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Oscars 2017 Full Recap: Winners, Highlights, Reactions — and That Ending!

We knew the 2017 Oscars ceremony would be memorable, but there was no way of knowing just how memorable. The ceremony ended with a moment that will be talked about for years to come, as the academy cut short the La La Land team’s Best Picture acceptance speeches to hand the trophy to Moonlight. 

Watch the video above and read on for all the details of the entire night’s highlights, including all the winners, plus videos of the funniest bits and most emotional speeches. And start at the bottom to get it in chronological order.

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12:16 a.m. ET: Kimmel tried to make sense of everything after the Moonlight team made their way off stage. “I knew I would screw this up — I really did,” he joked. Uh, so what exactly happened here? Talk about an unforgettable ceremony. 

12:15 a.m. ET: Moonlight director Jenkins said of making the film, “We didn’t do this — you guys chose us.” Sorry, Barry, but we’re still processing.

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12:12 a.m. ET: In what might be one of the most stunning moments in Oscar history, Dunaway announced La La Land as the winner, but Moonlight is the actual winner. No, we’re not joking. 

The academy interrupted the musical’s producers’ speeches to check the envelopes, and slowly word spread on stage that La La Land didn’t win. We’re stunned. Beatty explained that he was confused as to what to announce because Stone’s card for best actress was accidentally in the best picture envelope. What. Just. Happened?

12:11 a.m. ET: Whaaattt?!

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12:08 a.m. ET: Beatty appeared speechless before handing the card to Dunaway, who revealed that La La Land wins. The film earned seven prizes from 14 nominations! 

12:04 a.m. ET: Marking the 50th anniversary of their classic Bonnie and Clyde, Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty took the stage to present best picture. Beatty said the films highlight the artists’ “respect for diversity and freedom all over the world.”

12:00 a.m. ET: After praising director Chazelle, she praised costar Gosling, who she has now shared the screen with in three films. “Thank you for making me laugh and for always raising the bar and for being the greatest partner on this crazy adventure,” she told the hunk, who lost best actor to Casey Affleck. 

11:57 p.m. ET: Stone, the odds-on favorite throughout the awards season, grabs the best actress bauble for La La Land.

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11:57 p.m. ET: Is Stone about to become an Oscar winner? It’s the moment of truth!

11:52 p.m. ET: An obviously emotional Casey made his way to the podium, where he started with, “Dammit!” He then gave a shout-out to his top competition for the prize: “One of the first people who taught me how to act is Denzel Washington, and I just met him for the first time tonight — thank you.” 

Casey added, “Man, I wish I had something bigger and more meaningful to say,” before pointing out that he’s “dumbfounded” to be included in the acting community. He thanked director Lonergan and producer Damon before ending his speech with a tender message to his famous big bro: “Ben, I love you.” The camera then caught Ben getting choked up in the audience.

11:51 p.m. ET: Casey wins! It’s the Manchester by the Sea star’s first Oscar win. 

11:48 p.m. ET: Will it be Casey Affleck or Washington for best actor? We’re finally about to find out!

11:47 p.m. ET: Check out those mean tweets.

11:42 p.m. ET: No upset here. Despite losing out on the writing trophy, La La Land’s 32-year-old Chazelle became the youngest-ever winner for best director. He thanked composer Justin Hurwitz — his friend since they were teens — for “never giving up.”

11:36 p.m. ET: Cloudy with a chance of baked goods. “Release the cookies and doughnuts!” Kimmel said as more treats rained down. He then warned of descending coffee, but thankfully that didn’t actually happen.

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11:34 p.m. ET: It’s another big win for Moonlight, with writer-director Barry Jenkins nabbing best adapted screenplay for the emotional drama. He was happy to win because “a bajillion people are watching,” adding a shout-out to the ACLU. Could a best director celebration be next for either Lonergan or Jenkins, or will Chazelle avenge the screenwriting loss? 

11:32 p.m. ET: A bit of an upset! Manchester by the Sea writer-director Kenneth Lonergan took the trophy for original screenplay, beating out La La Land’s Damien Chazelle. In his speech, Lonergan praised his star: “Casey, Casey, Casey!”

11:30 p.m. ET: After Kimmel mocked Damon’s “effortful” performance in We Bought a Zoo, Good Will Hunting costars and Oscar-winning cowriters Damon and Ben Affleck were introduced as “Ben Affleck and guest.” The orchestra — led by conductor Kimmel — then interrupted Damon’s attempt to announce the original screenplay award.

