America’s romantic comedy Anora wins big at 2025 Oscars

By Tosin Brown

Sean Baker’s romantic comedy Anora emerged as the biggest winner at the 2025 Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.

The film, directed by Baker and starring 22-year-old Mikey Madison, won five out of 23 award categories on the night.

The 97th edition of the Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, saw Anora—a screwball comedy-drama about a sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch’s son—shine throughout the night.

The film won Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay.

Meanwhile, the musical Emilia Pérez led with 13 nominations but ultimately won Best Original Song and Best Supporting Actress, the latter awarded to Zoe Saldaña.

Adrien Brody secured his second Oscar, winning Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, which also took home Best Original Score and Best Cinematography.

Other major acting awards went to Kieran Culkin for Best Supporting Actor and Zoe Saldaña for Best Supporting Actress.

Paul Tazewell of Wicked became the first Black man to win Best Costume Design, while No Other Land won Best Documentary Feature for its stark portrayal of Israeli settler violence.

Full List of 2025 Oscar Winners

Best Picture

• Anora

Best Actor

• Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Best Actress

• Mikey Madison, Anora

Best Director

• Sean Baker, Anora

Best Supporting Actor

• Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Best Supporting Actress

• Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Best Original Screenplay

• Anora

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Conclave

Best Animated Feature Film

• Flow

Best Animated Short Film

• In the Shadow of the Cypress

Best International Feature

• I’m Still Here (Brazil)

Best Documentary Feature

• No Other Land

Best Documentary Short

• The Only Girl in the Orchestra

Best Original Score

• The Brutalist

Best Original Song

• El Mal from Emilia Pérez

Best Sound

• Dune: Part Two

Best Production Design

• Wicked

Best Live Action Short Film

• I’m Not a Robot

Best Cinematography

• The Brutalist

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

• The Substance

Best Costume Design

• Wicked

Best Visual Effects

• Dune: Part Two

Best Film Editing

• Anora