Oscars 2022 Highlights & Winners List

Oscars 2022 Highlights & Winners List

It was certainly a night full of surprises. Last night’s Academy Awards were a year to remember, with historic wins and controversy.

Apple TV’s CODA became the first film from a streaming service to win Best Picture, beating favourites Belfast and West Side Story. CODA‘s Troy Kotsur became the first deaf man to win an Oscar, the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. CODA also took home the Oscar for Adapted Screenplay in a surprise twist. 

Sadly, CODA‘s big moment was slightly overshadowed by an incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock beforehand. Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, getting ready to star in a “G.I. Jane” sequel – referring to her shaved head. The joke did not go down well as the actress has been open about her hair loss due to alopecia in the past. Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock in a shocking moment, following the remark. As Smith sat back down in his seat, he continued to shout back at Rock.

After the altercation, Will Smith won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in King Richard. In his speech, he apologised to The Academy and his fellow nominees for his actions. This was Smith’s first-ever Oscar win, after being nominated twice previously. 

Jessica Chastain won the coveted Best Actress Oscar for her transformation of a performance in The Eyes Of Tammy Faye. Her speech highlighted issues surrounding suicide and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story only took home one award, with Ariana DeBose winning Best Supporting Actress. DeBose became the first openly queer woman of colour to win an Oscar. 

Netflix’s The Power of the Dog also only took one Oscar for Jane Campion as Best Director. This is the third time in history the award has gone to a woman. 

Dune took home six technical/craft Oscars, including Best Cinematography, Original Score and Film Editing. Meanwhile, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell won Best Original Song for No Time To Die, as the James Bond franchise celebrates 60 years since Dr. No. 

See the full Oscars 2022 Winners List: