'Oppenheimer,' a blockbuster biopic about the race to build the first atomic bomb claimed the prestigious best picture Oscar, along with six other awards.
"I would really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere..."
Irish actor Cillian Murphy won the best actor for his portrayal of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, while Robert Downey Jr. won his first Oscar for his supporting role as Oppenheimer's professional nemesis.
Christopher Nolan was named best director.
Emma Stone won best actress for playing a woman revived from the dead in the dark and wacky comedy "Poor Things."
And Da'Vine Joy Randolph celebrated her first Oscar win.
She gave a tearful acceptance speech after winning best supporting actress for playing a grieving mother and cafeteria worker in 'The Holdovers.'
"For so long I've always wanted to be different and now I realize I just need to be myself."
As the stars celebrated, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters angered by the Israel-Gaza conflict shouted and slowed traffic in the streets surrounding the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
A handful of celebrities, including Mahershala Ali and Billie Eilish wore red 'ceasefire' pins.
Actor Mark Ruffalo praised the protesters as he entered the theater.
"The Palestinian protest shut down the Oscars tonight. Humanity wins."
The conflict was a focus during the ceremony as well.
When British Holocaust drama "The Zone of Interest" was named best international feature, director Jonathan Glazer condemned the violence in his acceptance speech.
"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 - whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza. All the victims of this dehumanization."
"Oppenheimer" is the first of Christopher Nolan's films to win the top Oscar.
It won out over the feminist adventure 'Barbie', a movie it had in battled in the box office showdown last summer popularly dubbed "Barbenheimer," though Barbie did win an award for best original song in Billie Eilish's track "What Was I Made For?"
