2009 Academy Awards: Oscar Winners, Nominees and Highlights
The 81st Academy Awards, held on February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, celebrated the best films of 2008 amid a global economic crisis
Hugh Jackman, in his debut as host, brought a fresh energy to the ceremony with his song-and-dance numbers
The night was marked by historic wins, including Heath Ledger's posthumous Best Supporting Actor award for "The Dark Knight," making him only the second actor to win an Oscar after death
"Slumdog Millionaire" dominated the evening, winning eight awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Danny Boyle
The ceremony also saw Kate Winslet finally clinch her first Oscar for "The Reader" after six nominations
In a nod to changing times, the Academy made efforts to modernize the show's format and appeal to younger viewers, reflecting the industry's adaptation to new media landscapes.
Major Award Categories: Winners and Nominees
In 2009, during the 81st Academy Awards Cerimony, held on 22/02/2009 the following movies, actors, actresses and directors were awarded with the Oscar in 6 categories honoring the films released in 2009:
What movie won the Best Picture Oscar in 2009?
Who won the Best Director Oscar in 2009?
Who won the Best Actor Oscar in 2009?
Who won the Best Actress Oscar in 2009?
Who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2009?
Who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2009?
Memorable Moments and Trivia
- Heath Ledger posthumously won Best Supporting Actor for "The Dark Knight," with his family accepting the award on his behalf in an emotional moment
- Kate Winslet finally won her first Oscar for Best Actress in "The Reader" after five previous nominations
- Sean Penn won Best Actor for "Milk," using his acceptance speech to advocate for gay rights
- "Slumdog Millionaire" dominated the ceremony, winning eight awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Danny Boyle
- Hugh Jackman hosted the ceremony and opened with an elaborate musical number featuring Anne Hathaway
- Beyoncé, Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Vanessa Hudgens performed in a musical tribute to classic Hollywood musicals
- The "In Memoriam" segment controversially omitted Bea Arthur and other notable figures who had passed away
- Penélope Cruz won Best Supporting Actress for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," becoming the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar
- WALL-E won Best Animated Feature, continuing Pixar's dominance in the category
- The ceremony featured a new format for presenting acting awards, with five previous winners honoring each nominee individually
FAQ
- Who was the host of the 2009 Academy Awards?
Hugh Jackman hosted the 81st Academy Awards ceremony in 2009. - What were the biggest surprises at the 2009 Oscars?
One of the biggest surprises was 'Slumdog Millionaire' winning 8 Oscars, including Best Picture. Another surprise was Sean Penn winning Best Actor for 'Milk' over Mickey Rourke, who was favored for 'The Wrestler'. - What were the most memorable speeches at the 2009 Academy Awards?
Heath Ledger's posthumous Best Supporting Actor award for 'The Dark Knight' was particularly memorable, with his family accepting on his behalf. Kate Winslet's emotional speech for her Best Actress win for 'The Reader' was also notable, as was Dustin Lance Black's heartfelt speech for his Best Original Screenplay win for 'Milk'.
What happened in 2009?
Discover what the world looked like in 2009: