Academy Awards

Apple's ‘CODA' Is the First Movie From a Streaming Service to Win Best Picture Oscar, Will Smith Hits Chris Rock

Will Smith, chris rock
Robyn Beck/Getty Images

This has been CNBC's live blog covering the 94th annual Academy Awards.

Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Will Smith accepts the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "King Richard" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was hoping that moviegoers would be riveted by surprises at Sunday's Oscars ceremony. But they probably didn't bank on a physical confrontation between two superstars.

The academy was hoping that movie lovers would unite and spark an uptick in ratings for the 94th Academy Awards. Late into the ceremony, however, comedian Chris Rock told a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair, which prompted her spouse, Will Smith, to march up to the stage and smack Rock while he was about to present the best documentary award. ABC cut out the mics just as the two started shouting at each other, but uncensored international feeds picked up the two stars yelling profanities at each other.

Moments later, Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor and apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees. "Love will make you do crazy things," he said.

The confrontation was a shocking turn in another otherwise subdued show that featured largely predictable but nonetheless historic results. With the diversity in this year's crop of Oscar nominees, audiences saw a number of milestones set.

  • "CODA" was the first film produced by a streaming service to win Best Picture. It won three overall.
  • Ariana DeBose became the first queer Black woman to win an acting award, taking home Best Supporting Actress for "West Side Story."
  • Troy Kotsur of "CODA" became the first deaf man to win an Academy Award for acting.

"Dune" won the most awards, with six.

The trio of Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes assumed hosting duties during Sunday's ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. For the last three years, the show has not had a host.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Picture: "CODA"

Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"

Best Actor: Will Smith, "King Richard"

Best Director: Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

Best Original Song: "No Time to Die"

Best Documentary Feature: "Summer of Soul"

Best Adapted Screenplay: "CODA"

Best Original Screenplay: "Belfast"

Best Costume Design: "Cruella"

Best International Feature: "Drive My Car"

Best Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur, "CODA"

Best Animated Feature: "Encanto"

Best Visual Effects: "Dune"

Best Cinematography: "Dune"

Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"

Best Film Editing: "Dune"

Best Score: "Dune"

Best Sound: "Dune"

Best Production Design: "Dune"

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"

Best: Documentary (Short Subject): "The Queen of Basketball"

Best Short (Animated): "The Windshield Wiper"

Best Short Film (Live Action): "The Long Goodbye"

Best Picture

And the winner is... "CODA"

Also nominated:
"Belfast"
"Don't Look Up"
"Drive My Car"
"Dune"
"King Richard"
"Licorice Pizza"
"Nightmare Alley"
"The Power of the Dog"
"West Side Story"

Best Actress

Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Jessica Chastain accepts the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

And the winner is... Jessica Chastain, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"

Also nominated:
Nicole Kidman, "Being the Ricardos"
Olivia Colman, "The Lost Daughter"
Kristen Stewart, "Spencer"
Penelope Cruz, "Parallel Mothers"

Will Smith cries, apologizes during best actor speech

Will Smith was in tears when he accepted his award for best actor during Sunday's ceremony. His win came less than an hour after he slapped presenter Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Smith said he was a "fierce defender" of his family, just like his character Richard Williams in "King Richard."

"I've been called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people and I know to do what we do you got to be able to take abuse, you've got to be able to let people talk crazy about you, you have to be able to have people disrespecting you and you've got to smile and pretend that that's okay," he said, seeming to refer to the incident with Rock.

He apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as his fellow nominees, saying "I want to be a vessel for love" and "love will make you do crazy things." He didn't mention Rock.

Smith hoisted his award to end his speech, "I hope the Academy invites me back."