11:21 p.m. ET: Before introducing Sara Bareilles to perform “Both Sides Now” for the In Memoriam segment, an emotional Jennifer Aniston gave a verbal tribute to Bill Paxton, who died Saturday, February 25, at age 61 from surgical complications. 

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Among those remembered in the tribute were Gene Wilder, Garry Marshall, Michael Cimino, Prince, director Curtis Hanson and Zsa Zsa Gabor. The final two individuals shown in the segment were Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher, who died a day apart in December

11:18 p.m. ET: Alas, Miranda has to wait a bit longer to earn that coveted “EGOT” title. The Hamilton mastermind has earned an Emmy, Grammy and Tony, but he has yet to grab an Oscar, as his Moana tune lost best original song to La La Land’s “City of Stars.” (Note: After tonight, Davis is now one Grammy away from EGOT status herself.) La La Lands momentum continues to build! Is a best picture win becoming an inevitability? 

11:15 p.m. ET: Was anything but La La Land going to win best original score tonight? Doubtful, but the win for composer Justin Hurwitz continues to attest to the voters’ love for the film as the big categories approach.

11:07 p.m. ET: Are they ever not cute together? La La Land‘s adorable Stone and Gosling introduced Legend, who performed the film’s two nominated songs, “Audition” and “City of Stars.”

11:04 p.m. ET: Celebrating the achievements of the film industry — and of course the achievements of the internet’s many trolls. A number of A-list stars took part in an Oscars edition of “Mean Tweets,” including a very pregnant Natalie Portman (whose about-to-arrive bundle of joy was the reason the Jackie star couldn’t attend tonight) and Gosling, who read a message lambasting his “perfect bone structure and kind eyes.” 

A tweet about Casey Affleck called him the “real-life version of Billy Bob Thornton‘s character in Sling Blade.” And we definitely want to cuddle with that dog that looks uncannily like Tilda Swinton

11 p.m. ET: Getting the momentum back? La La Land picks up its second Oscar of the night, this time for best cinematography.

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10:55 p.m. ET: It’s a commercial, so check out the tourist visitors’ best reactions to meeting their favorite stars.

10:45 p.m. ET: Feeling ignored? Kimmel appeared to be a bit disappointed that Trump has yet to write any vitriolic tweets complaining about the ceremony. In an effort to change this, Kimmel tweeted at the commander in chief, “u up?” The host then added, “#MerylSaysHi.” We’re pretty sure this is going to be one of the most retweeted posts ever.

10:42 p.m. ET: The White Helmets won for best documentary short subject, and the film’s team urged an end to the ongoing Syrian civil war. Sing won for best live-action short.

10:38 p.m. ET: Kimmel caught up with Lion costar Sunny Pawar, who said his favorite kind of candy is “any kind.” Same, Sunny. Same. 

Check out Kimmel summoning more sweets in a hilarious Lion King re-creation.

10:35 p.m. ET: After The Jungle Book nabbed the prize for visual effects, Seth Rogen revealed that Back to the Future was the film he watched the most while growing up. Rogen then took the stage with Michael J. Fox, and the Knocked Up star marveled, “I’m at the Oscars with Michael J. Fox, a DeLorean, wearing future shoes.” He broke out into the Hamilton tune “The Schuyler Sisters,” a shout-out that Miranda clearly loved.

The duo then presented the film editing trophy to Hacksaw Ridge, and the war film currently has more Oscars (two) than La La Land (one), which it topped in the category. Is the musical losing momentum? 

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10:27 p.m. ET: In a particularly timely segment, movie fans from around the world told the camera their favorite films, which included Citizen Kane, Modern Times and The Big Lebowski.

10:20 p.m. ET: This definitely wasn’t in the brochure. Kimmel surprised a group of tourists, who thought they were checking out a costume exhibition but instead were led into the Dolby during the ceremony. The shocked fans made their way along the front row of the auditorium and got to greet the stars, including Washington, who gamely got out of his seat and pretended to officiate a wedding between an engaged couple. 

Later, Jennifer Aniston offered her sunglasses as a gift (dibs!), and Mahershala Ali let the fans touch his Oscar. Was this a cute bit, or a needless waste of time during a show that is probably already running long? We’ll let you be the judge. 

10:16 p.m. ET: The first of many? La La Land led the way with 14 nominations, but didn’t take its first award until roughly 75 minutes into the ceremony, winning for best production design.

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10:15 p.m. ET: Not on the teleprompter? Jamie Dornan appeared confused and not particularly amused when Fifty Shades Darker costar Dakota Johnson jokingly told him, “You look familiar.”

