[3] The nominees for the 97th Academy Awards were announced on January 23, 2025, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, by actress Rachel Sennott and actor Bowen Yang.

[31] This marks the first time a non-Disney/Pixar film won the category for three consecutive years; the other two winners being Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio and The Boy and the Heron.

The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or tributes:[36] The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, performed musical numbers:[37] In October 2024, the Academy hired television producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, for the second year in a row, to oversee production of the 2025 ceremony with veteran television director Hamish Hamilton selected to direct the telecast, also for the second consecutive year and his fifth time overall.

[38] "We are delighted to announce the return of our incredibly dynamic and creative Oscars team, Raj, Katy, Hamish, Misty, Alana and Dave.

"Their love for cinema, their collective creative vision, and their unparalleled expertise in live television make them the perfect team to create an exceptional show for our global audience on the film industry's biggest night.

"[38] In response, Kapoor and Mullan released a statement, stating: "We are thrilled to lead the brilliant Oscars production team again and work alongside the Academy and Disney/ABC to help create an unforgettable night of television for movie lovers worldwide.

We hope to continue to inspire and connect new generations to share our love for the art of filmmaking and celebrate all the incredible artists who are Oscar-nominated this year.

[42] This format, dubbed as the "Fab 5", first used in 2009 and featuring five previous winners praising one acting nominee each, was brought back in 2024 after a fifteen-year absence.

[57][58][59] Changes to the ceremony itself would also occur in the wake of the wildfires, with the Academy choosing to honor the Los Angeles community and its role in the film industry.

"[62] In January 2025, addressing how the wildfires would affect preparation of the ceremony and his position as host, O'Brien told The Hollywood Reporter: "It's not the easiest assignment I've ever had, but I'm embracing it.

[65] Columnist Adam White of The Independent considered it to be "the best Oscars in years"[66] while Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson called O'Brien's hosting as "brilliantly emceed".

[67] The Atlantic television critic Shirley Li praised O'Brien's performance, writing that he "understood the assignment" and "looked like he belonged there".

[71] Conversely, Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter was more critical, citing "too many head-scratching choices and tonal inconsistencies", but praised O'Brien as "a fully capable host" and opined that "some of the writing within the telecast was impressively sharp".

However, following Sean Baker's first two wins (Best Film Editing and Best Original Screenplay) for Anora, O'Brien congratulated the film's success and delivered a joke, saying: "I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian", seemingly referring to President Donald Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and how Trump is dealing with the Russo-Ukrainian War; the joke was met with laughter, resounding applause, and massive cheers from the audience.

The website's consensus reads: "The 97th Oscars won't win any awards for brevity, but it earns kudos for a genuinely celebratory mood and the comedic stylings of fresh-faced new kid on the block, Conan O'Brien.

"[65] The American telecast on ABC drew in an average of 19.7 million people over its length, marking a 1% increase from the previous year's ceremony.

[73] The montage, which featured the Los Angeles Master Chorale performing "Lacrimosa" from Mozart's Requiem, paid tribute to the following individuals:[74] The segment faced criticism for omitting several significant personalities; notably Jim Abrahams, Alain Delon, Carlos Diegues, Shannen Doherty, Mitzi Gaynor, Bernard Hill, Olivia Hussey, Claude Jarman Jr., Linda Lavin, Sérgio Mendes, Martin Mull, Ken Page, Liam Payne, Silvia Pinal, Morgan Spurlock, Tony Todd, and Michelle Trachtenberg (the latter who, like Hackman, had died the week prior).