— Sarah Whitten

Best Actor

And the winner is... Will Smith, "King Richard" 

Also nominated:
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Power of the Dog"
Andrew Garfield, "Tick, Tick ... Boom!"
Denzel Washington, "The Tragedy of Macbeth"
Javier Bardem, "Being the Ricardos"

Best Director

And the winner is... Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

Also nominated:
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, "Drive My Car"
Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast"
Paul Thomas Anderson, "Licorice Pizza"
Steven Spielberg, "West Side Story"

Best Original Song

Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish accept the award for Best Music (Original Song) for "No Time to Die" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

And the winner is... "No Time to Die," "No Time to Die"

Also nominated:
"Dos Oruguitas," "Encanto"
"Just Look Up," "Don't Look Up"
"Down to Joy," "Belfast"
"Somehow You Do," "Four Good Days"

Will Smith hits Chris Rock over joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith took umbrage with a joke made by Chris Rock during the Academy Award ceremony Sunday, marching up on stage and slapping Rock mid-presentation of the award for best documentary.

Rock poked fun at Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith for her bald head. Pinkett-Smith has openly talked about having a hair loss condition. After Smith hit him, Rock said: "Will Smith just smacked the s--- out of me."

Smith repeatedly yelled at Rock to "Keep my wife's name out of your f----- mouth."

This is not the first time that Rock has poked fun at the couple. He made public jabs about their decision to boycott the 2016 Oscars because of a lack of diversity in nominations.

Rock has declined to press charges, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

— Sarah Whitten

Best Documentary Feature

And the winner is... "Summer of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)"

Also nominated:
"Flee"
"Attica"
"Writing With Fire"
"Ascension"

Best Adapted Screenplay

And the winner is... "CODA"

Also nominated:
"The Power of the Dog"
"The Lost Daughter"
"Drive My Car"
"Dune"

Best Original Screenplay

Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Kenneth Branagh accepts the award for Best Original Screenplay for "Belfast" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

And the winner is... "Belfast"

Also nominated:
"Licorice Pizza"
"Don't Look Up"
"King Richard"
"The Worst Person in the World"

The Academy honors the people of Ukraine

The Academy held a moment of silence for the people of Ukraine, who are under attack by Russian forces.

"We'd like to have a moment of silence to show our support for the people of Ukraine currently facing invasion, conflict and prejudice within their own borders," an onscreen statement said.

"While film is an important avenue for us to express our humanity in times of conflict, the reality is millions of families in Ukraine need food, medical care, clean water, and emergency services. Resources are scarce, and we — collectively as a global community — can do more," the text continued.

"We ask you to support Ukraine in any way you are able," the statement added.

Directly after the moment of silence came an advertisement for cryptocurrency site Crypto.com. The ad said Crypto.com is matching donations in support of Ukraine.

—Hannah Miao

Best Costume Design

And the winner is... "Cruella"

Also nominated:
"Dune"
"Nightmare Alley"
"West Side Story"
"Cyrano"

Best International Feature

And the winner is... "Drive My Car"

Also nominated:
"Flee"
"The Worst Person in the World"
"The Hand of God"
"Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom"

#OscarsCheer for... 'Justice League'?

For weeks, the Academy has been promoting a fan-voted top five cinematic moments poll, revealing the winners during the live broadcast.

Number 5 was Neo dodging bullets in 1999's "The Matrix," followed by Jennifer Hudson's performance of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from the 2006 film "Dreamgirls."

In third was the "Avengers Assemble" moment from 2019's "Avengers: Endgame." Second was the three generations of Spider-Men landing on the Statue of Liberty in "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

The top clip was Ezra Miller's Flash entering the speed force from Zach Snyder's "Justice League."

There was no applause in the room when the montage was played.

— Sarah Whitten

Best Supporting Actor

Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Troy Kotsur accepts from Youn Yuh-jung the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "CODA" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

And the winner is... Troy Kotsur, "CODA"

Also nominated:
Ciaran Hinds, "Belfast"
Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"
Jesse Plemons, "The Power of the Dog"
J.K. Simmons, "Being the Ricardos"

Best Animated Feature

Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Yvett Merino accepts the award for Best animated feature film for "Encanto" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

And the winner is... "Encanto"

Also nominated:
"The Mitchells vs The Machines"
"Flee"
"Raya and the Last Dragon"
"Luca"

Best Visual Effects

And the winner is... "Dune"

Also nominated:
"Free Guy"
"No Time to Die"
"Spider-Man: No Way Home"
"Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"

The awards that were cut? Well, they're showing them anyway.