10:13 p.m. ET: Gael García Bernal and Hailee Steinfeld presented the animation prizes, with Bernal telling the crowd, “I’m against any form of wall that wants to separate us.” Piper won for best animated short, and Zootopia won for best animated feature, with the Disney blockbuster’s team emphasizing that the film is about tolerance. 

10:02 p.m. ET: Consider us stung. Lion star Dev Patel introduced Sting to perform his nominated song, “The Empty Chair,” from Jim: The James Foley Story.

10:00 p.m. ET: He’s sending a bold message. The Salesman won for best foreign language film, but its Iranian director, Asghar Farhadi, opted to skip the ceremony, and prominent Iranian American Anousheh Ansari, the first female space tourist, accepted the prize on his behalf. 

She read a statement from the director, who explained that he was absent because he felt “disrespected by the inhumane law that bans the entry of immigrants into the U.S. Dividing the world into the ‘us and our enemies’ categories creates fear.”

9:55 p.m. ET: What might have been! Kimmel said that the night’s theme is “inspiration,” and he praised his own personal hero, David Letterman. “If it wasn’t for David Letterman, I probably would have finished college — maybe I would be a doctor now,” the host joked. 

In a taped segment, Charlize Theron praised Shirley MacLaine‘s performance in the best picture–winning 1960 comedy The Apartment. Then, the two ladies took the stage to present best foreign language film. 

9:48 p.m. ET: “We are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life,” Davis said tearfully in her powerful speech. She thanked Fences playwright August Wilson, who “exhumed and exalted ordinary people.” About costar and director Denzel Washington, she said, “Oh, captain — my captain!”

9:41 p.m. ET: Another acting prize, and another expected victory — but still an exciting one nonetheless! Viola Davis wins best supporting actress for Fences

9:40 p.m. ET: Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), winner of last year’s best supporting actor Oscar, took the podium to hand out best supporting actress. Rylance said that opposition leads to great performances, adding that women are better than men at “opposing without hatred.”

9:36 p.m. ET: Kimmel introduced Hacksaw costar Vince Vaughn as a “conscientious objector who decides to work with Mel Gibson anyway.” (Ouch!) Vaughn then acknowledged the recipients at the Governors Ball earlier this month, including international superstar Jackie Chan.

9:33 p.m. ET: It’s a commercial break, so you have time to check out Timberlake hilariously photobombing Stone on the red carpet earlier tonight.

9:31 p.m. ET: Aliens and guns prevail! Arrival wins for best sound editing, and Hacksaw Ridge nabs best sound mixing. 

9:25 p.m. ET: It’s not pizza (à la Ellen DeGeneres‘ ceremony from a few years back) or Girl Scout cookies (Chris Rock‘s 2016 contribution), but it’s something. Kimmel said it’s “un-American” to watch movies without candy, leading Red Vines and Junior Mints to fall from the ceiling on little parachutes. “Time to find out how well those Spanx really work,” Kimmel quipped.

9:15 p.m. ET: He’s ready to make a splash. Dwayne Johnson, part of the Moana voice cast, introduced Miranda and 16-year-old Auli’i Cravalho (who voiced the title character) to perform the film’s “How Far I’ll Go.” Too bad she got whacked in the face with a flag!

9:12 p.m. ET: Kimmel earned a groan from the crowd by joking that currently incarcerated O.J. Simpson has earned an “extra slice of baloney on your sandwich.”

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9:10 p.m. ET: Real-life heroine! Hidden Figures stars Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe and Octavia Spencer introduced Katherine Johnson, the real-life former NASA employee who Henson played in the film, and the crowd gave Johnson a standing ovation. The group then presented best documentary to O.J.: Made in America, and director Ezra Edelman dedicated the film to the families of victims Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. 

9:07 p.m. ET: Another Trump jab! According to Kimmel, Doctor Strange was nominated for best visual effects and also named “Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.”

9:03 p.m. ET: This is that great time of the night early in the ceremony when the critically panned movies start earning awards before the more heralded films. Case in point: Kate McKinnon and Jason Bateman presented best makeup and hairstyling to Suicide Squad, giving the lambasted blockbuster a trophy before the more favorably received La La Land. Next, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them won for best costume design. 

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8:54 p.m. ET: Kimmel told all serious journalists to leave the room, as “fake news” won’t be tolerated. He added, “Fake tans, we love.”

8:48 p.m. ET: The first award is for Best Supporting Actor, and the winner here is no surprise: Moonlight‘s Mahershala Ali. The actor got emotional and acknowledged his acting teacher for emphasizing the characters. “I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity,” Ali said of working on the powerful drama. 

