All the behind-the-scenes moments you missed from the 2025 Oscars
What you see on the television broadcast is only part of the story at the Oscars.
There's a whole world of action happening in between commercial breaks, and at the lobby bar in the Dolby Theatre – where nominees and winners convene, commiserate and celebrate.
Here's a chronological recap of things you didn't see happen on TV...
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Ready for showtime
Nick Offerman, the Oscars announcer, took a moment on stage reminding people to keep their speeches short and pay attention to the countdown.
When the play off music started up for him, he feigned incensed: "I'm the announcer, I announce the show. You can't start the show without me!"
Wickedly supportive co-stars
Sure, everyone in the Dolby was standing after the Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande medley but Jeff Goldblum and Bowen Yang seemed the most excited in the crowd.
READ MORE: All the most show-stopping moments at the 2025 Oscars as they happened
A Sandman cameo
A man in a bright turquoise hoodie is escorted into the Dolby, near the stage. It was, of course Adam Sandler, right behind Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who giggled along to Conan O'Brien's headshot bit.
Soon, the cameras took their place in front of him and he joined the joke too. He high fived dozens of people on his way out of the theatre.
Emma Stone cheers Kieran Culkin
Emma Stone was the first to jump, quite literally, out of her seat to applaud Kieran Culkin's win.
Ten minutes later, Stone ran to the bar after the supporting actor prize with her husband Dave McCary and Jack Antonoff.
Stone, a producer on A Real Pain, was celebrating Culkin's win and regaling Antoff with the story about how he tried to drop out of the film two weeks before shooting.
"I literally got on the plane," she said about bringing him, his wife and kids to Poland.
"Jesse was going to murder him. I'm so proud of him. He's such a little (expletive.) He's so crazy. I want to punch him and I'm so proud of him."
Culkin, pictured here with his wife, credited her with "Jedi mind tricking" him to do it.
The Russians go for vodka
Immediately after Culkin won, Anora nominee Yura Borisov made his way to the lobby bar with his costar Mark Eydelshteyn.
The bartender reached for a fresh bottle of champagne, but Borisov stopped him.
"Can we drink some shots?" he asked.
He could, he was told.
The order? Vodka, no ice.
Snacking, drinking and schmoozing in the lobby
I'm Still Here star Fernanda Torres (right) grabbed some trail mix to eat and chatted with someone in Spanish. Nearby, Miles Teller chose the same snack, along with a beer. He and his wife commandeered a hightop.
Sebastian Stan spoke to Universal chair Donna Langley, while off to the other side Nickel Boys stars Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson were rapt watching the Lisa and Doja Cat performance honouring the James Bond franchise.
Ariana Grande applauds Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña got a standing ovation when her name was called, naturally, but only Grande jumped up to applaud at the end of her teary speech. Grande (pictured here with Elton John) then turned to Selena Gomez, sitting behind her, and the two hugged for a moment.
On the floor during the following commercial break, Torres took a phone call, Elle Fanning spoke to Marlee Matlin and Colman Domingo posed for photos. With 25 seconds until the show resumed Stone and Demi Moore wrapped up their chat.
A Kendall Roy Moment?
Jeremy Strong looked a little morose near the lobby bar, standing with his wife (pictured) who had her hand on his shoulder in a comforting way.
His spirits seemed to rise when someone stopped to chat.
Elsewhere Nickel Boys filmmaker RaMell Ross was holding court.
Starstruck by a rock legend, and a pop star
Colman Domingo (in the red jacket speaking with Laura Dern) was the MOST jazzed about the sight of Mick Jagger.
A few minutes later, Andrew Garfield runs over to Ariana Grande to give her a hug during the commercial break.
