Adrien Brody made history at the Oscars on Sunday night, delivering the longest-ever acceptance speech in the ceremony’s history.
The best actor winner, honored for his role in The Brutalist, spoke for an astonishing five minutes and 40 seconds, breaking a record that had stood for over 80 years.
His speech contributed to an already lengthy gala, which stretched close to four hours and saw Anora, a low-budget indie film, emerge as the night’s biggest winner with five awards, including Best Picture.
Despite repeatedly assuring the audience that he would keep his remarks brief, Brody’s speech went on far beyond expectations. His extended monologue surpassed the previous record set by British actress Greer Garson in 1943, when she won Best Actress for Mrs. Miniver and spoke for five minutes and 30 seconds.
Garson’s marathon speech led to the introduction of time limits at the Oscars, as well as the now-standard practice of “playing off” winners with music to encourage them to wrap up.
However, Brody was having none of it. When the orchestra began to cue him to finish, he waved them off, insisting they stop the music. “Please, turn the music off. I’ve done this before,” he said, referencing his 2003 Oscar win for The Pianist.
Though he initially promised not to “be egregious,” he continued speaking for another minute and a half, taking his time to thank more than a dozen people, including his parents, director Brady Corbet, co-stars Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones, and his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman.
His speech wasn’t the only aspect of the ceremony drawing attention. The Oscars telecast saw a small drop in ratings compared to the previous year, with 18 million viewers tuning in across ABC and Hulu.
That marked a dip from 2024’s early ratings figure of 19.5 million, a year when Oppenheimer dominated the awards and Barbie delivered live musical performances. While a decline, this was still far better than the record low of 10.4 million viewers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time ever, the Oscars were also streamed live, but technical glitches caused frustration among online viewers. Many reported missing key moments, including the announcement of major awards. This mishap ended a three-year streak of steady ratings improvement for the Academy Awards, raising concerns about the long-term impact of shifting the show to digital platforms.
Brody’s lengthy speech was, in some ways, fitting for The Brutalist, a film that itself runs for three and a half hours and even includes an intermission. In the film, Brody plays a brilliant architect who, haunted by his experiences during the Holocaust, relocates to post-World War II America in search of a new beginning.
The film’s weighty themes seemed to resonate in Brody’s acceptance speech, which ended on a serious and poignant note.
However, one of the night’s more bizarre moments happened before he even began speaking. As he made his way to the stage, Brody suddenly paused, removed a piece of chewing gum from his mouth, and tossed it toward his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman.
In a perfectly timed catch, Chapman grabbed the gum without hesitation, creating an unusual yet oddly charming Oscars moment.
Asked about the gum incident during an interview on Live with Kelly and Mark the following morning, Brody laughed, saying, “I forgot I was chewing gum… I thought, ‘I’ve got to get rid of this somehow!’”
The unexpected move became a viral moment on social media, with viewers debating whether it was an endearing quirk or an awkward misstep.
Beyond the humor, Brody used his speech to reflect on the lessons of history. He closed with a somber message, reminding the audience of the dangers of hatred. “If the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked,” he said, drawing parallels between his film’s themes and real-world issues.
His words resonated with many, especially given the current state of global affairs. Some viewers praised his emotional sincerity, while others criticized the speech’s excessive length, arguing that he had overshadowed other winners.
Still, Brody’s passionate address cemented itself as one of the most memorable moments of the night.
With The Brutalist now generating more buzz following Brody’s win, the film’s Oscar success could help boost its box office performance.
Meanwhile, discussions continue about how future ceremonies will handle long-winded speeches, given that even the established “play-off” music failed to rein in Brody’s enthusiasm.
As Hollywood reflects on the night’s highs and lows, one thing is clear—Adrien Brody’s record-breaking speech has secured its place in Oscars history, ensuring that his second Academy Award win will be remembered for more than just the trophy.
