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Photo Credit: ABC
The 2025 Oscars Take Place Sunday, March 2, Airing Live on ABC and Streaming Live on Hulu at 7 p.m. ET.
A Tribute to Hollywood’s Award Seasons
The wait is finally over—Hollywood’s biggest night has arrived, and the excitement is at an all-time high. The Oscars aren’t just a celebration of the year’s best films; they’re a tradition that honors the latest works of entertainment. The 1,500-foot red carpet is officially rolled out, ready for the stars to gather and shine. Excitement and nerves fill the air, but before the night takes over, let’s take a moment to explore what makes Hollywood’s award season so captivating and what it truly represents.
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The 2025 Academy Awards: What to Expect
This year’s Academy Awards, tonight, promise to be another historic evening. Hosted at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the ceremony will honor the best films of the past year, celebrating the love and creativity that define modern Cinema.
Some of the biggest contenders include:
- Best Picture: ‘Anora’, ‘The Brutalist’, ‘A Complete Unknown’, ‘Conclave’, ‘Dune: Part Two’, ‘Emilia Perez’, ‘I’m Still Here’, ‘Nickel Boys’, ‘The Substance’, ‘Wicked’
- Best Director: Sean Baker for ‘Anora’, Brady Corbet for ‘The Brutalist’, Luca Guadagnino for ‘A Complete Unknown’, Jacques Audiard for ‘Emilia Perez’, Denis Villeneuve for ‘Dune: Part Two’
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody for ‘The Brutalist’, Timothee Chalamet for ‘A Complete Unknown’, Colman Domingo for ‘Sing Sing’, Ralph Fiennes for ‘Conclave’, Sebastian Stan for ‘The Apprentice’
- Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo for ‘Wicked’, Karla Sofia Gascon for ‘Emilia Perez’, Mikey Madison for ‘Anora’, Demi Moore for ‘The Substance’, Fernanda Torres for ‘I’m Still Here’
Early buzz is swirling around ‘Anora’, a blend of comedy, drama, and intense romance of a Brooklyn stripper (Mikey Madison) who marries the son of a Russian oligarch (Yuriy Borisov), as it positions itself as a front-runner for Best Picture. Director Sean Baker is also rising through the ranks as a top contender for Best Director.
‘Anora’ recently dominated at the Directors Guild, Producers Guild, and Writers Guild Awards—an almost surefire indicator that the Oscars might already have its win. Meanwhile, ‘Conclave’, a twisted thriller about the hidden power plays and secrets of the Vatican papal election, took home wins at the BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards, keeping the race just as tight.
In the acting race, Adrien Brody is making waves for his portrayal of Laszlo Toth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect, in ‘The Brutalist’, making him a strong contender for Best Actor. But he’s up against Timothée Chalamet, who recently snagged the Screen Actors Guild Award for his role as Bob Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown’.
As for Best Actress, Demi Moore is competing with her role as an aging actor and fitness instructor facing career decline in ‘The Substance’. But she’s also up against Mikey Madison in ‘Anora’ and Fernanda Torres in ‘I’m Still Here’, both also emerging as leading contenders.
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It All Starts On the Red Carpet
The Academy Awards have a rich history spanning nearly a century. The first ceremony, held on May 16, 1929, was a far cry from today’s global spectacle.
It took place at an Academy banquet in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with 270 guests and $5 tickets—at a time when movies were just beginning to talk.
Unlike the grand event we see now, the winners had already been announced three months prior, and the ceremony itself lasted just 15 minutes.
Over the years, the Oscars grew into the ultimate honor in filmmaking. The golden statuette, officially the “Academy Award of Merit,” quickly became known as “Oscar” after Academy librarian Margaret Herrick jokingly noted that it resembled her uncle.
The name stuck, and the Oscars have since celebrated revolutionary performances and groundbreaking storytelling in cinema.
And, of course, the Oscars are known for their unforgettable moments. From Marlon Brando’s iconic rejection of his Best Actor Oscar in 1973 to the slighttt mix-up between ‘Moonlight’ and ‘La La Land’ for Best Picture in 2017, the Oscars never fail to surprise, leaving us with moments of shock and excitement that are almost as iconic as the films themselves.
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Old Hollywood vs. New Hollywood
Old Hollywood vs. New Hollywood is a long-standing debate. We’re constantly wanting to expand, grow, and revolutionize cinema and entertainment, but let’s face it: we’ll never lose that classic Old Hollywood feel—and we shouldn’t have to.
The golden age of Hollywood (1920s–1950s) was dominated by major studios like Warner Bros., MGM, and Paramount. Films were grand, escapist, and built on star studded power, while the Academy Awards celebrated the influence of the studio operation.
Then came New Hollywood in the late 1960s and 1970s, paving the way in a bold and daring, director-driven era. Filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg broke the rules, bringing such realism and auteur storytelling into the mainstream spotlight.
Now, Hollywood is evolving again… of course. And streaming giants like Apple TV+ and Netflix are going head-to-head with traditional studios, indie films are getting more and more recognition, and diverse storytelling is changing the industry.
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Why the Oscars Matter
To some, award shows are just fame recognizing fame—industry politics at play. But for many, the Oscars represent something far greater. They are a celebration of the brilliance of filmmaking, the power of storytelling, and the passion that drives the progress in this industry.
Winning an Oscar is far greater than holding a medal, not that we don’t already know that—let’s be honest, it’s an Oscar. But take Cynthia Erivo, for example, with her role as Elphaba in John Chu’s ‘Wicked’—she’s just one award away from achieving her EGOT. From the Tony Award to the Emmy, Grammy, and now possibly an Oscar, these awards bring the recognition that’s long overdue and ensure that legacy sticks for generations to come.
Beyond the industry, movie lovers around the world tune in, rooting for their favorite films and performers.
The Oscars offer a chance for audiences to feel connected to the magic of this industry and Cinema, and the people who bring these stories to life.
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A Love Letter to Hollywood
At its core, the Oscars are more than just an awards show—they are a celebration of dreams.
And not just dreams– but dreams really coming true.
The movies that win, the people that take the stage, and the speeches that echo through time all remind us why Cinema holds such an important place in our world.
Hollywood is a place built on imagination, resilience, and artistry. From the silent films of the 1920s to today’s streaming-era masterpieces, storytelling has remained at the heart of it all.
The Oscars serve as a tribute to the countless hours of dedication from actors, filmmakers, composers, writers, and everyone in between.
As the 2025 Academy Awards approach, we prepare to witness history in the making.
Whether you’re predicting the winners, cheering for a favorite film, or just watching for the magic of those unforgettable moments, one thing’s for sure—Hollywood’s biggest night never fails to remind us why we fell in love with Film and Cinema in the first place.
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By Emma Gladstone
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
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Author
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Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
