Oscars 2025: The 12 Best, Worst and Weirdest Moments
F-bombs and witches and upsets, oh my!
Sunday’s Oscars ceremony was, as usual, one to remember, with host Conan O’Brien emceeing a night filled with emotional wins, powerhouse performances — and yeah, a few stumbles, too.
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Among our highlights from Hollywood’s biggest night: a hilariously revealing acceptance speech from Kieran Culkin; a surprise appearance from rock royalty Mick Jagger; and a hair shout-out from winner Zoe Salda?a. Plus, we witnessed a few lowlights, too, like a song from O’Brien about not wasting our time that… just wasted our time. (Did we mention the show ran long? Very long?)
Read on to see TVLine’s picks for the best, worst and weirdest moments from Sunday’s Oscars, then drop a comment with your own favorite moments (for better or worse) below.
WORST: You’ve got the wrong Rachel!
It’s not as bad of a Rachel-related mix-up as Ross saying “I, Ross, take thee, Rachel” on Friends, but it’s close: During ABC’s pre-show red carpet coverage, the on-screen chyron misidentified Saturday Night star Rachel Sennott as Snow White star Rachel Zegler. And you’d think ABC would know what Zegler looks like, since Snow White is a Disney movie, and Disney owns ABC. Hopefully they’ll get their Rachels straight by the time Snow White hits theaters. — Dave Nemetz
BEST: It’s a shoe, it’s a dress, it’s… Ariana Grande!
Great fashion moments occur when the right shoes meet the right dress. Epic fashion moments occur when the shoes and the dress are one and the same. It’s a rare feat (or should we say feet), but Ariana Grande pulled it off flawlessly at the Oscars, taking her Wicked medley to the next level by wearing a ruby red dress with a heel sculpted into the back. Let us be glad, let us be grateful. — Andy Swift
BEST: The Sandman cometh (again)
After his priceless “Chalamet!” cameo at the Golden Globes, Adam Sandler put on another show-stopping performance as an awards show audience member, getting mocked by host Conan O’Brien for his too-casual outfit of a bright blue hoodie and gym shorts — and even giving us a “Chalamet!” reprise along with a big hug to Chalamet himself. If Sandler wants to replace his Anger Management co-star Jack Nicholson as the Oscars’ best audience member every year, we’re all for it. — D.N.
WORST: Conan wastes our time
We get it: Host Conan O’Brien was poking fun at the fact that Oscars telecasts always run long by singing a peppy song entitled “I Won’t Waste Time”… which was, itself, a waste of time. But the joke didn’t really land, and neither did goofy touches like the Dune sandworm playing “Chopsticks” on the piano and a dancing Deadpool. When the show inevitably runs long, Conan, we’re blaming you. — D.N.
BEST: Kieran Culkin wants more Culkins
It’s always a good time when Kieran Culkin gives an acceptance speech (remember “Suck it, Pedro”?), and he gave us one more gem when he took home the Oscar for best supporting actor for A Real Pain. After a bleeped F-bomb and a nod to his, um, less-than-ideal childhood (“I should thank my mom and Steve for trying to raise me. You’re really good people. You gave it your best shot”), he turned to his wife Jazz, bringing up her promise that they could have a fourth kid if he ever won an Oscar. Their dynamic was adorable, with Jazz beaming as Culkin called her “ye of little faith” before declaring: “Let’s get crackin’ on those kids, what do you say?” Hey, they could even name the kid Oscar! — D.N.
WEIRDEST: James Bond tribute is forever (or at least feels like it)
With Amazon Studios claiming full control of the franchise (though surely after this segment was planned), the timing was oddly right for a James Bond tribute. But Margaret Qualley leading a troupe of dancers, while Lisa of BLACKPINK, Doja Cat and Raye served up a few theme songs, seemed wildly random and ate up too much time. — Matt Mitovich
BEST: Zoe Salda?a’s mane squeeze
During Zoe Salda?a’s Best Supporting Actress acceptance speech, the Emilia Pérez star bestowed an award of her own upon hubby Marco Perego-Salda?a: “To my husband, with that beautiful hair!” she acknowledged — which made us feel a lot better, because that man’s hair was the first and only thing we thought about from the moment the camera cut to Salda?a to announce her win. — A.S.
BEST: Mick Jagger is a star among stars
Even the celebrity-studded Oscars audience was awed by the arrival of the Rolling Stones frontman, giving him a standing ovation as he presented Best Original Song. Mick brought great energy, too, strutting up to the microphone before joking that he’s subbing in for Bob Dylan, who told them to “get someone younger.” (And it’s true: While Bob is 83, Mick is a spry 81!) — D.N.
WEIRDEST: The Emilia Pérez performance no one saw coming
The Oscars opted against doing Best Original Song performances this year, but did that stop the Emilia Pérez team from warbling through what felt like an entire verse of “El Mal” while awkwardly waving goodbye and getting played off stage? Don’t be ridiculous. — A.S.
BEST: Morgan Freeman’s heartfelt tribute to a friend
The Oscars’ “In Memoriam” segment is always a tearjerker, but this year’s edition hit even harder when the great Morgan Freeman took the stage to honor his late friend and co-star Gene Hackman. The pain was clearly still fresh, with Hackman’s death just announced last week, and the emotions rose in Freeman’s throat as he recalled Hackman’s desire to be remembered for doing good work: “Gene, you’ll be remembered for that… and for so much more. Rest in peace, my friend.” — D.N.
WORST: Getting to know each nominee (a little too well)
We appreciate the effort to shine a light on some of cinema’s more technical categories like costume design and cinematography by having actors from each nominated film pay loving tribute to the nominee. But airing five tributes in each category took up a lottttt of time, in a show that ran way too long as it is. Let’s honor the editors by cutting those out next year, huh? — D.N.
WORST: Adrien Brody plays off the orchestra
Yes, the Best Actor winner for The Brutalist made a lot of good points in his acceptance speech about antisemitism and oppression. (Eventually.) But he also just made a lot of points — the speech ran a full six minutes — and when the orchestra gently tried to get him to wrap it up, he rudely pulled rank on them: “I will wrap up. Please turn the music off. I’ve done this before. Thank you.” The Brutalist was so long, it came with an intermission… and Brody’s speech should have, too. — D.N.
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