The Oscars in 2025 were anything but a standard awards night; they were a seismic pop culture event. If anyone thought Hollywood had already reached peak drama between Moonlight’s envelope moment and Parasite’s historic sweep, they were wrong. This year’s ceremony was filled with record-breaking wins, groundbreaking firsts, and moments that left the industry abuzz. From animation domination to a generational Best Actor showdown, here are the 10 wildest records and firsts from the 2025 Oscars, counting down from number 10 to number 1.
10. Reign of Pixar’s Animated Feature
Pixar continued to lead the pack with Inside Out 2, which marked the studio’s 19th Best Animated Feature nomination-higher than that of any other studio in Oscar history, making Pixar the undisputed leader in animation. Had the film taken home the honor, it would have been the studio’s 12th win in this category-and nothing seems to slow this streak.
9. Chris Sanders’ Animated Nominations Streak
Chris Sanders, director of The Wild Robot, now holds the record for most nominations in Best Animated Feature without a win. This is his fourth nod, after Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Croods. He may not have taken home the Oscar yet, but his consistent recognition proves his lasting impact in animation.
8. Paul Tazewell Makes Costume History
The costume designer, Paul Tazewell, with credits for Wicked, became the first Black male costume designer to receive two Oscar nominations in Best Costume Design. His earlier nod for West Side Story made this achievement a milestone for diversity and representation in Hollywood’s most glamorous department.
7. Diane Warren’s Near-Miss Record
Songwriting legend Diane Warren earned her 16th nomination for Best Original Song with “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight and tied the record for most Oscar nods without a competitive win. She also bested Marilyn Bergman’s record as the most-nominated woman in the category and matched Sammy Cahn’s streak of eight consecutive years of nominations. Yes, Warren’s Oscar saga continues, but perhaps someday she will finally take home gold.
6. The Substance: Horror Hits Best Picture
For the first time, horror fans had a reason to celebrate as The Substance became the very first body horror film nominated for Best Picture. Joining the tiny club of horror films ever honored by the Academy, including The Exorcist, Get Out, and Black Swan, this nomination proves genre films can finally compete on Hollywood’s biggest stage.
5. Karla Sofía Gascón Breaks Barriers
Karla Sofía Gascón made history as the first openly transgender actress nominated in any acting category, thanks to her work on Emilia Pérez. She also became the first Spanish actress to be nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her recognition means a great deal for the Oscars in terms of LGBTQ+ and Spanish representation.
4. Fernanda Torres and Brazilian Cinema
Fernanda Torres became the second-ever Brazilian actor nominated for an acting Oscar, after her own mother, Fernanda Montenegro. And had she won for I’m Still Here, she would have been the first Brazilian-and the first Latin American actress-to take home the Best Actress trophy: a real generational moment for Brazilian cinema.
3. Sean Baker’s Four-Category Sweep Potential
Sean Baker’s Anora earned nominations in four major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. Had he won all four, he would have matched Walt Disney’s 1954 record for most Oscars won in a single night, except Baker achieved it with just one film. No one has ever pulled off a four-for-four sweep like this.
2. Emilia Pérez: Non-English-Language Record
Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez became an instant record-breaker with 13 nods, the most ever for a non-English-language film (topping Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Roma, which had 10 apiece) while helping France reclaim the top spot for Best International Feature nominations. Its haul was so massive that it had the potential to take down records for wins in a single night.
1. Timothée Chalamet vs. Adrien Brody – Youngest Best Actor Clash
This set up a generational showdown in the Best Actor category: A Complete Unknown nominee Timothée Chalamet was vying to become the youngest Best Actor ever, a full 10 months younger than Adrien Brody when he won for The Pianist. Meanwhile, Brody was back in the running with The Brutalist, seeking to become the first person to take Best Actor with their first two nominations. It was a high-stakes, star-studded race that could have rewritten Oscar history.
The Oscars in 2025 weren’t just about who walked away with the gold, but a night of breaking records, shattering barriers, and making history in ways to be remembered for years to come.