The 96th annual Academy Awards lit up Hollywood from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 10, with comedian and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel helming the ceremony for the fourth time.
The star-studded celebration featured many notable moments, from the joyous to the fun to the downright hilarious. Some of those bright spots during the telecast included John Cena showing up in nothing more than his birthday suit to present — what else? — the best costume design category, which went to Poor Things. There was also Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt and Barbie hunk Ryan Gosling presenting together and taking jabs at each other’s films for summer’s Barbenheimer phenomenon, as well as Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo presenting for the awards for best original song and score. Plus, show-stealing performances from Billie Eilish and Finneas with Oscar-winning original Barbie song “What Was I Made For?” and Gosling’s Kenergetic delivery of “I’m Just Ken” (with surprise appearances from Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, as well as Wolfgang Van Halen!) had the audience on its feet.
There were also some sweet moments in the audience, including latest Dancing With the Stars champ Xochitl Gomez posing with Barbie star America Ferrera and Becky G, who performed “The Fire Inside” written by Diane Warren for Flamin’ Hot. Kimmel’s sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez also advocated for margaritas for all, and toasted those around him.
The night’s big winners were Oppenheimer, which took home seven awards, including best picture, best director for Christopher Nolan, best actor for Cillian Murphy, best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. and best score for Ludwig Goransson. Poor Things‘ Emma Stone won for best actress in a surprise victory over front-runner Lily Gladstone from Flowers of the Killer Moon, while Da’Vine Joy Randolph won supporting actress for The Holdovers. Eilish and Finneas won their second best original song Oscar with “What Was I Made For?.”
The 2024 Oscars aired live on ABC.
