At the 2025 Oscars, “Anora” emerged as the major winner. The film tells the story of a sex worker who marries into a Russian oligarch family. It succeeded in a particularly volatile awards season where multiple films like “Emilia Pérez” and “The Brutalist” experienced dramatic changes in their award prospects due to various controversies, including inappropriate social media posts and AI usage questions.
Over the past 30 days, 8.5 million messages about the Oscars have been posted across social media, reaching more than 560 million people. In addition to the winners, these messages touched on a wide range of topics, including:
- Conan O’Brien’s comedic presence which included jokes targeting Drake, creating memorable moments during the award show.
- Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Defying Gravity’ performance drew acclaim, with Michelle Yeoh showing an emotional reaction.
- Lisa from “The White Lotus”’ attended the Oscars red carpet, sharing insights about the show’s upcoming season.
- Halle Berry and Adrien Brody recreated their iconic 2003 red carpet kiss, sparking reactions from fans and media.
Did the majority of messages reveal the winners before the 2025 Oscars ceremony? We scoured social media posts from a month before the ceremony to an hour before it started, to compare the social media favorites and the real winners.
Best Picture Oscar: “Anora”
Sean Baker’s “Anora” came out on top on social media, just ahead of “Wicked”, “Conclave” and “The Brutalist”. Social media users were right on the money in this category. The buzz surrounding “Emilia Perez” didn’t particularly boost mentions of the film, which only came in 8th place among the most-cited films.
Best International Feature Film Oscar: “ I’m Still Here”
Among the other big winners, ‘I’m Still Here’, a family drama set during Brazil’s military dictatorship, was named Best International Film. This marked Brazil’s fifth nomination for best international film at the awards, and its first win.
On social media, the film received rave reviews, making it the most cited feature film across all categories!
Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar: Mikey Madison, “Anora”
Karla Sofia Gascon (“Emilia Perez”) was widely discussed on social media primarily due to a major controversy. She faced backlash after old tweets resurfaced containing remarks about the Muslim community and the death of George Floyd, prompting her to issue a public apology. Madison won unexpectedly for her portrayal of an exotic dancer under pressure to get her rich husband annulled.
Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar: Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
While Timothée Chalamet was nominated for “A Complete Unknown” and was the most discussed nominee, it was Adrian Brody who won the award. This marks his second win in this category, his first being for “The Pianist” in 2001. In “The Brutalist” Brody portrays László Tóth, a Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the United States in search of a better life. His performance has been widely praised, earning him accolades at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards.
Best Director Oscar: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Jacques Audiard, director of “Emilia Perez”, was the most cited just ahead of Sean Baker. Considering that this first place was partly fuelled by the bad buzz surrounding “Emilia Perez”, social media audiences weren’t far wrong. Emilia Pérez’ also won seven Césars on Friday evening at the French cinema awards ceremony, including the prestigious trophy for “Best Direction” and “Best Film”.
“Anora” won five Oscars, all among the most prestigious in the competition: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay, the latter two also being won by Sean Baker himself, a true jack-of-all-trades.
Best Visual Effects Oscar: “Dune, part two”
Social media users missed the mark on this one! Instead of focusing on Denis Villeneuve’s film, most of the conversation centered around “Wicked” winning the category. DNEG VFX Supervisors, Stephen James, and Rhys Salcombe accepted the prestigious award alongside Production VFX Supervisor, Paul Lambert, and Special Effects Supervisor, Gerd Nefzer.
Best Original Song Oscar: “El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez” – Music by Clément Ducol and Camille
Social media users mainly talked about two nominated songs from Emilia Perez: “El Mal” and “Mi Camino”. The song “El Mal” was performed in the film by Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, leaving a lasting impression on both viewers and the Academy.
Best Original Score Oscar: “The Brutalist” – Daniel Blumberg
Social media users rarely mentioned the winner leading up to the 2025 Oscars ceremony, instead favoring “Wicked” by John Powell and Stephen Schwartz. However, Blumberg’s composition was praised for its emotional depth and innovative approach, setting it apart from the competition.
Social Media vs. Academy Voters: The Final Verdict
The 2025 Oscars revealed the varied predictive power of social media. While platforms correctly forecasted wins like “Anora” for Best Picture, they were short of the mark for others like “Dune, Part Two” for Visual Effects. Online conversation is heavily shaped by controversies and viral moments, as seen with “Emilia Pérez,” yet Academy voters ultimately make independent choices that can surprise even the most dedicated social media analysts.
