Characters who left a mark on us all
Instead of a slap on the face let's start with Nicole Kidman being kissed by presenter Denzel Washington after winning the Oscar for best actress for her role in 'The Hours' (2002).
Film director Michael Moore gives an impassioned anti-war speech as he accepts the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for 'Bowling for Columbine' (2002).
The award for Best Animated Feature is presented by the late Robin Williams to 'The Incredibles' (2004).
Jamie Foxx celebrates winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in 'Ray' (2004).
The team behind the film 'March of the Penguins' (2005) and a few unexpected guests celebrate winning the award for Best Documentary Feature.
Ben Stiller takes the stage in a green jumpsuit, as used in computer animation, as he presents the award for Achievement in Visual Effects.
The late Alan Arkin picks up his Oscar after reading his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Little Miss Sunshine' (2006).
Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton teamed up to present the Oscar for Best Picture. What a power duo!
Steven Spielberg captures a moment with Ellen DeGeneres and Clint Eastwood, right under Beyoncé's nose.
Forest Whitaker strikes a regal pose after winning the Oscar for Best Actor for 'The Last King of Scotland' (2006).
Tilda Swinton stands by her Oscar win for best supporting actress in 'Michael Clayton' (2007).
Daniel Day-Lewis kisses George Clooney on the cheek as he prepares to accept the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in 'There Will Be Blood' (2008).
Child actress Rubina Ali from the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' (2008) holds the Oscar won by director Danny Boyle.
After winning the award for Best Documentary Feature, with the film 'Man on Wire' (2008), highwire artist Philippe Petit balances the Oscar on his chin.
And here is the multi-talented Hugh Jackman delivering his humorous opening monologue as host.
Co-hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin perform a choreographed tap dance holding hands.
Jeff Bridges looks to the heavens after winning the Best Actor award for 'Crazy Heart' (2009).
Hollywood giant Kirk Douglas goofing around on stage with his cane.
The French winner of the Best Actor award, Jean Dujardin, carries Uggie the dog on stage after 'The Artist' (2011) won the Oscar for Best Picture.
In a rare slip in her career, Jennifer Lawrence stumbles as she takes the stage to accept the Best Actress award for her role in 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012).
Director Steve McQueen literally jumps for joy after winning the Oscar for Best Picture for his film '12 Years a Slave' (2013).
Talk about enthusiasm! Eddie Redmayne goes wild as he takes the stage to accept the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in 'The Theory of Everything' (2014).
Michael Keaton eats some cookies while host Chris Rock wraps up the show.
Warren Beatty, appearing bewildered, holds the card for the 2016 Best Picture Oscar awarded to 'Moonlight' after mistakenly announcing 'La La Land' as the winner.
During her acceptance speech for the Best Actress award for 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2017), Frances McDormand advocated for "inclusion riders" in Hollywood. It's a contractual clause that requires diversity in the cast and crew of a film.
At the Oscars for Best Costume Design, Melissa McCarthy gave her best as Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Anne (from the 2018 films 'Mary Queen of Scots' and 'The Favourite'), while Brian Tyree Henry donned the Mary Poppins look in homage to 'Mary Poppins Returns' (2018).
Glenn Close stole the show at the 2021 Oscars. In a sketch, she stunned everyone with her unexpected knowledge of 'Da Butt,' a 1988 hit by Experience Unlimited that appears in Spike Lee's 'School Daze' (1988). But the real bombshell? Close shaking her bootie live on TV, which immediately went viral. Whether planned or spontaneous, it was a standout moment in the ceremony and was hailed by many as the highlight of the night.
in 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith later won Best Actor for 'King Richard' and compared his actions to those of his character. The incident led to a 10-year ban for Smith, and Rock declined to host at the 2023 Oscars.
Fortunately, things later took a positive turn. Troy Kotsur made history in 2022 when he became the first deaf person to win an acting Oscar. He received the award for Best Supporting Actor for the movie 'Coda' (2021).
Ke Huy Quan burst into tears when he accepted the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022). His journey from refugee child to the Oscars stage was better than any multiverse plot: "This, this is the American dream,” he declared.
Wow! What a comeback! Rihanna made her exciting return to live TV to perform 'Life Me Up' from 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022). Riri was not alone though. What a gorgeous baby belly!
Jenny the donkey also took the stage even though she didn't get any supporting award for her role in 'The Banshees of Inisherin' (2022).
Halle Berry and Adrian Brody took the PDA up a notch with this razzle-dazzle Hollywoodesque kiss, and the following year...
Brody got smooched again by Charlize Theron before accepting her award for Best Actress for her leading role in 'Monster' (2003).
Near the end of the ceremony, the controversial Jimmy Kimmel decided to read a post from Donald Trump, made moments earlier on his social media platform, Truth Social: "EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars?" To which Kimmel responded, "Thanks for watching, but isn’t it past your jail time?"
Sources: (CBS) (Entertainment Weekly) (LA Times)
See also: Posthumous Oscars—The stars who earned nods and awards after death
Billie Eilish, accompanied by brother Finneas O'Connell on the piano, received a standing ovation after performing 'What Was I Made For,' which won the Oscar for Best Original Song, for the movie 'Barbie' (2023). She became the youngest person to win two Oscars (she had previously won in the same category for 'No Time to Die,' from the James Bond movie of the same name).
Ryan Gosling, dressed in a phenomenal pink suit, delivered a fantastic performance of the song 'I'm Just Ken' from Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' (2023).
The annual Academy Awards ceremony is undeniably the most glamorous event in Hollywood. Sometimes, however, things can take an unexpected turn, like in 2022 when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage.
But the glitzy event is usually polished and filled with fun, light-hearted moments. The 95th edition, in 2023, will always be remembered for its mix of emotional speeches, historic achievements, and strange surprises. As for the 96th Academy Awards, it marked a return to a more formal and glamorous red carpet, with many stars going for a classic Hollywood elegance. It also embraced diversity and inclusion both in the nominations and in the overall production.
Join us on a journey down memory lane and click through these unforgettable Hollywood nights!
The best (and worst) moments of the Oscars in recent years
Were you watching live when it all went down?
MOVIES Academy awards
The annual Academy Awards ceremony is undeniably the most glamorous event in Hollywood. Sometimes, however, things can take an unexpected turn, like in 2022 when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage.
But the glitzy event is usually polished and filled with fun, light-hearted moments. The 95th edition, in 2023, will always be remembered for its mix of emotional speeches, historic achievements, and strange surprises. As for the 96th Academy Awards, it marked a return to a more formal and glamorous red carpet, with many stars going for a classic Hollywood elegance. It also embraced diversity and inclusion both in the nominations and in the overall production.
Join us on a journey down memory lane and click through these unforgettable Hollywood nights!