2021 Academy Awards: Oscar Winners, Nominees and Highlights
The 93rd Academy Awards, held on April 25, 2021, marked a unique chapter in Oscars history
Delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony adapted with a more intimate setting at Los Angeles' Union Station
Despite the absence of a traditional host, the event showcased Hollywood's resilience and creativity
Chloé Zhao made history as the first woman of color to win Best Director for "Nomadland," which also claimed Best Picture
Anthony Hopkins became the oldest Best Actor winner at 83 for "The Father," while Frances McDormand secured her third Best Actress Oscar
The ceremony reflected the industry's growing commitment to diversity and inclusion, with multiple wins for people of color across various categories
Against the backdrop of a challenging year, the 2021 Oscars celebrated cinematic achievements while acknowledging the transformative power of storytelling in turbulent times.
Memorable Moments and Trivia
- Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color and second woman ever to win Best Director for "Nomadland"
- "Nomadland" also won Best Picture, and Frances McDormand won Best Actress for her role in the film
- Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor for "The Father," becoming the oldest actor to win an Oscar at age 83
- Youn Yuh-jung became the first Korean actor to win an Oscar, taking home Best Supporting Actress for "Minari"
- Daniel Kaluuya won Best Supporting Actor for "Judas and the Black Messiah" and gave a memorable speech mentioning his parents' sex life
- The ceremony was held at Union Station in Los Angeles due to COVID-19 restrictions, breaking from the traditional Dolby Theatre venue
- There were no musical performances during the main ceremony, breaking from tradition
- The "In Memoriam" segment was criticized for its unusually fast pace
- The Best Actor category was presented last instead of Best Picture, leading to an anticlimactic ending when Anthony Hopkins wasn't present to accept his award
- "My Octopus Teacher" won Best Documentary Feature, surprising many who expected "Time" or "Collective" to win
- Tyler Perry received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and gave a powerful speech about refusing hate
- The ceremony had its lowest viewership in history, with only 10.4 million viewers tuning in
FAQ
- Who was the host of the 2021 Academy Awards?
The 2021 Academy Awards did not have a traditional host. Instead, the ceremony featured a rotating cast of presenters. - What were the biggest surprises at the 2021 Oscars?
Some of the biggest surprises at the 2021 Oscars included: Anthony Hopkins winning Best Actor over the favored Chadwick Boseman; 'Nomadland' winning Best Picture; and the unexpected change in the order of award presentations, with Best Picture being announced before the lead acting categories. - What were the most memorable speeches at the 2021 Academy Awards?
Some of the most memorable speeches at the 2021 Academy Awards were: Youn Yuh-jung's charming and humorous acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress; Daniel Kaluuya's awkward yet endearing mention of his parents' sex life during his Best Supporting Actor speech; and Chloé Zhao's heartfelt speech about goodness in people when accepting the Best Director award for 'Nomadland'.
What happened in 2021?
Discover what the world looked like in 2021: