Hollywood’s biggest stars convened in the Dolby Theatre March 11 for the 96th Academy Awards, anxious to see which films and artists would take home the gold across the show’s 23 categories.

The event, with late-night personality Jimmy Kimmel hosting, featured a deserving yet predictable winner’s pool, an array of stirring acceptance speeches, a plethora of cleverly written gibes and bits and an instantly iconic musical performance from “Barbie” star Ryan Gosling — alongside, of course, an unintended comedic mishap or two.

For those who missed out on one of the most successful Oscars ceremonies in recent memory, here’s a rundown of the evening’s most lauded movies and memorable moments.

“Oppenheimer,” “Poor Things” leave with multiple trophies in tow

“Oppenheimer,” the three-hour biopic centered on the father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer, performed as expected. The film added seven wins, including one for Best Picture, to its running total of 233 this awards season.

Besides the top prize, the Christopher Nolan-helmed film triumphed in Best Director, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr., Best Original Score, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing. The only category that pundits widely expected it to nab but didn’t was Best Sound, which instead went to Best International Feature recipient “The Zone of Interest.”

“Poor Things,” a richly inventive, “Frankenstein”-esque tale of feminine liberation and self-actualization, received the second-greatest haul, prevailing in four categories: Best Actress for Emma Stone, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Other honored features include “20 Days in Mariupol” for Best Documentary Feature, “American Fiction” for Best Adapted Screenplay, “Anatomy of a Fall” for Best Original Screenplay, “Barbie” for Best Original Song, “The Boy and the Heron” for Best Animated Feature, “Godzilla Minus One” for Best Visual Effects and “The Holdovers” for Best Supporting Actress.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cord Jefferson and Jonathan Glazer deliver impassioned remarks on stage

Of the night’s acceptance speeches, those of Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cord Jefferson and Jonathan Glazer connected most, their messages reverberating within and beyond the Dolby Theatre’s hallowed halls.

Randolph accepted her Best Supporting Actress Oscar teary-eyed and gracious, thanking her mother and Yale drama teacher, Ron Van Lieu, for encouraging her to be herself and pave her own way in an industry known for rarely affording Black women the opportunities they richly deserve. 

She concluded, chuckling through tears, by praising her publicist, Marla Farrell, for seeing her for who she is and sticking by her from day one.

“I have to give a special shoutout to my publicist,” Randolph said. “And I know y’all said don’t say nothing about no publicist, but you don’t have a publicist like I have a publicist.”

Best Adapted Screenplay winner Cord Jefferson spent his time on stage imploring studios to invest more in small- and mid-sized productions, noting how production houses will risk $200 million on a single film rather than give a wave of newcomers a chance for a fraction of the cost — newcomers that could eventually become cinematic legends.

“I felt so much joy making this movie and I want other people to experience that joy, and they are out there, I promise you,” Jefferson said. “The next Martin Scorsese is out there, the next Greta [Gerwig] … is out there, the next Christopher Nolan is out there, I promise you. They just want a shot and we can give them one.”

Although several nominees and their dates donned Artists4Ceasefire pins, only one winner was brave enough to candidly acknowledge the crisis in Gaza. While accepting the Best International Feature trophy on behalf of the United Kingdom alongside his collaborators, Glazer delivered remarks that polarized audiences, generating praise and controversy.

“Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people,” Glazer said. “Whether the victims of Oct. 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization. How do we resist?”

John Mulaney issues long-winded, laughter-inducing “Field of Dreams” recap, “Anatomy of a Fall” pup steals the show

This year’s ceremony was undoubtedly the funniest in recent memory, featuring brilliant setups, punchlines and one-liners from presenters Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Cena and Kate McKinnon. 

It was John Mulaney, celebrated stand-up comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum, and Messi, canine star of “Anatomy of a Fall” (initially barred from attending), who easily earned the lion’s share of the evening’s laughter.

Mulaney, who hosted the 14th Governor’s Awards to acclaim Jan. 9, sent the audience into a frenzy while presenting the award for Best Sound, his long-winded retelling of the convoluted plotline of “Field of Dreams” among the greatest bits in the show’s history — one that further demonstrated why a comedian of his caliber ought to front the ceremony next year.

Messi, meanwhile, left everyone howling in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it bit during Downey Jr.’s acceptance speech. The beloved pooch, who fetched the 2023 Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival, joined the crowd in congratulating the “Iron Man” star, clapping enthusiastically as he exited the stage. 

Ryan Gosling, “Barbie” co-stars and Slash mount a musical performance for the ages in “I’m Just Ken”

Every year, the Academy nominates five compositions for Best Original Song, granting their writers, producers and singers the opportunity to perform them live on the telecast. Future contenders may want to reassess their decision to do so going forward, though, as Gosling has set a new bar, fully committing to bringing “I’m Just Ken” to the Dolby Theatre.

Beyond helping to shape the production’s structure and visuals, going so far as to suggest that it paid homage to Marilyn Monroe’s famed rendition of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” Gosling, in a shimmery pink getup, fully employed his unbridled charisma, in-tune vocals and impressive physicality to the delight of all.

With the Dolby Theatre’s lights turned a fluorescent pink hue, Gosling began, rising from his seat in the audience to cheers and giggles before joining dancers, clad in black suits and cowboy hats, on stage. 

As the song transitioned uptempo, Gosling was joined by the film’s other Kens — Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Scott Evans — before dancers hoisted him into the air, a camera capturing him from above, as cardboard cutouts of the original Barbie doll’s face surrounded him. Then, he vanished beneath one of them before reappearing alongside Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash, a neon sign proclaiming “Ken” dangling from the roof.

Gosling subsequently returned to the crowd, pointing the microphone in the direction of Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Supporting Actress nominee America Ferrera and three-time co-star Stone before returning to the stage, tenderly holding the hand of a nearby camera operator framing him in a close-up.

Suffice it to say, Billie Eilish may have nabbed her second Oscar for “What Was I Made For?” but, had voters witnessed Gosling’s indelible work, it’d likely sway them in favor of “I’m Just Ken.”

Tim Robbins, Al Pacino confound attendees, viewers with flubbed presentations

While joining Ke Huy Quan, Sam Rockwell, Christoph Waltz and Mahershala Ali to present Best Supporting Actor, Robbins, who won in the category for “Mystic River” two decades ago, accidentally misread the teleprompter. 

Amidst describing “Killer of the Flower Moon” contender Robert De Niro’s portrayal of William King Hale, he called it “Oscar-winning” instead of “Oscar-worthy,” turning beet red as the audience hooted and hollered. To Robbins’ credit, he did salvage the situation by inserting his own opinion — “Should be winning” — before continuing with his spiel.

Pacino, tasked with presenting the ceremony’s final award, Best Picture, seems unbothered by the reaction to his bizarre announcement of victor “Opennheimer,” at least in the minute.

“Ten wonderful films were nominated, but only one film will take the award for Best Picture — and I have to go to the envelope for that,” Pacino said. “My eyes see ‘Oppenheimer.’”

The revelation that the nominees were not to be listed again came as a shock to many, with those in the crowd bursting into vexed laughter, the orchestra and camera team seemingly caught off guard.

Despite the perplexion, which spawned the assumption that the “The Godfather” star had royally blown the presenting gig, Pacino and the Oscar ceremony’s production team contend that wasn’t the case. The choice to omit a listing of the nominees before revealing the winner came from the latter, meaning that the 83-year-old actor was merely doing as told. Regardless, it was an awkward presentation that sparked nothing but confusion.

These blunders aside, the 96th Academy Awards ceremony was a rousing success that, hopefully, will be emulated in years to come.