On the night of March 27, a notable ceremony unfolded at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as the 94th Academy Awards celebrated films released in 2021. The broadcast featured hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes guiding audiences through performances, honors, and surprises across the evening.
The event opened with a show-stopping performance by Beyoncé, linked to the Oscar-nominated song from the film King Richard. The coveted Best Original Song trophy, however, went to Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for No Time to Die, the title track from the thriller of the same name. This win underscored the strong musical contributions that defined the year’s nominations.
CODA: Child of Deaf Parents earned its place among the night’s drama highlights, receiving Best Picture recognition. A remake of the French film La Famille Bélier, CODA centers on a deaf family and follows the experiences of the main character whose parents and sibling are portrayed by deaf performers, highlighting authentic representation. This achievement made Apple TV+ the first streaming service project to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Patrick Waksberg, a tape producer, offered thanks to the Academy for honoring a film about love and family during challenging times. CODA also earned recognition in the acting category, with Troy Kator orients? not; correction: Troy Kotsur received Best Supporting Actor for his role in CODA, becoming the second deaf performer to win an Oscar after Marlee Matlin’s historic win in 1987 for Children of a Lesser God. This moment was celebrated as a milestone for accessibility and representation in cinema.
In a heartfelt moment, Kotsur acknowledged the support of theaters and audiences, affirming the importance of opportunity for deaf actors and the broader disability community. The speech conveyed gratitude and a pledge to honor a shared journey through the arts.
CODA writer-director Sian Heder took home Best Adapted Screenplay, while Best Original Screenplay went to Kenneth Branagh for Belfast, a film that blends memory, storytelling, and a vivid sense of place.
Jessica Chastain accepted Best Actress for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, with Will Smith earning Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard. The ceremony’s most talked-about moment involved Smith’s decision to engage with comedian Chris Rock after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia, an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. The incident prompted a rapid and extensive social media response, including commentary from industry journalists about the dynamics of fame, humor, and responsibility in public moments.
Following the disruption, Smith addressed the Academy and nominees during an awards moment, reflecting on the balance between protection, pride, and personal conduct. He acknowledged the complexities of life imitating art and the emotions surrounding family and public life.
The Best Director award was presented to Jane Campion for the psychological drama In the Power of the Dog, a film that features a standout ensemble and a director whose work has been widely discussed for its mood, pacing, and performances. Ariana DeBose was honored as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake, a film that reimagined a classic with contemporary energy and a fresh cast.
Technical categories saw Dune dominate, earning multiple awards for soundtrack, editing, sound, production design, and visual effects, underscoring the film’s immersive design and technical innovation. Cinematographer Greg Fraser was recognized among the night’s top honors for his work on Dune, contributing to a total of six awards for the film. The ceremony also celebrated Jenny Beavan for Best Costume Design for Cruella, recognizing a distinctive and bold wardrobe that helped define the film’s visual language.
Drive My Car marked a historic moment as the first Japanese feature to be nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and went on to win in that category, underscoring the year’s global reach. Encanto took home Best Animated Feature, while Windsh?ield Wiper received recognition for its animation work in the same or a related category, reflecting the year’s diverse approaches to animation. The documentary best described as Summer of Soul won Best Documentary Feature, celebrating a richly textured chronicle of music and memory.
Riz Ahmed, previously nominated for Best Actor, added another milestone by winning for his work on a project that intersected cultural identity and storytelling. The year also featured an unusual postscript: a fan-driven prize announced via social networks recognized different works, illustrating how fan communities influence perceptions of cinema alongside the formal awards process.
Overall, the night showcased a blend of historic firsts, emotional moments, and sweeping production values. It highlighted the power of film to accelerate conversations about representation, resilience, and the shared human experience. Stories about families, fame, and the enduring impact of performance echoed through the Dolby Theatre, leaving audiences with a sense of cinema’s enduring ability to connect people across diverse backgrounds.