25 Iconic Oscars Moments We&x27;ll Never Be Able to Stop Talking About Diana Pearl, Emily KrauserSun, March 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC 0 Adrien Brody poses in the press room with his Best Actor Oscar during the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 2, 2025; The wrong envelope is read for Best Picture during the 89th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 26, 2017; Kathryn Bigelow holds her Best Director Oscar in the press room during the 82nd Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre in L.A.
25 Iconic Oscars Moments We'll Never Be Able to Stop Talking About
Diana Pearl, Emily KrauserSun, March 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC
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Adrien Brody poses in the press room with his Best Actor Oscar during the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 2, 2025; The wrong envelope is read for Best Picture during the 89th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 26, 2017; Kathryn Bigelow holds her Best Director Oscar in the press room during the 82nd Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre in L.A. on March 7, 2010Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Eddy Chen/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Jason Merritt/Getty
Some of the biggest moments in Hollywood history have happened at the Academy Awards.
It's hard to forget Hattie McDaniel's historic 1940 win for Best Supporting Actress or Kathryn Bigelow becoming the first woman to win Best Director in 2010 (there have only been two more since!).
Some of the most memorable acceptances, like Adrien Brody's record-breaking 2025 speech and Jennifer Lawrence tripping en route to collecting her Best Actress award in 2013, are seared into our memories. And how can we possibly thank Ryan Gosling for being more than Ken-ough at the 2024 ceremony?
Besides the excitement of seeing favorite films and stars win big, not missing out on the show's most talked-about moments is another reason to tune into the Oscars. No one could have anticipated the 2017 Best Picture blunder (a.k.a. Envelopegate), the night a 10-year-old actress became the youngest Oscar winner, or when a famous comedian's joke led to an infamous slap heard around the world.
Here are some of our favorite memories from past Oscars ceremonies that we'll never tire of talking about.
01 of 25
1940: Hattie McDaniel Makes History
Fay Bainter (right) presents Hattie McDaniel with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 'Gone with the Wind' at the 12th annual Academy Awards at the Ambassador Hotel in L.A. on Feb. 29, 1940Credit: Bettmann/Getty
It took more than a decade for the first Black person to win an Oscar. The honor went to Hattie McDaniel for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in 1939's Gone with the Wind. The win wasn't all progress, however: In 1940, with segregation still intact, McDaniel was forced to sit at the back of the venue, away from the rest of the film's cast.
02 of 25
1968: Alfred Hitchcock Gives a Very Short Acceptance Speech
Alfred Hitchcock (left) and Robert Wise at the 40th Academy Awards at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, Calif., on April 10, 1968Credit: Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty
Alfred Hitchcock was nominated for five Oscars over the course of his long career, but the Master of Suspense didn't receive one until 1968 — and even then, it was a bit of a technicality.
Instead of winning one of the Academy's traditional categories, he was presented with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which is something of a lifetime achievement award for filmmakers. Perhaps not satisfied with his honorary title, Hitchcock gave one of the shortest acceptance speeches in Oscars' history: a simple "thank you."
03 of 25
1969: Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn Tie for Best Actress
Ingrid Bergman (back, right) looks on after presenting Barbra Streisand with the Best Actress award at the 41st Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on April 14, 1969Credit: Bettmann/Getty
There have been six ties in Oscars' history, but the one that got the most buzz came in 1969, when Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn both won Best Actress: Streisand for Funny Girl and Hepburn for The Lion in Winter.
The win marked Hepburn's second win in a row (and third overall) after taking home the prize for 1967's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner the year before. Of the two winners, Streisand was the only one present, however, and opened her speech with the now-iconic line, "Hello, gorgeous."
Streisand has won two Oscars over the course of her career, while Hepburn took home four total.
04 of 25
1972: Charlie Chaplin Receives Honorary Oscar (and Longest Standing Ovation)
Charlie Chaplin receives an Honorary Oscar at the 44th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on April 10, 1972Credit: Bettmann/Getty
The bulk of Charlie Chaplin's iconic silent film career occurred before the Oscars began, yet his impact on the industry was incomparable. To recognize that, the Academy gave him an honorary award in 1972, which prompted a 12-minute standing ovation.
"Words seem so futile — so feeble," Chaplin said in his speech. "I can only say thank you for the honor of inviting me here."
His public appearance at the ceremony was also significant because it was one of his first in the United States in two decades. His reentry permit to the U.S. was revoked in 1972 due to controversy surrounding his alleged communist ties, per The Washington Post. Then in 1973, he won his first competitive Oscar: Best Original Dramatic Score for 1952's Limelight.
05 of 25
1973: Sacheen Littlefeather Steps in for Marlon Brando
Sacheen Littlefeather (far right) refuses the Academy Award for Best Actor on behalf of Marlon Brandon at the 45th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 27, 1973Credit: Bettmann/Getty
When Marlon Brando won for what is now considered one of his best-known roles, Don Vito Corleone in 1972's The Godfather, the actor wasn't there to receive the Best Actor trophy. Instead, he sent Sacheen Littlefeather, an Apache Native American activist and the president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee, to speak on his behalf and reject the award.
"He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award," she said of Brando. "And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry."
Sacheen died in October 2022 at the age of 75, weeks after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued an apology for her mistreatment at the 1973 ceremony.
06 of 25
1974: A Streaker Runs on Stage
Elizabeth Taylor laughs after being upstaged by streaker Robert Opal before presenting the Oscar for Best Picture at the 46th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on April 2, 1974Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty
Controversy also came the following year when a naked man ran across the stage just before Elizabeth Taylor presented the award for Best Picture. Robert Opel did the running behind host David Niven, who could only laugh and say: "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?"
07 of 25
1974: Tatum O'Neal Becomes the Youngest Oscar Winner in a Major Category
Tatum O'Neal holds her Best Supporting Actress Oscar during the 46th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on April 2, 1974Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage
Starring in 1973's Paper Moon alongside her father, Ryan O'Neal, Tatum O'Neal won Best Supporting Actress at just 10 years old. She collected the award wearing a little tuxedo and gave a very brief speech: "All I really want to thank is my director, Peter Bogdanovich, and my father. Thank you."
08 of 25
1989: Rob Lowe Opens with Musical Number
Rob Lowe sings a song with Snow White (Eileen Bowman) during the opening number of the 61st Academy Awards at Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 29, 1989Credit: Reed Saxon/AP/REX/Shutterstock
The Oscars typically open with a humorous bit and, on occasion, a song, and that's what happened in 1989. Rob Lowe and Eileen Bowman performed a Snow White-inspired take on "Proud Mary," with Bowman as the Disney princess. The routine was a disaster, and Disney sued the show. According to The New York Times, the lawsuit was later dropped after the Academy apologized.
Several stars, including Paul Newman and Julie Andrews, signed an open letter criticizing the telecast, calling the performance "an embarrassment to both the Academy and the entire motion picture industry," The Hollywood Reporter reported.
09 of 25
1993: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins Get (Temporarily) Banned
Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon attend the 65th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 29, 1993; Richard Gere arrives at the 65th Academy AwardsCredit: KMazur/WireImage (2)
When Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins took their moments onstage at the Oscars to get political — with now-exes Sarandon and Robbins addressing Haitian people living with HIV and Gere talking about the Chinese invasion of Tibet — the Academy did not react positively.
All three were criticized, but that didn't stop their careers. Sarandon won Best Actress three years later for 1995's Dead Man Walking, while Robbins scored a Best Supporting Actor win for 2003's Mystic River. Gere hasn't won nor been nominated for an Oscar as of 2026, though the Chicago star has attended the awards show multiple times since he was initially banned.
10 of 25
2000: Robin Williams Performs "Blame Canada"
Robin Williams performs 'Blame Canada' during the 72nd Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 26, 2000Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty
After winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998 for Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams performed "Blame Canada," a Best Original Song nominee from the 1999 animated film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, at the 72nd Academy Awards. Williams' performance was highlighted by marching protesters singing backup and a dancing kickline of leggy Mounties.
Though the song lost the Oscar to Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" from 1999's Tarzan, the late funnyman's memorable performance has lived on in history.
11 of 25
2001: Björk Turns Heads in Her Swan Outfit
Bjork attends the 73rd Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 25, 2001Credit: Ron Davis/Getty
There have been many iconic outfits at the Oscars over the years, but none perhaps more than Björk's. When she attended the show in 2001 as a Best Original Song nominee for "I've Seen It All" from the film Dancer in the Dark, she wore an eye-popping dress with a faux swan head wrapped around her neck.
12 of 25
2002: Halle Berry Gets Emotional After Historic Oscar Win
Halle Berry poses with her Best Actress Oscar backstage during the 74th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in L.A. on March 24, 2002Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty
It was pure euphoria for Halle Berry when she won Best Actress in 2002 for Monster's Ball, becoming the first Black woman to do so.
After her name was read, she immediately burst into tears before taking the stage to deliver one of the ceremony's best-remembered acceptance speeches.
"This moment is so much bigger than me," Berry said. "It's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened."
13 of 25
2009: Heath Ledger Wins Posthumous Oscar
Heath Ledger's mother Sally Ledger (center), onstage with the late actor's father, Kim, and sister Kate, accepts the Best Supporting Actor award for her son during the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 22, 2009Credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
There was barely a dry eye in the house when Heath Ledger, who died in January 2008, won a posthumous Oscar for his chilling performance as Batman villain the Joker in The Dark Knight, which earned rave reviews when it was released the summer following his death. His mother, father and sister accepted the award on his behalf.
Ledger was only the second actor to win a posthumous Oscar, after Peter Finch, who won Best Actor for 1976's Network.
14 of 25
2010: Kathryn Bigelow Wins Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow (left) accepts the Best Director award as presenter Barbra Streisand appears beside her during the 82nd Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in L.A. on March 7, 2010Credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage
Only nine women have been nominated for Best Director in Oscars history.
Three have won the coveted prize, the first being Bigelow for 2008's The Hurt Locker.
"This really is, um, there's no other way to describe it," she said in her acceptance speech. "It's the moment of a lifetime."
Since Bigelow, Chloé Zhao became the second woman ever to win the award in 2021 for Nomadland, and Jane Campion became the third in 2022 for The Power of the Dog. Zhao and Campion are also the only two women to be nominated twice in the Best Director category.
15 of 25
Advertisement
2013: Jennifer Lawrence Trips on Her Way to the Stage
Jennifer Lawrence during the 85th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood on Feb. 24, 2013Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
The Die, My Love star is famous for her quirky realness, which was on full display when she tripped up the stairs at the 2013 ceremony while making her way to the Oscars stage to collect her Best Actress award for Silver Linings Playbook. In true J.Law fashion, she took it in stride.
"You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell, and that's really embarrassing, but thank you," Lawrence said in her acceptance speech. "This is nuts."
16 of 25
2014: Ellen DeGeneres Goes Viral with Celeb Selfie
Ellen DeGeneres takes a selfie with several actors during the 86th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 2, 2014Credit: Ellen DeGeneres/AP
In 2014, Ellen DeGeneres used her hosting gig at the Oscars to attempt to break the internet with a very star-studded selfie. With a snap featuring Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong'o, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep, among others, she managed to do it.
At the time, the group photo took only an hour to become the then-most retweeted photo in X's history.
17 of 25
2016: Leonardo DiCaprio Wins His First Oscar
Leonardo DiCaprio accepts the Oscar onstage for Best Actor at the 88th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 28, 2016Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
In 1994, Leonardo DiCaprio nabbed his first Oscar nomination for What's Eating Gilbert Grape. In 2005, he got another, then two more in 2007 and 2014. Still, no wins until 2016, when DiCaprio won Best Actor for The Revenant. He received a standing ovation from his peers.
DiCaprio received another Oscar nomination in 2020 for Best Actor in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, but Joaquin Phoenix took home the statuette that year for Joker. In 2026, DiCaprio is nominated again for One Battle After Another.
18 of 25
2017: Envelopegate
Producer Jordan Horowitz (left) holds up the card reading 'Moonlight' as Best Picture winner as he stands next to Warren Beatty onstage at the 89th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 26, 2017Credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty
As the 89th Academy Awards neared its end with just one award left to give out, Bonnie & Clyde stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway presented Best Picture. Upon opening the envelope, Beatty paused. The crowd laughed, and he showed Dunaway the envelope after she urged him along. Dunaway announced 2016's La La Land as the winner.
The cast and crew took the stage, and the speeches began. However, behind them, something was amiss: Stagehands started running across the stage. The faces of team La La Land went from blissful joy to confusion and horror.
Then, producer Fred Berger said, "We lost, by the way."
His fellow producer, Jordan Horowitz, took the stage and delivered, perhaps, what are now the most unforgettable words in Oscars history: "There was a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won Best Picture."
He grabbed the correct card from Beatty's hands, showing it to the crowd.
Horowitz added, "I'm going to be really proud to hand this to my friends from Moonlight."
Beatty then returned center stage to explain what happened: He and Dunaway had accidentally been given an extra envelope for Best Actress, which read, "Emma Stone, La La Land." He then presented the award to Moonlight director Barry Jenkins.
"Clearly, even in my dreams, this could not be true," Jenkins began. "But to hell with dreams, I'm done with it. Because this is true."
An unprecedented mess that made headlines for weeks to come, one thing's for sure: There will likely never be a bigger moment in Oscars history than Envelopegate.
19 of 25
2019: The Oscars Go Hostless After Controversies
Kevin Hart attends the 87th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 22, 2015Credit: Dan MacMedan/WireImage
Not long after Kevin Hart was announced as the host for the 2019 Oscars, some of the comedian's past homophobic tweets and comments resurfaced on the internet. Despite critics calling him out, Hart initially refused to apologize, saying he'd already addressed those remarks.
The negative response was so intense that Hart ultimately stepped down. For a while, the Academy considered inviting the comedian back after he made the rounds on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Good Morning America, and eventually apologized.
However, in the end, the Oscars moved forward without a host and almost without some of its awards after planners announced that four trophies — Best Cinematography, Film Editing, Live Action Short and Makeup and Hairstyling — would be given out during commercial breaks. Again, the Academy faced backlash, ultimately reversing its decision just days before the ceremony.
