Conan O'Brien had split viewers' opinions after he made his debut as host of the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, bringing his distinctive brand of humour to Hollywood's biggest night.
The comedian took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, marking his first time helming the storied awards show.
However, the ceremony didn't begin with O'Brien directly. Instead, it opened with a montage of films shot in Los Angeles.
This was followed by performances from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo before O'Brien made his entrance.
His appearance began with a pre-taped segment from The Substance where he emerged from Demi Moore's character in a visceral manner.
"Hi, Demi. How are you?" O'Brien said when he walked onto the stage. "That was weird. Yeah, awkward. I'm missing some car keys."
Oscars 2025: Conan O'Brien was elected to host this year's awards
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Conan O’Brien’s full segment to Karla Sofia Gascón at the #Oscars
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 3, 2025
See the full winners list: https://t.co/cDPncK6OIM pic.twitter.com/uVt9zYV7IF
O'Brien then launched into his monologue, targeting the nominated films with his trademark wit.
"I loved 'The Brutalist,' I really did. I didn't want it to end, and luckily, it didn't," he quipped to laughter from the audience.
He continued with jabs at other nominees: "If you haven't seen 'Conclave,' its logline is: A movie about the Catholic Church, but don't worry."
The host also addressed Timothée Chalamet, noting he was "nominated for his portrayal of Bob Dylan" in A Complete Unknown.
"Bob Dylan wanted to be here tonight, but not that badly," O'Brien joked.
He even referenced the controversial social media posts by Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón with a well-received joke.
O'Brien's inventive approach continued with an extended bit featuring Adam Sandler in the audience.
Sandler appeared wearing a hoodie and basketball shorts, sparking a humorous argument about the dress code for the night.
The host also took aim at Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, issued a heartfelt message about the Los Angeles wildfires, and finished his opening monologue with a bizarre musical number about not wasting time.
However, it's safe to say O'Brien's opening gambit divided viewers at home, with social media soon flooded with mixed reactions.
Some even branded the routine as "painful" while others applauded O'Brien for his jokes.
One critic hit out on X: "Can they play the wrap music on the host like they do on acceptance speeches? Someone tell Conan to wrap this up #Oscars2025."
Preshow ritual. I’m hosting the #Oscars tonight on @ABC and @hulu. See you there! pic.twitter.com/4VEydsQPvI
— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) March 2, 2025
"Oh this is painful to watch... #Oscars2025," a second added before a third blasted: "#Oscars2025 After that amazing opening by Ariana and Cynthia, @ConanOBrien had to ruin it with that horrible skit."
And another echoed: "That Adam Sandler bit was painful, just cringeworthy painful. #Oscars2025."
However, others were quick to rush to O'Brien's defence, including one who penned: "Can Conan host every award show please #Oscars2025?"
"Conan is excellent! He’s the perfect host because he’s happy to make himself the joke. Effortlessly funny but incredibly sincere & charismatic! #Oscars2025," a second fan argued. (sic)