We thought the plan was to present eight awards before the broadcast to save time? But they've shown wins for best short documentary and best sound, anyway, even though they're much more truncated than typical awards presentations.

Also, ABC is showing a "LIVE" chyron in the corner during these speeches ... which are not live.

– Mike Calia

Best Cinematography

And the winner is... "Dune"

Also nominated:
"Nightmare Alley"
"The Tragedy of Macbeth"
"The Power of the Dog"
"West Side Story"

Ariana DeBose makes Oscar history with supporting actress win

Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Ariana DeBose accepts the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in "West Side Story" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

Ariana DeBose made history on Sunday. She took home the prize for best supporting actress for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story," becoming the first queer woman of color to win an acting Oscar.

She is also the second Latina to win, following co-star Rita Moreno, who won for the same role in the 1961 version of "West Side Story."

During her acceptance speech, DeBose addressed members of the LGBTQA+ community:

"Lastly, imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus, look into her eyes," she said, "You see an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina, who found her strength in life through art and that is what I believe we are here to celebrate."

"So, to anybody who has ever questioned your identity, ever, ever, or you find yourself living in the gray spaces I promise you: there is indeed a place for us," she added, quoting an iconic line from "West Side Story."

— Sarah Whitten

Actress in a Supporting Role

And the winner is... Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"

Also nominated:
Kirsten Dunst, "The Power of the Dog"
Aunjanue Ellis, "King Richard"
Jessie Buckley, "The Lost Daughter"
Judi Dench, "Belfast"

Beyonce opens things with a strong serve

Singer-songwriter Beyonce performs during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.
Robyn Beck | Afp | Getty Images
Singer-songwriter Beyonce performs during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.

Beyonce and a slew of dancers decked out in tennis ball green, matching their stage, kicked off the Oscars with the kind of stardom the Academy is hoping keeps viewers glued to the screen.

The R&B icon performed her nominated song from "King Richard," "Be Alive."

– Mike Calia

Breaking records before the ceremony starts

Heading into Sunday's ceremony, Steven Spielberg has already become the first director to be nominated across six decades, earning nods for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in the '70s, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" in the '80s, "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" in the '90s, "Munich" in the '00s, "Lincoln" in the '10s and now "West Side Story."

Kenneth Branagh also made history during last month's nominations, having garnered seven nominations in seven different categories throughout his career. His film "Belfast" earned him a best director nomination as well as one for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture.

– Sarah Whitten

A dubious distinction for 'Dune'

"Dune," the first part of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of the supposedly unadaptable science fiction epic, is by far the highest grossing of the 10 nominees for Best Picture.

And yet it will probably win most of its Oscars without anyone watching, as the Academy and ABC, in a bid for higher ratings, opted to reveal winners in eight categories before the broadcast. "Dune" won for best score, production design, sound and film editing.

"Dune" made over $108 million domestically, which is even more impressive when you consider that it was released on HBO Max the same day as its theatrical release. The next highest-grossing film on the list is Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story," at more than $38 million in North America. And that film was written off as a bomb.

So much for playing to the audience, huh?

– Mike Calia

Jane Campion could win three Oscars

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Director Jane Campion attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. 
Momodu Mansaray | Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Director Jane Campion attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. 

Jane Campion is already the first woman to be nominated in the directing category twice, but has a chance to be the first woman to win best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay.

She won the award for best original screenplay for "The Piano" in 1994 and could be the first woman to win in both screenplay categories if she takes home the trophy for best adapted screenplay on Sunday.

– Sarah Whitten

Academy doles out eight awards before live broadcast

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences came under fire this year for its decision to present eight awards before the live broadcast begins and then edit those winners into the show later.

