In its 94th year, the Academy Awards have proven that there is still plenty Hollywood can shock us with. The 2022 return to the Dolby Theatre brought out the biggest names in entertainment to celebrate the year’s top accolades, and after two years of the pandemic – which included a socially distant 2021 ceremony with record-low ratings – the stars were ready to have some fun. Well, most of them anyway.
While the feud between Chris Rock and newly minted best actor Academy Award-winner Will Smith will likely be the talk of the town for some time, it’s not to overshadow last night’s big winners. The surprise altercation between the two came just before Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson accepted the best documentary feature award for “Summer of Soul.” It was a well-deserved victory for “The Roots” drummer, whose film gives viewers an in-depth look at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.
While other notable moments took place on stage (such as the sweet “I got you” exchange between Lady Gaga and Liza Minelli), there was also history in the making last night when it came to this year’s award winners. It was a triumph for Apple TV+ and the “CODA” team. Writer/director Sian Heder won in the category of best adapted screenplay, while Troy Kotsur won for his performance in a supporting role, and the entire cast walked away victorious in the best picture of the year department. Jane Campion became the third woman to win best director [for “The Power of the Dog”], also becoming the first woman to be nominated for the Oscar twice.
Other big winners included Hans Zimmer for best original score [“Dune”], Greig Fraser for best cinematography [“Dune”], Kenneth Branagh for best original screenplay [“Belfast”], Jessica Chastain for best actress [“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”], “Drive My Car” [Japan] won for international feature, and Ariana DeBose, who won for best supporting actress [“West Side Story”] made history as the very first Afro Latina and openly queer actor of color to win the prestigious award.
The ceremony was hosted by Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes, making it the first time in history that three women have presented the ceremony.
Below is a complete list of nominees and winners from the 94th annual Academy Awards.
Best Picture
Belfast
CODA **WINNER**
Don’t Look Up
Drive My Car
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield, tick, tick … Boom!
Will Smith, King Richard **WINNER**
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Actress in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye **WINNER**
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers
Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
Kristen Stewart, Spencer
Actor in a Supporting Role
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kostur, CODA **WINNER**
Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
J.K. Simmons, Being the Ricardos
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog
Actress in a Supporting Role
Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story **WINNER**
Judi Dench, Belfast
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Best Director
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car
Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog **WINNER**
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
Best Adapted Screenplay
CODA **WINNER**
Drive My Car
Dune
The Lost Daughter
The Power of the Dog
Best Original Screenplay
Belfast **WINNER**
Don’t Look Up
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
The Worst Person in the World
Best Animated Feature
Encanto **WINNER**
Flee
Luca
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Raya and the Last Dragon
Best Documentary Feature
Ascension
Attica
Flee
Summer of Soul **WINNER**
Writing With Fire
Best Short Documentary
Audible
Lead Me Home
The Queen of Basketball **WINNER**
Three Songs for Benazir
When We Were Bullies
International Feature Film
Drive My Car **WINNER**
Flee
The Hand of God
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
The Worst Person in the World
Best Film Editing
Don’t Look Up
Dune **WINNER**
King Richard
The Power of the Dog
tick…tick…BOOM!
Best Cinematography
Dune **WINNER** [Greig Fraser]
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Best Sound
Belfast
Dune **WINNER**
No Time To Die
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
Best Original Score
Don’t Look Up
Dune **WINNER** [Hans Zimmer]
Encanto
Parallel Mothers
The Power of the Dog
Best Original Song
“Be Alive” from King Richard
“Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto
“Down to Joy” from Belfast
“No Time to Die” from No Time to Die **WINNER** [Billie Eilish and FINNEAS]
“Somehow You Do” from Four Good Days
Best Costume Design
Cruella **WINNER**
Cyrano
Dune
Nightmare Alley
West Side Story
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Coming 2 America
Cruella
Dune
The Eyes of Tammy Faye **WINNER**
House of Gucci
Best Production Design
Dune **WINNER**
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Best Visual Effects
Dune **WINNER**
Free Guy
No Time to Die
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Best Animated Short Film
Affairs of the Art
Bestia
Boxballet
Robin Robin
The Windshield Wiper **WINNER**
Best Live Action Short Film
Ala Kachuu – Take and Run
The Dress
The Long Goodbye **WINNER**
On My Mind
Please Hold
