All the talk is over. Another awards season is at an end. Now it’s time to hand out Oscars.
The 97th Academy Awards will close out a go-round that’s been more unpredictable than most. We’ll find out if “Anora” is truly a Cinderella story, or if a more conventional Oscar movie like “The Brutalist” or “Conclave” will take a best picture win. We’ll find out if Timothée Chalamet
can become the youngest best actor winner ever for playing Bob Dylan, or if Adrien Brody has another win in store. And we’ll see if Demi Moore can finish this season’s most rousing Oscar comeback, or if Mikey Madison can score a best actress trophy her first time out.
Stay tuned for all the highlights and big winners from the Oscar red carpet and the Academy Awards ceremony.
What movie is predicted to win the best picture Oscar?
The romantic dramedy “Anora” had picked up some momentum winning the top awards from the directors’ and producers’ guilds – a strong bellwether for Oscar victory. But at last week’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, papal thriller “Conclave” upended “Anora” to win best ensemble. That and a win for best movie at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) could give it the edge.
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There’s been no clear frontrunner this entire Oscar cycle, so we might be in for a surprise tonight: If “The Brutalist” cleans up the technical awards early in the night, that could foretell a win, or a perhaps a dark horse like the music biopic “A Complete Unknown” or acclaimed body horror movie “The Substance” – with key filmmaking and acting nods – could be an upset in waiting. See more of our predictions here.
Which celebrities will be presenting at the Academy Awards? (Hint: Not Harrison Ford.)
If you were hoping to see Indiana Jones tonight, well, you better stream “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Harrison Ford was supposed to present at the Oscars but dropped out due to shingles. (Which honestly is a really good reason.) There will still be plenty of A-list talent taking the stage, though.
Last year’s victors in the four acting categories − Robert Downey Jr., Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cillian Murphy and Emma Stone − will all be there to welcome the next class of winners. Other famous names on tap include Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Sterling K. Brown, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Oprah Winfrey, Gal Gadot, Samuel L. Jackson and Rachel Zegler.
Who is hosting this year’s Oscars show?
Comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien is the latest to emcee the glitzy event. Four-time host Jimmy Kimmel did it a year ago but chose not to in 2025 because he “didn’t want to deal with” juggling the Academy Awards with his late-night gig.
At an Oscar news conference last week, O’Brien, 61, said he consulted with former hosts like Billy Crystal (“He’s the all-time great”) and will address the challenging political climate but promised not to bog the show down with divisive jokes. “As the host, I cannot ignore the moment we’re in,” O’Brien said. “But we’re threading the needle, and we have to remember what we’re celebrating and infuse the show with positivity. It’s a difficult line to walk, but I’m determined to figure it out.”
Where can I watch Oscar red carpet coverage?
Hosted by Zuri Hall (“Access Hollywood”), E!’s “Live From the Red Carpet” special begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 PT with fashion designer Christian Siriano and actress/comedian Yvonne Orji weighing in on celebrity fashion. And, yes, the E! GlamBOT will be in full effect.
The official Oscars red carpet show, hosted by Julianne Hough and Jesse Palmer, starts at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 PT on ABC.
How to watch the 2025 Academy Awards
The Oscars show will air live tonight from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on ABC. You can also stream the awards ceremony live on Hulu, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.
Contributing: Bryan Alexander and Marco della Cava