8:41 p.m. ET: Kimmel called out Streep and joked that she has “phoned it in for more than 50 films.” He asked the legendary actress, nominated this year for Florence Foster Jenkins, to stand up as the crowd applauded her 20 career nominations. “Nice dress, by the way — is that an Ivanka?” Kimmel joked to Streep, who gave a powerful speech at the Golden Globes last month condemning Donald Trump’s actions. 

8:39 p.m. ET: Kimmel referenced last year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy, saying, “I want to say thank you to President Trump — I mean, remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist?” He added that in Hollywood, people aren’t discriminated against based on where they’re from: “We discriminate against them based on their age and weight.”

The host pointed out that he wouldn’t be able to bring the country together tonight: “There’s only one Braveheart in this room, and he’s not going to unite us either. Mel [Gibson], you look great — I think the Scientology is working.” (To his credit, Gibson smiled uncomfortably throughout.)

8:37 p.m. ET: Kimmel urged viewers to reach out to someone with a different perspective than their own. This led him to address his infamous, long-standing “feud” with Damon: “I’ve known Matt for so long, when I first met Matt, I was the fat one.” 

He then praised Damon for not taking the lead Manchester by the Sea role that would ultimately fetch star Casey Affleck a nomination. Kimmel said that Damon “made a Chinese-ponytail movie instead. And that movie, The Great Wall, went on to lose $80 million. See, it’s so easy to reach out and heal.”

8:35 p.m. ET: Host Kimmel took the stage to a “sitting ovation.” He told the crowd, “It’s my first time here, and the way you people go through hosts, it’s probably my last time here.” He said there the ceremony is being broadcast in “225 countries that now hate us.”

8:33 p.m. ET: “I know you know this one, Denzel,” Timberlake quipped as he segued to a snippet from the Bill Withers’ 1977 soul hit “Lovely Day.”

8:31 p.m. ET: The night begins! Timberlake entered the Dolby Theatre singing his nominated Trolls tune, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” He continued the performance on stage, complete with some impressive dance moves, and he had the star-studded crowd bobbing their heads along with him. Especially adorable was watching wife Biel cheering him on from the audience.

8:27 p.m. ET: Hey, girl. Gosling, nominated for best actor for La La Land, makes his entrance.

8:05 p.m. ET: It’s a big night for Fences star Viola Davis, who stuns in Armani and is widely expected to win for best supporting actress.

Hellooo #ViolaDavis ? and that gorgeous @armani! #Oscars (Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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8:01 p.m. ET: Besties alert! Nominee Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea) bonds with Busy Philipps on the carpet.

7:54 p.m. ET: What do you think of Oscars 2017 presenter Scarlett Johansson‘s look?

#ScarlettJohansson has arrived at the #Oscars! (Photo credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

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7:46 p.m. ET: Stone opted for Givenchy for the night that could have her landing her first-ever Oscar:

#EmmaStone is golden in @givenchyofficial at the #Oscars ✨ (Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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7:40 p.m.: Here’s another performer looking cute as can be with his better half! Check out Justin Timberlake and a shimmering Jessica Biel making their way toward the ceremony:

7:08 p.m. ET: Legend — who is set to perform “City of Stars” and “Audition” from La La Land, in which he costars — and wife Chrissy Teigen were adorable on the red carpet:

7 p.m. ET: It’s a big night for the city of stars! All eyes are on La La Land heading into the 89th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 26, and Us Weekly is following the action in our live blog. Refresh this post throughout the 2017 Oscars ceremony for all of the winners, plus highlights, videos and social media reactions!

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The telecast, hosted for the first time by Jimmy Kimmel, will be broadcast live on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET. The esteemed group of presenters include Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Charlize TheronAmy Adams, Matt DamonHalle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Seth RogenDwayne Johnson and David Oyelowo.

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The event will include live song performances from Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sting.

The big film of the night is La La Land, which led the way with 14 nominations, including best picture, best director (Damien Chazelle), best actor (Ryan Gosling) and best actress (Emma Stone). Also vying for best picture are Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Hidden Figures, Lion, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight.

Perhaps the most hotly contested category of the night is best actor. Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) had long been seen as the runaway front-runner for the prize, picking up many of the critics groups’ awards throughout the season. But Denzel Washington (Fences) has come on strong as of late, nabbing best actor at the Golden Globes last month.

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This story will be updated frequently throughout the ceremony with all the winners and big moments. The 2017 Oscars airs live on ABC Sunday, February 26, at 8:30 p.m. ET. 

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