The 2024 Oscars ceremony was a night to remember, with Vanessa Hudgens and Julianne Hough hosting the Oscars Red Carpet Show. The event was headlined by Jimmy Kimmel, marking his fourth time as host. The nominees were led by Oppenheimer with 13 nominations, followed by Poor Things with 11 nominations and Killers of the Flower Moon with 10. Notable actors such as Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and Emma Stone were among the nominees, alongside a significant number of first-time nominees, including Lily Gladstone and Danielle Brooks.
One of the surprises of the night was the omission of Leonardo DiCaprio from the Best Actor category for Killers of the Flower Moon. Margot Robbie’s comedic performance in Barbie was also overlooked in the acting categories, although she received a nomination for Best Picture as a producer. Greta Gerwig and Alexander Payne, both acclaimed directors, were left out of the Best Director race despite their successful films. The documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie and American Symphony were also shut out.
Emma Stone made history by becoming only the second female producer to receive Best Actress and Best Picture nominations in the same year, following Frances McDormand in 2021. Bradley Cooper joined a select group of actors who have directed themselves into Best Actor nominations twice. Greta Gerwig made history by becoming the first director ever, male or female, to have their first three solo directorial efforts all nominated for Best Picture. Lily Gladstone also made Oscar history as the first-ever Native woman of American descent to be nominated for Best Actress. Martin Scorsese became the most-nominated living director, surpassing Steven Spielberg with 10 nominations.
Oppenheimer dominated the 96th Academy Awards, winning seven trophies including Best Picture and Director. Poor Things followed with four wins, while The Zone of Interest also scored multiple statuettes. Emma Stone won Best Actress for Poor Things, Cillian Murphy won Best Actor for Oppenheimer, and Robert Downey Jr. took home the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the same film. Da’Vine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Holdovers.
The Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with a star-studded lineup of presenters including Zendaya, Nicolas Cage, and Jennifer Lawrence. The ceremony featured performances from Jon Batiste, Billie Eilish, and Ryan Gosling among others. The event aired live on ABC, beginning an hour earlier than usual. The night was filled with memorable moments, record-breaking wins, and surprises, making it a historic and unforgettable Oscars ceremony.