45 Unforgettable Oscar® Moments

For nearly a century (yes, a century!) the Academy Awards® have given us more than shiny gold statues. Hollywood’s biggest night serves up drama, joy, and jaw-drops that leave us talking for years.

With the Oscars® airing live Sunday, March 15 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT on ABC—and in celebration of DISH’s 45th anniversary—we’re celebrating with 45 moments forever seared in our collective pop consciousness. 

Some made us laugh. Some made us gasp. Some made us go, “OMG, WHAAAT?!” And the winner is….

 

Best Oscars Hosts

Hosting the Oscars is one of Hollywood’s toughest gigs. Nail it, and you’re immortal. Bomb, and you’re James Franco and Anne Hathaway.

 

Billy Crystal’s legendary openings

He didn’t just host; he edited himself into the Best Picture nominees. Every year felt like its own mini-movie.

 

Specifically, Billy Crystal as Hannibal Lecter (1992)

Silence of the Lambs mask, rolling onstage like a cannibal caterer. Fava beans, anyone? 

 

Steve Martin’s “first time” joke (2001)

Hosting the Oscars is “like making love to a beautiful woman… only when Billy Crystal’s out of town.” Pure gold. 

 

Ellen DeGeneres’ viral selfie (2014)

Meryl, Bradley, J-Law, and more. One photo broke the internet before that was cliché.

 

Whoopi Goldberg’s costume extravaganzas

From Elizabeth I to The Lion King, Whoopi’s entrances were love letters to movie history.

 

Bob Hope’s record-breaking run

The comedy icon hosted nineteen times! He basically was the Oscars for a very long hot minute.

 

Johnny Carson’s late-night cool

Smooth and effortlessly funny. The king of keeping A-listers on their toes.

 

Chris Rock Don’t Play

While everyone else thanked agents, Rock called out #OscarsSoWhite and cops shooting Black moviegoers. Exactly what the room needed to hear.

 

Jimmy Kimmel roasting Hollywood

He praised Greta Gerwig’s Barbie directing, then told the cheering crowd, “You’re the ones who didn’t vote for her.” Oof, real talk.

 

“Did That Really Just Happen?” Moments

Unscripted chaos that made Hollywood writers jealous. Sometimes fact really is weirder than fiction. 

 

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock (2022) 

The world froze. The internet imploded. And the Oscars would never be the same.

 

Jennifer Lawrence trips (2013) 

Gravity wanted her moment. Lawrence laughed it off and somehow made falling down glamorous.

 

La La Land / Moonlight mix-up (2017) 

The wrong card. The wrong movie. The right chaos. “Moonlight, you guys won!” lives rent-free in our heads.

 

John Travolta introduces “Adele Dazeem” (2014)

Somewhere, Idina Menzel’s soul left her body. Forgetting phonetics in the teleprompter? Brutal.

 

Roberto Benigni’s joy explosion (1999)

He climbed over theater seats like the floor was made of lava. You can’t script this stuff. 

 

Adrien Brody kisses Halle Berry (2003)

Peak 2000s cringe. Brody planted one on Berry. Consent was... optional back then.

 

Angelina Jolie kisses her brother (2000)

The red-carpet PDA launched a thousand think pieces.

 

Sacha Baron Cohen “ashes” Ryan Seacrest (2012)

Ruined Seacrest’s tux. Somewhere, a stylist screamed into a pillow. 

 

The Streaker (1974)

A naked man ran across the stage mid-show. Host David Niven didn’t miss a beat: “Showing his shortcomings.”

 

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow” chemistry (2019)

Their duet convinced half the planet they were in love. Performance or passion? Discuss.

 

Best Acceptance Speeches

Sometimes the “thank you” speech becomes the show.

 

Jack Palance’s one-handed pushups (1992)

At 73, he dropped to the floor mid-speech and cranked out pushups. Ageism, my ass.

 

Olivia Colman’s flustered delight (2019)

She couldn’t stop laughing or apologizing, and everyone fell in love with her.

 

Matthew McConaughey’s “Alright, Alright, Alright” (2014)

A philosophical ramble that felt part sermon, part rom-com.

 

Sally Field’s “You like me!” (1985)

Earnest, emotional, and forever parodied, but we root for her anyway.

 

Hattie McDaniel’s historic win (1940)

The first Black actor to take home an Oscar. A milestone that changed Hollywood history.

 

Marlon Brando says “no thanks” (1973)

He sent Native American Sacheen Littlefeather to decline in protest. John Wayne had to be restrained backstage. Hollywood’s wild west, le sigh.

 

Greer Garson’s endless ramble (1943)

It went on so long, the Academy created a time limit afterward. Cue the music.

 

Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins (2016)

After five losses, Leo finally did it and used the speech to talk about climate change. Talk about “King of the World.”

 

Best Fashion

Red carpet fashion is the real stage. Some came to slay, others came to shock. The question "Who are you wearing?" entered the pop culture lexicon.

 

Björk’s swan dress (2001)

Part couture, part fairy tale. Iconic, bizarre, and so completely Björk.

 

Cher’s 1986 Bob Mackie masterpiece

Feathers, sequins, and pure Cher energy.

 

Sharon Stone’s Gap shirt and Vera Wang skirt (1998)

Business on top, glam on bottom—the most powerful casual Friday ever.

 

Trey Parker and Matt Stone in dresses (2000)

Cartoon chaos made couture. Mission accomplished.

 

Gwyneth Paltrow’s gothic gown (2002)

Black, sheer, and divisive. The Goop of gowns.

 

Lady Gaga’s red gloves (2015)

The most talked-about gloves since “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” 

 

Anne Hathaway’s blush Prada (2013)

Classic and sleek, with a delicious revenge arc after her hosting flop. Subtle shade, maximum slay.

 

Lupita Nyong’o’s powder-blue Prada (2014)

An instant classic. She called it “Nairobi blue,” and we all swooned.

 

Julia Roberts’ vintage Valentino (2001)

Proof that simple and elegant never goes out of style.

 

Biggest Oscar Snubs and Forgotten Winners

Because even the Academy gets it wrong. A lot.

 

Saving Private Ryan loses to Shakespeare in Love (1999)

We’re still processing.

 

Citizen Kane loses Best Picture (1942)

The definition of “ahead of its time.” But Best Picture of 1942? Nope.

 

Singin’ in the Rain ignored (1953)

This Gene Kelly classic now tops every “best musicals” list. Derp.

 

Alfred Hitchcock never wins Best Director

As the Master of Suspense, his big Oscar moment was a lifetime award, a hilariously dismissive “Thank you,” and a mic drop exit.

 

Stanley Kubrick never wins Best Director

He redefined cinema and got only a middle finger from Sir Oscar.

 

Spike Lee waits decades for recognition

After Do the Right Thing was snubbed of a “Best Picture” nomination in '89, Spike finally took home an Oscar for “Best Adapted Screenplay” in 2019. Academy: "We'll circle back to Black excellence.”

 

Crash wins Best Picture (2006) 

The twist ending nobody asked for. Wait, what was Crash again?

 

The Artist wins Best Picture (2012)

Silent film charm, short shelf life.

 

Around the World in 80 Days wins Best Picture (1957)

Epic in scope, now an obscure bar trivia answer.

 

Why We Still Watch

Because even with every flub, speech, and outfit fail, we can’t look away. And for 45 years, DISH has been there for moments just like these: Hollywood magic unfolding live.

Tune in Sunday, March 15 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT (an hour earlier than previous years) on ABC as Conan O’Brien once again takes the stage. 

If history has taught us anything, it’s this: the next internet-breaking moment could be just one envelope away.

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