The Academy tweeted out those winners prior to the show:

"Dune" won for best production design, best film editing, best original score and best sound. "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" won the Academy Award for best makeup and hairstyling.

Additionally, the Oscar for best live action short film was awarded to "The Long Goodbye," best animated short went to "The Windshield Wiper," and best documentary short subject went to "The Queen of Basketball."

— Sarah Whitten

A tight race for Best Supporting Actor

Ciarán Hinds attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California.
Jeff Kravitz | Filmmagic, Inc | Getty Images
Ciarán Hinds attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California.

The best supporting actor category is a tight race coming into Sunday's ceremony. Ciaran Hinds ("Belfast"), Troy Kotsur ("CODA") and Kodi Smit-McPhee ("The Power of the Dog") appear to be the three front-runners.

If Kotsur takes home the prize, he will be the first deaf actor to ever win an Academy Award and the second deaf person to take home the trophy in an acting category. His co-star Marlee Matlin won for 1986's "Children of a Lesser God."

If Smit-McPhee wins, he will be the second-youngest actor to take home the prize. Timothy Hutton won the best supporting actor category at the age of 18 for 1980's "Ordinary People." Smit-McPhee is 25.

– Sarah Whitten

Academy gives land acknowledgement recognizing Indigenous peoples

On the red carpet Sunday night, the Academy paid respect to the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands are the current site of the Dolby Theatre.

A land acknowledgment is a formal statement recognizing the Indigenous peoples of a region as the original stewards of the land.

"The Academy pays respect to the Tongva people as well as the Tataviam and the Chumash people, the original caretakers of the water and land where many of us in the film community live and work," said Bird Runningwater, Chair of the Academy's Indigenous Alliance and Academy member, who belongs to the Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache Tribes.

"As we honor this year's best stories in the film, let's also celebrate the original storytellers, the Indigenous peoples of this region," he added.

— Hannah Miao

An EGOT title looms for Lin-Manuel Miranda

US actor and director Lin-Manuel Miranda arrives for the 94th Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, March 7, 2022. 
Valerie Macon | AFP | Getty Images
US actor and director Lin-Manuel Miranda arrives for the 94th Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, March 7, 2022. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda won't be in attendance during Sunday's Academy Award ceremony. The multi-hyphenate writer, director, composer and actor could become the 17th person to complete an "EGOT" sweep — winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards — if he picks up the trophy for Best Original Song. Miranda has already won two Emmys, three Grammys and three Tony awards.

He was last nominated for an Oscar five years ago for "How Far I'll Go" from Disney's "Moana." He lost to "City of Stars" from "La La Land."

– Sarah Whitten

Ariana DeBose poised to make history

Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose attend the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California.
Kevin Mazur | Wireimage | Getty Images
Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose attend the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California.

If Ariana DeBose takes home the best supporting actress award on Sunday, as many assume she will, she will become the first queer woman of color to win an acting Oscar.

She would also be the second Latina to win, following co-star Rita Moreno, who won for the same role in the 1961 version of "West Side Story."

There have only been two other instances in Academy history where actors won Oscars for playing the same character. Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro both earned awards for portraying Don Vito Corleone in the first two "Godfather" movies, and Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix both won for their take on the Joker.

– Sarah Whitten

Can a streaming service win best picture?

The front-runner for this year's Best Picture is Netflix's "Power of the Dog." If the Jane Campion-directed film earns the top prize of the night, it will become the first film produced by a streaming service to win the Best Picture award.

Also in contention is Apple's "CODA," another favorite among handicappers and Oscar watchers.

In the last decade, streaming services have become more competitive at the Academy Awards, going beyond just securing nominations to earning winning top awards. Netflix's "Roma" garnered three wins in 2019, taking home awards for cinematography, directing and best foreign film.

Here's the full list of Best Picture nominees:

"Belfast"
"CODA"
"Don't Look Up"
"Drive My Car"
"Dune"
"King Richard"
"Licorice Pizza"
"Nightmare Alley"
"The Power of the Dog"
"West Side Story"

– Sarah Whitten

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