20 of 25
2020: Eminem Delivers a Surprise Performance
Eminem performs 'Lose Yourself' onstage during the 92nd Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 9, 2020Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The last pre-COVID-19 awards show had lots of memorable moments (Parasite's wins! Pitt's first Oscar! An army of Elsas!). However, the biggest "OMG" for celebs in the audience and fans at home alike came when Eminem performed "Lose Yourself" 18 years after the track won Best Original Song.
Eminem famously ditched the ceremony when his song was nominated in 2003, later thanking the Academy on X for allowing him back.
21 of 25
2021: Chloé Zhao Breaks Barriers
Chloé Zhao poses with her Best Director Oscar in the press room during the 93rd Academy Awards at Union Station in L.A. on April 25, 2021Credit: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty
Only the seventh woman ever nominated for Best Director, Zhao broke records in 2021 when she won for Nomadland, becoming the first Asian woman (and only the second woman ever) to win the category.
In her acceptance speech, the director, screenwriter and producer spoke about poems she memorized with her father while growing up in China and how they kept her going when life got hard.
She said that one that has stuck with her translates to: "People at birth are entirely good."
Zhao continued, "This is for anyone who has the faith and courage to hold on to the goodness in themselves and in each other. This is for you; you inspire me to keep going."
She was nominated again in 2026 for Hamnet.
22 of 25
2022: Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock
Will Smith (right) slaps Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 27, 2022Credit: abc
It was the moment that stopped the night: After Chris Rock made a G.I. Jane 2 joke directed at Jada Pinkett Smith, her husband Will Smith walked onstage and smacked Rock, then returned to his seat before shouting, "Keep my wife's name out your f---ing mouth!"
The audience sat in stunned silence as a shocked Rock said, "Wow, dude, it was a G.I. Jane joke," before presenting the award for Best Documentary.
Later that evening, while receiving the trophy for Best Actor for his role in 2021's King Richard, Smith addressed the incident during his emotional acceptance speech. He apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees — but not Rock.
Will later resigned from the Academy, and the Academy instituted a 10-year ban on the actor, preventing him from attending any of the organization's events, including the Oscars.
23 of 25
2023: Michelle Yeoh's Historic Best Actress Win
Michelle Yeoh accepts the Oscar for Best Actress onstage during the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 12, 2023Credit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty
Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian woman — and only the second woman of color — to win Best Actress on the history-making night at the 2023 Oscars.
The veteran performer won for Everything Everywhere All at Once, which was the biggest winner that evening — the film swept seven categories, including Best Picture.
"For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities," Yeoh said in her acceptance speech. "This is proof that dreams do come true. And ladies, don't let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime. Never give up."
Yeoh's win marked one of two major milestones for Asian representation at the ceremony: Her former costar, Ke Huy Quan, became the first Vietnam-born actor to receive an Oscar when he took home Best Supporting Actor.
24 of 25
2024: Ryan Gosling Is More than 'Just Ken'
Ryan Gosling performs 'I'm Just Ken' from 'Barbie' onstage during the 96th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 10, 2024Credit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty
As if Gosling wasn't already a true showman, he brought the audience to their feet in 2024 when he took the stage in a bedazzled hot pink suit to sing the Oscar-nominated song "I'm Just Ken" from Barbie — with a posse of Kens.
Gosling started the song sitting in the audience, where Billie Eilish and his Barbie costar Margot Robbie were seen giggling as he began. He later made his way to the stage, where he was joined by fellow Ken cast members Scott Evans, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Ncuti Gatwa.
Producer and film composer Mark Ronson was also part of the fun with musicians Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen, who were featured on the soundtrack. The song ultimately lost to another Barbie anthem — Eilish's "What Was I Made For?"
25 of 25
2025: Adrien Brody Breaks the Record for Longest Acceptance Speech
Adrien Brody accepts the Oscar for Best Actor onstage at the 97th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 2, 2025Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
In 1943, Greer Garson set a record with her very long acceptance speech after winning Best Actress for her performance in Mrs. Miniver. According to Guinness World Records, her speech reportedly was five minutes and 30 seconds. Many point to this as the catalyst for the modern introduction of the time limit.
That, however, didn't stop the record from getting broken, though! When Brody accepted the win for Best Actor for The Brutalist at the 2025 Oscars, his speech lasted a total of five minutes and 36 seconds, per Guinness.
Brody poked fun at himself for taking longer than the rest of his fellow Oscar winners, joking, "You're already counting me down," before pleading for more time onstage.
He continued, "I'm wrapping up, please, please, please. I'm wrapping up. I will wrap up. Please. Turn the music off. I've done this before. Thank you. It's not my first rodeo, but I will — I will be brief. I will not be egregious. I promise."
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: March 15, 2026 at 04:45PM on Source: MORNING MAG
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