The Oscars cover a few hours and dozens of individual categories, speeches, and performances. When the credits finally roll and the dust settles, though, there are always a few moments that stay with us and keep getting talked about long after the red carpet has been rolled back up.
The 2023 Oscars were certainly no exception, with plenty of memorable moments that made us laugh, cry, cheer, and everything in between. After the chaos of the previous year’s Oscars, it’s safe to say everyone involved was hoping for a much more mellow ceremony this year – or at least one with fewer shocks. On the whole, it certainly seems like the 95th Oscars delivered on that count, with a fairly typical broadcast filled with a few surprises, a few cringy jokes here and there, charming costar reunions, and some truly touching moments.
We giggled at some of the jokes and surprise appearances that actually landed, and we felt the tug on our heartstrings when winners gave speeches paying tribute to their loved ones, Hollywood history, and the magic and inspiration of the movies. Here are a few of the most memorable moments that we’ll definitely remember long past this year’s Oscars broadcast.
Getty / Kevin Winter
Ke Huy Quan's Best Actor in a Supporting Role Acceptance Speech
As many predicted, Ke Huy Quan won the first major category of the evening, taking home the Oscar for best actor in a supporting role for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” As many also predicted, he gave one of the night’s most touching speeches, describing his journey from entering the US as a child refugee to having a story “[that] only happens in the movies – this is the American dream.” He finished his speech with a reminder to everyone: “Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive!”
Getty / Kevin Winter
Jenny the Donkey Makes a Guest Appearance (Sort Of . . .)
Jenny, the beloved animal star of “The Banshees of Inisherin,” made a surprise guest appearance alongside host Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel escorted Jenny out on stage, complete with a glitzy gold “support animal” vest, to a chorus of awwws from the audience. Kimmel also pointed out Jenny’s costars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who were sitting in the front rows and seemed delighted to see their most adorable colleague.
There was a twist to this cute tale, though: the donkey on stage wasn’t actually the “real” Jenny. Martin McDonagh, the director of “The Banshees of Inisherin,” revealed to the Los Angeles Times backstage that they used a Jenny double, saying they “never would have allowed” the real Jenny to be flown out from Ireland. It was a sweet moment nonetheless!
Getty / Kevin Winter
Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors Shout Out Angela Bassett
When “Creed” costars (and Marvel villains) Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors walked out to present the award for best cinematography, they took a moment to shout out their Marvel costar Angela Bassett.
“Hey Auntie,” Jordan said, smiling and nodding at Bassett, who was seated in the front row. “We love you,” Majors added. Only minutes earlier, Bassett, who had been nominated for best supporting actress for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” lost her category to Jamie Lee Curtis. Jordan’s sweet shout-out mirrored his famously ad-libbed line from the original “Black Panther,” where Killmonger casually greets Queen Ramonda with a tossed-off “Hey Auntie.”
Getty / Mike Coppola
Ruth E. Carter Makes History
When “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” costume designer Ruth E. Carter won the Oscar for best costume design, she not only made a great Oscars moment with a touching tribute to her late mother (and to the late Chadwick Boseman) but also made Oscars history. She became the first Black woman to win multiple Oscars, having won her first one for the first “Black Panther.”
“Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the superhero that is a Black woman. She endures, she loves, she overcomes. She is every woman in this film,” Carter said in her acceptance speech.
Getty / Rich Polk
Daniel Scheinert Thanks His Teachers
When “Everything Everywhere All at Once” won the prize for best original screenplay, cowriters Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan took the stage to accept their award (the first of three speeches they’d make throughout the night). Scheinert joked about taking the opportunity to tell off teachers who had punished him back in his school days but actually turned his speech into a very touching tribute to the educators who inspired him and helped him become the creator he is today – many of whom, he noted, are public school teachers.
Getty / Patrick T. Fallon
Michelle Yeoh's Historic Win
When the award for best actress was announced, it was “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Michelle Yeoh who got the statuette and the standing ovation. In Yeoh’s emotional speech, she thanked her mother and her colleagues, past and present, while also noting the historic nature of her win – the first self-identified Asian actor to win best actress, and only the second actor of color to win the award in the 95-year history of the Oscars.
“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dreams do come true,” she said.
Getty / Kevin Winter
Indy and Short Round Reunite
As soon as Harrison Ford‘s name appeared on the list of Oscar presenters this year, viewers everywhere had their fingers crossed for him to share a moment with Ke Huy Quan, who played his sidekick Short Round decades ago in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Ford presented the award for best picture, which went to “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and Quan was the first of the cast to bound on stage, sharing a huge, jumping-up-and-down hug with his long-ago costar.
To see Everything Everywhere All At Once, book your tickets at Hoyts.
