Welcome to the dazzling world of the 96th Annual Academy Awards, where Hollywood's finest gathered for a night filled with glamour, surprises, and memorable moments. From Emma Stone's emotional triumph in her stunning, ripped pale green gown to Christopher Nolan's historic sweep by Oppenheimer, this Oscars ceremony was a rollercoaster of emotions, playful banter, and unexpected twists that will resonate in the hearts of movie enthusiasts for years to come.

In a spectacular turn of events at the 2024 Oscars, the spotlight shone on Stone, who epitomized Hollywood glamour in a stunning pale green gown. Her victory as Best Actress for the captivating role in Poor Things was met with disbelief and jubilation. Amidst the cheers, a wardrobe malfunction during Ryan Gosling's enthralling "I'm Just Ken" performance added spontaneity to Stone's dash to the stage. Tearful and weepy, Stone graciously acknowledged her family and fellow nominees, including Lily Gladstone from Killers of the Flower Moon. As she left the stage, the actress again warned the audience, “Don’t look at the back of my dress,” as she shuffled off the stage.

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However, the absolute pinnacle of the evening was Nolan's magnum opus, Oppenheimer, which not only dominated the night but also etched its name in the history books by securing seven Oscars, including the coveted Best Picture. Nolan's genius and the collaborative effort of an exceptional team brought forth a cinematic masterpiece that left an indelible mark on the 2024 Oscars.

See the win for Best Picture here:

In a delightful callback to the 2017 envelope mix-up, Jimmy Kimmel humorously reminded everyone to "make sure they get the envelopes right" when he returned to the stage after Stone's emotional acceptance. The playful banter added a touch of nostalgia to the evening, showcasing Kimmel's hosting ability.

The joke was even teased in a commercial for the awards ceremony:

"I dream about it every night...I can't even open the mail because of, you know, all the envelopes!" @jimmykimmel jokes about last year's #Oscars mishap in new Oscars promo pic.twitter.com/v60AUTEhso

— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 23, 2018

Gosling, thrilled about being a nominee for his role in Barbie, became the unexpected star of the night. His electrifying performance of "I'm Just Ken" received a standing ovation and featured a surprise appearance by the legendary Slash. Kimmel, seizing the moment, even playfully auctioned off a pair of pink pants supposedly from Gosling's performance, engaging the audience in a lively bidding war.

The ceremony had heartfelt moments when Robert Downey Jr. clinched his first Oscar. Kimmel's jest about Downey's past resonated with the audience. Yet, Downey's gratitude and humorous acknowledgment of his "terrible childhood" revealed the depth of his journey in the film industry. 

Da'Vine Joy Randolph's emotional win for Best Supporting Actress in The Holdovers added a touch of sincerity to the evening. Overwhelmed with tears, she shared her unexpected journey from being an opera singer to a celebrated actress, delivering a heartfelt speech that struck a chord with the audience. The amusing twist came when she veered off to thank her publicist, showcasing the unique charm that made her Oscar moment unforgettable. Randolph said, “A special shout-out to my publicist, and I know y’all say, ‘Don’t say nothing ‘bout no publicist, but you don’t have a publicist like I have a publicist!” she said. 'You have been by my side, and I’m forever grateful.'”

Billie Eilish and brother FINNEAS also stole the show with a beautiful performance of "What Was I Made For" from the Barbie soundtrack, which took home the award for Music (Original Song), making Eilish a 2x Oscar winner at just 22.

@7plus Replying to @Lily ♬ original sound - 7plus

Vanessa Hudgens' pregnancy reveal on the red carpet added extra excitement, setting the stage for a surprise-filled night. 

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As stars like Emily Blunt and Gosling took the stage to present various awards, a playful "Barbenheimer" smackdown unfolded, showcasing their on-screen rivalry with witty banter and playful sniping.

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt fighting over which of their movies was better: Barbie or Oppenheimer

Ryan: "I'm happy we can put this Barbenheimer rivalry aside."

Emily: "Okay, Mr. I Need To Paint My Abs On To Get Nominated. You don't see Robert Downey Jr. doing that!"#Oscars pic.twitter.com/bwIwBaCVAR

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 11, 2024

The evening, they reached a jaw-dropping moment when Kimmel prompted John Cena to present an Oscar for Best Costuming in the nude, evoking memories of a historic Oscars streaking incident half a century ago. The unexpected and daring move left the audience in awe, highlighting Cena's commitment to entertaining, even in the face of a playful challenge. According to Deadline, Kimmel wanted to pay homage to the 1974 streaking incident that involved the late Robert Opel, who ran naked behind an unsuspecting David Niven onstage, who was introducing Elizabeth Taylor at the time.

Kimmel swiped at Donald Trump in a politically charged moment, reading a social media diss the former president posted before Al Pacino presented the Best Picture Oscar to Oppenheimer. Never one to back down, Kimmel had the last laugh, cleverly turning the tables on Trump's legal troubles with a witty retort. Kimmel fired back at Trump onstage by saying, “Blah, blah, blah … Okay, now, see if you can guess which former president just posted that on TruthSocial. Anyone? No? Well, thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching; I’m surprised you’re still — isn’t it past your jail time?" (Variety)

The 2024 Oscars, with its myriad of emotions, unexpected turns, and unforgettable moments, transcended the traditional awards ceremony, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of Hollywood history.

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