This Sunday, Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 96th Academy Awards in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Kimmel was supported by a cast of charismatic hosts and energetic performers, helping to bring to life this star-studded night in Hollywood. In case you missed it, here are some of the top moments from this year’s Oscars.
1. Past and present winners unite
For the first time since 2009, previous winners in the four acting categories took the Dolby stage to present the Academy Awards for best supporting actress, best supporting actor, best actress and best actor. Among these 20 famous presenters were Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh and Brendan Fraser, who were the recipients of these respective Oscars during last year’s show. Through the heartfelt words of these lauded icons recognizing each nominee, generations of actors and actresses were joined together in a celebration of the film industry’s finest acting talent.
2. Billie Eilish and Finneas make history
Set against an aptly-lit pink background, sister-brother duo Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell gave a poignant performance of “What Was I Made For?” from the 2023 film “Barbie.” This song earned “Barbie” its only Oscar win of the night, although the film was nominated for eight awards. In winning the Oscar for best original song, Eilish (22) and O’Connell (26) became the first and second youngest individuals to have won two Oscars. They had previously received their first Academy Award in the same category for their song “No Time to Die” in 2022.
3. John Cena presents best costume design with nothing on
In 1974, a streaker interrupted the 46th Academy Awards to run across the stage completely naked. 50 years later, in what may be the most shocking, yet hilarious moment of this year’s awards show, John Cena shuffled sideways in front of Hollywood’s biggest names to present the winner for Best Costume Design wearing nothing but Birkenstocks. Using the presenter’s envelope to cover himself, Cena shook his head in exasperation and sighed, “Costumes…They are so important.” Jimmy Kimmel came to Cena’s “rescue” by creating a makeshift toga out of a rose gold curtain, allowing him to announce Holly Waddington from “Poor Things” as the winner, without flashing the audience.
4. Ryan Gosling channels his “Kenergy”
Wearing a bedazzled hot pink suit and shades, Ryan Gosling and a band of “Kens” in cowboy hats performed “I’m Just Ken” in the style of Marilyn Monroe singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” This performance was not just relegated to the stage however, and Gosling passed the microphone to the women of “Barbie”— Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and America Ferrera — and Gosling’s “La La Land” co-star and 2024 best actress winner for “Poor Things,” Emma Stone. On top of this round of karaoke and a montage of larger-than-life Barbie heads, Slash, the lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, came out on the stage, making “I’m Just Ken” one of the most entertaining performances of the night.
5. “Oppenheimer” steals the show
“Oppenheimer,” the second part of the “Barbenheimer” cultural phenomenon, came out on top this Oscars season, taking home the Academy Award for seven out of this film’s 13 nominations. In addition to winning for best film editing, best cinematography and best original score, “Oppenheimer” allowed three big names in the film industry to earn the title of “Oscar Winner” for the first time tonight — Robert Downey Jr. for best supporting actor, Cillian Murphy for best actor and Christopher Nolan for best director.
Upon receiving his Oscar, Nolan expressed that being a “meaningful part” of the “incredible journey” that is movies “means the world to [him].” Solidifying Nolan’s place in film history, “Oppenheimer” closed out the 96th Academy Awards with its win for best picture, the most anticipated award of the evening.