phrase meaning “Glory to Ukraine.” Her words were met with applause from the audience.
The phrase holds deep significance, serving as both a patriotic slogan and a rallying cry for Ukraine’s armed forces as they continue their fight against Russian aggression.
After her brief show of solidarity, she shifted back to the teleprompter to present the award for Best Editing, which was won by Anora.
Oscar-winners narrowly make ceremony after visa issues
The directors of an Iranian film which won the animated short Oscar described their victory as a “miracle” having landed in Los Angeles just hours before.
Co-directors Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani took to the stage after In The Shadow Of The Cypress took home the prize for the category.
The two almost missed the ceremony because of visa issues, which they referenced in their speech.
“Believe me or not, three hours ago our plane landed in LA,” said Molayemi, to gasps from the audience.
“It’s a miracle and speaking in front of this expectant audience is very hard for us. Until yesterday we hadn’t even obtained our visa and we were totally disappointed and now we are standing here with this statuette in our hands.
“Also, just the fact that we managed to make this film under the extraordinary circumstances of our country is a miracle. Yes, if we persevere and remain faithful, miracles do happen.”
The BBC reported that it had offered the directors the use of their LA office to get changed after they ran out of time to get to their hotel.
Brody and Berry recreate 2003 Oscars kiss
Halle Berry and Adrien Brody recreated their passionate Oscars moment from more than two decades ago as they arrived on the 2025 red carpet.
Brody is up for best actor for The Brutalist, which sees him play a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant who arrives in the US after the horrors of the Second World War.
The US actor, 51, is the youngest actor to have won best actor, previously winning aged 29 for Holocaust drama The Pianist.
During the 2003 ceremony, he kissed Oscar-winner Berry, who was presenting the award, following his win.
On Sunday, they met on the red carpet with Berry going in for a kiss, while Brody’s partner British fashion designer and actress Georgina Chapman cheered them on.
