The night stretched long, yet there was a clear purpose: the Oscar Awards would air live in twenty-three categories without exceptions. Intrigue loomed, like a rumored campaign surrounding a top actress, and the crowd wondered whether Andrea Riseborough, for her role in the little-seen To Leslie, would claim an Oscar, or if a comeback would be celebrated with cheers. The debate also turned to Brendan Fraser, Ke Huy Quan, or both, while the central question remained: should the crisis team convened to prevent awkward moments, like last year’s infamous incident, flag any intervention? Here are the standout moments the festival finally delivered.
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Makes Oscar History
1. Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue
Opening his third hosting stint, after 2017 and 2018, Kimmel delivered a sharp but balanced set of jokes about Hollywood and its stars. He performed at Dolby Theatre, skewering industry figures with a mix of humor and bite. The host playfully teased Steven Spielberg about an infamous line in a movie and riffed on John Williams’s prolific nominations. The jokes also touched on the director of Avatar and the ambition behind blockbuster cinema. The moment carried a feminist edge as Kimmel teased about nominations for the creator of Avatar, and he warned the audience with a reminder to stay calm if anything unpredictable happened during the ceremony, echoing a famous past moment: simply observe and keep your seat.
2. Ke Huy Quan’s tears
Ariana DeBose read the name of the Best Supporting Actor winner, Ke Huy Quan, with emotion as he accepted for Everything Everywhere All at Once. The former Indiana Jones star spoke through tears, sharing a message about his mother watching from home and expressing gratitude to those who supported his journey from his refugee beginnings to worldwide recognition.
3. A political moment through ‘Navalny’
Reports noted that a request from Volodymyr Zelensky for a brief virtual address was not granted. Yet the documentary category winner, Navalny, highlighted the ongoing struggle against oppression, with filmmaker Daniel Roher recalling the real-life subject’s stance against war and injustice. Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, later spoke about the pursuit of democracy and the courage to tell hard truths from exile.
4. The song for the movie ‘RRR’ and its Oscar
Bringing energy after several more restrained musical moments, the live rendition of the song from RRR resonated with audiences. Performers delivered with power, and the host praised the track for its cross-cultural impact and anti-colonial themes, while the composer thanked the audience in a moment that nods to classic showmanship in cinema music.
5. Lady Gaga unplugged
What followed was a stripped-back performance of a Hollywood anthem, with Gaga presenting in a down-to-earth look. The moment shifted the tone from spectacle to intimate storytelling, offering a fresh take on a familiar theme and leaving a memorable impression on the room.
6. Rihanna, ‘copyright in her own right’
Rihanna returned to the spotlight to honor Chadwick Boseman and delivered a high-impact performance in a post-Super Bowl moment that underscored her enduring influence. After years away from the stage, she delivered a powerful ballad, raising the bar for live performances within the awards context.
7. Every Word from Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley accepted Best Adapted Screenplay for Women Talk, delivering a speech that blended gratitude with a keen, concise sense of purpose. She acknowledged the bravery of including women’s voices on stage and used the moment to reflect on the power of language and storytelling, ending with a note that stayed with the audience well after the applause faded.
8. Travolta’s broken voice
John Travolta opened a tribute to a departed icon, recalling a longtime partner and the sorrow of loss. The moment grew emotional, with Lenny Kravitz providing a musical backdrop that resonated with the audience’s shared memory and the enduring wish to celebrate beloved figures from cinema history.
9. Daniel Kwan didn’t plan to stop
The duo behind Everything Everywhere All at Once offered a heartfelt speech upon winning Best Original Screenplay, then continued to energize the room as Kwan paid tribute to his family. He spoke of the hidden potential within everyone and the importance of finding someone who can help reveal it, a moment that connected deeply with the crowd and the shared imagination of cinema’s future.
10. Michelle Yeoh has an Oscar
Michelle Yeoh marked a historic milestone as the first Asian woman to win Best Actress, and the first Malaysian to receive an Oscar. She reflected on resilience and urged young women not to fear time, while celebrating women’s leadership in film and acknowledging the broader community that supports a diverse industry. The moment underscored Yeoh’s career as an action star and sparked conversations about broader recognition within the Academy.