Inside the 2025 Oscars: Candid Moments Captured at the Dolby Theatre

"It’s Hollywood’s Biggest Night, but it starts at 4 in the afternoon," Conan O’Brien quipped, hitting the ground running in his Oscars debut. "I’m your host, Conan O’Brien." And just like that, the show was off.

By early afternoon, nominees and A-listers made their way down the red carpet before settling into their seats at the Dolby Theatre—ready for a night led by O’Brien, taking his first crack at Oscar hosting.

A cinematic love letter to Los Angeles opened the show, set to Judy Garland’s immortal words: "There’s no place like home." Against a glowing Hollywood sign, the tribute hit even harder in the wake of the recent LA fires. Then, Ariana Grande, draped in ruby-red (a clear nod to Dorothy’s slippers), took the stage with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Enter Cynthia Erivo with “Home” from The Wiz, before the two vocal powerhouses joined forces for a goosebump-inducing “Defying Gravity.”

Then came the laughs. A Substance spoof saw O’Brien hilariously swapping lives with Demi Moore—before finally making his grand entrance, all eyes on him for a much-hyped musical medley.

The night’s playlist was stacked: Doja Cat, Blackpink’s LISA, Queen Latifah, and RAYE, all set to take the stage. And beyond the performances, major showdowns loomed—guaranteeing drama, upsets, and meme-worthy moments.

Inside, Kylie Jenner played it low-key, skipping the red carpet to join Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet in the audience. Meanwhile, Best Actress contender Selena Gomez and fiancé Benny Blanco made for one of the night’s sweetest pairs, trading knowing glances and snapping seat-side selfies.

As the ceremony unfolded, the real magic wasn’t just on stage—it was in the unfiltered moments happening in the audience. Like Elle Fanning slipping over to greet Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet during a commercial break, the trio sharing a quick, easy laugh. Miley Cyrus, hand-in-hand with new boyfriend Maxx Morando. See all the spontaneous embraces, side-eye glances, and reactions that didn’t make the broadcast, below.