Kate Kim
The 97th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This year, comedian Conan O’Brien will host the show for the first time. Also, for the first time ever, the Oscars will be shown live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, making it easier for more people to watch.
Netflix’s Emilia Pérez leads the nominations with 13 nods, including Best Picture and a historic Best Actress nomination for Karla Sofía Gascón, the first transgender actress nominated in this category who’s been embroiled in a controversy over her past remarks on Muslims and other groups. Right behind it are The Brutalist and Wicked, each with 10 nominations. Wicked, based on the famous Broadway musical, has been a huge hit, making over $800 million worldwide. It is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director for Jon M. Chu, and Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo.
This year’s Oscars will do something new for the Best Original Song performances. Instead of just live music, the songwriters and creators will share their personal stories about making the songs. This change will help audiences connect more with the music and the artists behind it.
Despite concerns about recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the Academy has confirmed that the event will continue as planned, with preparations well underway. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. Pacific Time), with a red carpet pre-show starting 30 minutes before the main event. Fans can expect an exciting night filled with major wins, emotional speeches, and standout performances