A night of tributes, politics, and Hollywood glamour

Hollywood’s biggest night, Oscars 2025 was once again a dazzling mix of humor, emotion, and a few overly long speeches. Here are the standout moments from the 97th Academy Awards:

A new host takes the stage

First-time host Conan O’Brien kept the mood light with his signature mix of silliness and sharp wit.

His pre-taped opening skit featured a worker banging on his dressing room door, urging him to hurry to the stage. Inside, O’Brien was hilariously emerging from Demi Moore’s body, parodying the satirical body-horror film The Substance, in which an aging Moore takes an experimental drug with disastrous results.

After examining himself in the mirror—seemingly pleased with what he saw—O’Brien jokingly plunged back into Moore’s body, looking for lost items.

“That was weird,” he quipped after taking the stage.

“Yeah, awkward. I’m missing some car keys.”

Politics takes center stage with Gaza documentary

After years of political jabs at President Donald Trump, this year’s Oscars seemed set to avoid controversy—until No Other Land won Best Documentary Feature.

The film, co-directed by Palestinians and Israelis, follows young Palestinian Basel Adra as he documents the destruction of his homeland by Israeli forces. It contrasts his struggles with the freedoms enjoyed by Jewish Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham.

Accepting the award, Abraham condemned the “atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people” and called for the release of Israeli hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

He urged both Israelis and Palestinians to seek “a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people.”

“And I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path,” he added.

A tribute to Gene Hackman

Morgan Freeman led an emotional tribute to Gene Hackman, whose body was found last week in his New Mexico home along with his wife and their dog under “suspicious” circumstances, according to police.

“This week, our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend,” Freeman said of the 95-year-old two-time Oscar winner.

“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 won two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world.”

Kieran Culkin’s family bet

Winning Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, Kieran Culkin revealed he nearly turned down the role because he didn’t want to be away from his children.

But his speech took a humorous turn when he shared a deal he once made with his wife.

Culkin recalled that after winning an Emmy, his wife had promised him a third child—assuming he wouldn’t actually win.

“After the show, we’re walking through a parking lot. She’s holding the Emmy… and she goes, ‘Oh, God, I did say that. I guess I owe you a third kid.’”

But Culkin wanted more.

“I told her I wanted four. She said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar.’ I held my hand out, she shook it.

“And I have not brought it up once. Until just now,” he said with a grin.

A shaken and stirred Bond tribute

The ceremony honored Hollywood’s most iconic spy, James Bond, just days after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson handed creative control to Amazon.

Former Bond girl Halle Berry introduced the segment, which began with clips of past 007 actors, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig.

This was followed by a high-octane montage of the franchise’s signature stunts and performances of classic Bond theme songs by Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye, including Live and Let Die, Diamonds Are Forever, and Skyfall.

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