1 / 8'Lily, I share this with you': Emma Stone | In a stunning turn of events at the 2024 Oscars, the highly anticipated Best Actress category left the audience in disbelief as Emma Stone, the lead in "Poor Things," snatched the trophy from the expected winner, Lily Gladstone, who portrayed a pivotal role in "Killers of the Flower Moon." Despite the unexpected outcome, Stone graciously acknowledged Gladstone in her charming acceptance speech, expressing admiration for her fellow nominee: "Lily, I share this with you. I’m in awe of you." This unforeseen development added a layer of surprise to the evening, challenging earlier predictions, especially in light of Gladstone's prior success at the Screen Actors Guild awards. The lingering sentiment of a missed opportunity to honor Gladstone, who could have made history as the first Indigenous woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress, permeated the atmosphere. (Image: Reuters)
2 / 8Da’Vine Joy Randolph's emotional kickoff | The opening moments of the ceremony featured a heartfelt speech from Da’Vine Joy Randolph, the winner of the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in "The Holdovers." Randolph emotionally recounted her journey from being an opera singer to an award-winning actress, thanking her supporters and acknowledging her Yale Drama School professor, Ron Van Lieu. “When I was the only Black girl in that class, when you saw me and you told me I was enough,” Randolph said. “When I told you I don’t see myself, you said: ‘That’s fine. We’re going to forge our own path.’” (Image: Reuters)
3 / 8John Cena's stripped-down comedy | In a lighthearted nod to the 50th anniversary of the infamous streaker incident during David Niven's introduction of Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Kimmel and John Cena playfully agreed to a reenactment. However, Cena unexpectedly succumbed to stage fright, leading to a humorous exchange between the two. Whispering to Kimmel, Cena expressed a change of heart about the streaker bit, prompting Kimmel to coax him on stage with only the nominees' card for Costume Design strategically covering his modesty. As Cena hesitated, claiming he couldn't open the card, the moment became a strange, uncomfortable, yet oddly amusing episode. The banter continued with Cena asserting, "The male body is not a joke," to which Kimmel retorted, "Mine is." (Image: Reuters)
4 / 8The Barbenheimer feud takes center stage | The Oscars also witnessed a heated exchange on stage regarding the "Barbenheimer" feud between films "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie." The disparity in nominations was brought to light by "Fall Guy" co-stars Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, leading to a playful yet pointed exchange. The banter included accusations of "Ken-splaining" and humorous jabs at each other's films, providing a memorable moment in the midst of the awards. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 8Ryan Gosling's is Ken-ough to steal the show | Ryan Gosling stole the spotlight with a showstopping performance of his song "I'm Just Ken," a rendition of his character's perspective in the Barbie universe. The elaborate production, featuring dancing cowboys, spinning Barbie faces, and even a cameo by Guns N’ Roses’ guitarist Slash, turned Gosling into a sensation, making Ken the unexpected star of the night. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 8‘Oppenheimer’ wins best picture: | The pinnacle of the evening came with the announcement of the Best Picture winner, as "Oppenheimer" fulfilled its destiny by taking home the coveted award. Despite being a box office success and the most nominated movie of the night, the win was met with surprise and joy among the filmmakers and viewers. The film secured seven Oscars, including Best Director for Christopher Nolan and acting honors for Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 8Messi's heartwarming surprise | The event also featured the heartwarming presence of Messi, the black-and-white Border collie from "Anatomy of a Fall," who became the darling of the audience. Despite earlier rumors of being banned, Messi made a surprise appearance, wearing a bow tie, and later delivered a memorable finale by lifting his leg over Matt Damon's Hollywood Walk of Fame star. (Image: Reuters)
8 / 8Al Pacino's befuddling best picture moment | In a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion, Al Pacino presented the award for Best Picture in a shambolic manner, momentarily leaving the audience uncertain. However, the confusion was dispelled as "Oppenheimer" was confirmed as the rightful winner, concluding the 2024 Oscars with a mix of surprises, heartfelt moments, and a touch of political awareness. (Image: Reuters)
