2025 Oscars: Low-Budget Films Dominate, But One Shocking Twist Steals the Show
On March 2 (local time), the Oscars, the most prestigious film event of the year, officially took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, USA.
The Dominance of Low-Budget Films
Unlike last year’s Oscars, which saw the sweeping victory of “Oppenheimer,” this year’s awards were dominated by low-budget and adult-themed films. “Dune: Part Two” and “Wicked” were among the few blockbusters nominated for Best Picture, with budgets of 190 million USD and 150 million USD, respectively. They also led the box office with 714 million USD and 729 million USD.
In contrast, most other nominees had budgets under 25 million USD, except for “A Complete Unknown,” a Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet. Some films, like “I’m Still Here,” had a budget of under 2 million USD. The biggest winner of the night, “Anora,” which secured five Oscars, was made with just 6 million USD and a 40-person crew. The film follows Anora (Mikey Madison), a New York stripper who impulsively marries the son of a Russian tycoon, only to face harsh realities.
“The Brutalist” also had a strong awards season, earning 10 nominations and winning three Oscars, second only to “Anora.” Despite its success, it had a modest budget of 9.6 million USD and a box office return of just over 41 million USD, similar to “Anora.” The dominance of low-budget films is likely a result of the prolonged 2023 Hollywood writers’ strike, which disrupted the release schedules of major blockbusters. Meanwhile, smaller productions like “The Brutalist,” “Anora,” “The Substance,” and “Emilia Pérez” were less affected, as their directors often took on multiple roles, including writing and producing.
New Faces Take the Spotlight
Additionally, the Oscars celebrated emerging talent, with many new faces being honored. Director Sean Baker has been making films since 2000 but has received little attention until now. At this year’s Oscars, he set a record as the first person to win four awards for a single film—”Best Picture,” “Best Director,” “Best Editing,” and “Best Original Screenplay”—for “Anora.” Adrien Brody won his second Oscar for Best Actor, 22 years after his first victory for “The Pianist”.
Zoe Saldaña, a box office star known for “Avatar” and “Avengers,” won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress despite this being her first nomination. Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison, both relatively unknown, also secured wins in their debut nominations. In a surprising turn, Latvia’s “Flow” won Best Animated Feature over major studio contenders “The Wild Robot” and “Inside Out 2,” highlighting Hollywood’s growing recognition of emerging talents over industry veterans.
Predictable Results with an Unexpected Twist
Before the Oscars, analysis sites had accurately predicted most of the winners, as the films and individuals mentioned had already dominated the awards season. However, the biggest shock came when Mikey Madison unexpectedly surpassed veteran actress Demi Moore, despite Moore’s previous wins at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and SAG Awards for “The Substance.” Additionally, Emilia Pérez secured 13 nominations but only won in two categories, while “Conclave” was overlooked for Best Editing.
2025 Oscar Winners:
- Best Picture: Anora
- Best Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Best Director: Sean Baker (Anora)
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (The Brutalist)
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Best Animated Short: In the Shadow of the Cypress
- Best Costume Design: Wicked
- Best Original Screenplay: Anora
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance
- Best Film Editing: Anora
- Best Production Design: Wicked
- Best Original Song: Emilia Pérez
- Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
- Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
- Best International Feature: I’m Still Here
- Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
- Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
- Best Live-Action Short: I Am Not A Robot
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
- Best Original Score: The Brutalist
This year’s Oscars not only highlighted the rise of low-budget films and fresh talent but also proved that the awards remain full of surprises, keeping audiences and critics on the edge of their seats.
