One year after Will Smith stunned the Oscars by slapping Chris Rock live on stage, there was trepidation as to what could happen on the anniversary.
But the 2023 Academy Awards ceremony was a trouble-free event as Everything Everywhere All At Once dominated, claiming seven wins:
- Best Picture
- Best Director - Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
- Best Original Screenplay - Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
- Best Actress - Michelle Yeoh
- Best Supporting Actress - Jamie Lee Curtis
- Best Supporting Actor - Ke Huy Quan
- Best Achievement in Film Editing - Paul Rogers.
Before the major awards were handed out, in his opening monologue, three-time host Jimmy Kimmel wasted no time in addressing the Will Smith elephant in the room.
"If anyone in this theatre commits an act of violence at any point during the show, you will be awarded the Oscar for Best Actor and permitted to give a 19 minute long speech," Kimmel said.
"No but seriously the Oscars have a crisis team in place - if anything unpredictable or violent happens during the ceremony just do what you did last year. Nothing. Just sit there and do absolutely nothing."
As the night progressed at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, everyone did need a hug as there were plenty of standing ovations and not a dry eye in the house as favourite Everything Everywhere All At Once swept the board.
First time Best Supporting Actor nominee Ke Huy Quan got the ball rolling with his emotion-filled speech.
"My mum is 84 years old. And she is at home watching. Mum I just won an Oscar!" he said.
"I owe everything to the love of my life who month after month year after year told me one day one day my time would come. Dreams are something that you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To everyone out there: keep your dreams alive!"
Hollywood scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis followed suit very shortly, taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
"My mother and my father were both nominated for Oscars in different categories. I just won an Oscar!" she said before tears kicked in.
Best Original Song nominees Rihanna and Lady Gaga left the room with shivers as they played their songs, but it was the global phenomenon RRR which won the category with its song 'Naatu Naatu'.
New Zealand also has some gold coming home again, too.
Wētā FX was nominated for three of the five films in the Best Visual Effects category and won with Avatar: The Way of Water. When the team was accepting, they were played off the stage as the show began to run overtime.
Brendan Fraser emerged victorious as Best Actor for his role in The Whale. He took to the stage with tears in his eyes.
But as the end of the show approached, it was all eyes on Everything Everywhere All At Once for the big prizes.
In her speech for Best Actress, Michelle Yeoh declared her win "history in the making," and urged women everywhere to not "let anyone ever tell you you are past your prime".
It was a night packed with high emotion and loads of tears, but this year, no almighty slaps.
