The 2025 Oscars: A Deep Dive into Pre- and Post-Event Media Coverage

The Oscars are never just about the awards—they’re about the moments that ignite conversations long after the red carpet is rolled away. The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, had all the ingredients of a headline-making spectacle: shocking upsets, emotional speeches, unexpected controversies, and even technical chaos. From the media frenzy leading up to the night to the social media firestorm that followed, the evolution of coverage reveals not just what happened at the Oscars, but how audiences reacted in real-time.

What drives public sentiment around an event like this? How do narratives shift from anticipation to aftermath? And what can we learn from the way media and viewers engage with Hollywood’s biggest night? Let’s break down the full story—from pre-event buzz to post-show fallout—and uncover why media monitoring plays a crucial role in understanding audience behavior.

Pre-Oscars Media Coverage: Hype and Anticipation

Top Stories and Topics Leading Up to the Event

1. Anticipation for ‘Anora’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’
Media outlets highlighted Anora and Emilia Pérez as leading contenders, with widespread discussions on their potential success at the awards. Predictions heavily focused on these films, and their respective directors and actors were frequently mentioned in pre-event buzz.

2. Demi Moore’s Expected Best Actress Win
Demi Moore’s performance in The Substance made her a frontrunner in the Best Actress category. Coverage surrounding Moore framed her win as likely, further amplifying the drama when she ultimately lost on the night of the awards.

3. Karla Sofía Gascón’s Historic Nomination and Controversy
Karla Sofía Gascón made history as the first openly transgender performer nominated for an Oscar. However, past social media posts sparked discussions and controversy, affecting Emilia Pérez’s campaign momentum and generating polarized media reactions.

4. Excitement Over Conan O’Brien’s Hosting Debut
Conan O’Brien’s role as host was a major discussion point, with media outlets speculating on his comedic approach and how his hosting style would compare to previous years.

5. Predictions and Speculations on the Biggest Winners
Analysts debated potential winners in major categories such as Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Speculative articles kept engagement high, contributing to a rise in social media discussions in the days leading up to the event.

Sentiment Analysis: Media Optimism Before the Event

• February 24 – February 28:
  • Positive Coverage: 51.8%
  • Neutral Coverage: 44.4%
  • Negative Coverage: 3.8%
  • Articles focused on nominee profiles, fashion expectations, and predictions, with minimal controversy or criticism.
• February 28 – March 2:
  • Positive Coverage: 54.3%
  • Neutral Coverage: 41.8%
  • Negative Coverage: 3.9%
  • As the event approached, excitement increased slightly, reflecting final predictions and media build-up.

Post-Oscars Media Coverage: Reactions, Controversies, and Surprises

Top Stories and Topics After the Event

1. ‘Anora’ Sweeps the Oscars
Anora was the biggest winner of the night, securing five major awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), and Best Actress (Mikey Madison). This was a significant moment, as independent films rarely dominate the Oscars to this extent.

2. Mikey Madison’s Best Actress Upset
One of the most talked-about moments post-Oscars was Madison’s win over Demi Moore. Given the pre-event expectation that Moore would take home the award, her visible disappointment became a focal point of media discussions.

3. Adrien Brody’s Extended Acceptance Speech
Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, but his lengthy and impassioned speech—where he resisted multiple attempts to wrap up—sparked both admiration and criticism.

4. Zoe Saldaña’s Win and Apology
Saldaña became the first American of Dominican origin to win Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, but she later issued an apology following backlash from Mexican audiences over the film’s portrayal of certain cultural aspects.

5. Hulu’s Streaming Issues
Hulu’s Oscars livestream suffered major technical difficulties, cutting out before key award announcements like Best Actress and Best Picture. This led to widespread viewer frustration, with social media backlash dominating conversations in the hours after the event.

Sentiment Analysis: How the Narrative Shifted Post-Event

• Oscars Night Sentiment Trends:
  • Positive coverage remained strong but dropped slightly due to controversial moments.
  • Negative sentiment increased due to unexpected outcomes (e.g., Madison’s win over Moore), technical issues, and apology statements.
• Viewer Engagement and Social Media Reaction:
  • The Oscars generated 104 million social media interactions, making it the most talked-about event of the season, even surpassing the Super Bowl and the Grammys.
  • Viewership totaled 18.1 million across TV and streaming, reflecting a 7% decline from the previous year, though engagement among adults under 50 increased.

Additional Observations from Post-Event Coverage

• Conan O’Brien’s Hosting Received Mixed Reviews
  • While some praised his humor and ability to keep the show entertaining, others found certain jokes off-putting or out of place.
• In Memoriam Segment Criticism
  • The omission of notable figures like Tony Todd sparked outrage, leading to discussions about how the Academy selects honorees for this tribute.

The Box Office Factor: How Industry Trends Influence Oscars Viewership

Analyzing the Correlation

The relationship between the global box office and Oscars viewership is evident when observing trends over the years. The steep decline in both metrics in 2020 highlights the impact of COVID-19, as fewer theatrical releases meant a reduced pool of films to celebrate. Similarly, the 2023 writer’s strike temporarily slowed film production, limiting the number of major releases leading into awards season.

The data suggests that strong box office years contribute to higher Oscars viewership, reinforcing the idea that when more people engage with movies in theaters, they are more likely to tune in to see the awards. Conversely, years with weaker box office performance—whether due to external disruptions or shifting industry trends—coincide with reduced interest in the ceremony.

Current Trends

• This year’s Best Picture nominees saw varied box office success, with some benefiting from traditional releases and others thriving on streaming services.
• Streaming viewership metrics are becoming crucial in determining a film’s success, challenging traditional box office measures.
• Release timing continues to influence awards success, with late-year releases performing better in Oscar campaigns.

Why Media Monitoring Matters for Single Events Like the Oscars

The dramatic shifts in sentiment and media narratives surrounding the Oscars underscore the value of real-time media monitoring. Understanding how audience reactions evolve—from pre-event excitement to post-event criticism—can provide critical insights for brands, networks, and industry stakeholders. Key takeaways include:

• Predicting Public Reception: Tracking media sentiment pre-event can help forecast audience expectations and potential controversies.
• Crisis Management: Monitoring real-time reactions allows brands and event organizers to respond quickly to backlash or technical issues.
• Consumer Insights: The way audiences engage with major events like the Oscars provides valuable data on viewer preferences, social media trends, and entertainment consumption habits.

As demonstrated by the 2025 Oscars, event monitoring is essential for understanding the broader impact of cultural moments, ensuring that media coverage and public sentiment are effectively analyzed and leveraged for future success.