From left, producer Peter Spears, actress Frances McDormand, director Chloé Zhao, producer Mollye Asher and producer Dan Janvey pose with their Oscars in the press room after their film "Nomadland" won best picture on Sunday, April 25.
In pictures: The 2021 Academy Awards
From left, producer Peter Spears, actress Frances McDormand, director Chloé Zhao, producer Mollye Asher and producer Dan Janvey pose with their Oscars in the press room after their film "Nomadland" won best picture on Sunday, April 25.
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images

Updated 12:37 AM EDT, Mon April 26, 2021

"Nomadland" was the big winner at Sunday night's Academy Awards.

The film won three of the night's major awards, including best picture. Its director, Chloé Zhao, became the first woman of color and the first woman of Asian descent to win the Oscar for best director. The film's star, Frances McDormand, won her third best actress Oscar, putting her second all-time behind Katharine Hepburn.

The Oscars are usually handed out in February, but this year's ceremony was pushed back a couple of months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The eligibility period was also extended to 14 months. This was the first time since 1934 that films from two different calendar years were eligible for awards in the same ceremony.

The show took place in Los Angeles at both the Dolby Theatre and Union Station. It was preceded by a scaled-down red-carpet event. In keeping with Covid-19 protocols, only the nominees, their guests and presenters attended in person.

A trio of Oscar winners -- from left, Yuh-jung Youn, Daniel Kaluuya and Frances McDormand -- pose together in the press room. Youn won best supporting actress for her role in "Minari." Kaluuya won best supporting actor for his role in "Judas and the Black Messiah." And McDormand won best actress for "Nomadland."
A trio of Oscar winners -- from left, Yuh-jung Youn, Daniel Kaluuya and Frances McDormand -- pose together in the press room. Youn won best supporting actress for her role in "Minari." Kaluuya won best supporting actor for his role in "Judas and the Black Messiah." And McDormand won best actress for "Nomadland."
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images
Actor Bryan Cranston recognizes some of the vaccinated front-line workers who were at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night. Cranston was presenting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to the Motion Picture and Television Fund for the group's help and assistance to productions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Actor Bryan Cranston recognizes some of the vaccinated front-line workers who were at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night. Cranston was presenting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to the Motion Picture and Television Fund for the group's help and assistance to productions during the coronavirus pandemic.
ABC/Getty Images
Yuh-jung Youn holds her best supporting actress Oscar as she stands next to presenter Brad Pitt in the press room.
Yuh-jung Youn holds her best supporting actress Oscar as she stands next to presenter Brad Pitt in the press room.
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images
People watch Youn's acceptance speech from a railway station in Seoul, South Korea. She's the first South Korean actress to win an Oscar.
People watch Youn's acceptance speech from a railway station in Seoul, South Korea. She's the first South Korean actress to win an Oscar.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Actress Olivia Colman poses for a photo while attending an Oscars screening in London. Many of the nominees were in Los Angeles, but some appeared remotely because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Actress Olivia Colman poses for a photo while attending an Oscars screening in London. Many of the nominees were in Los Angeles, but some appeared remotely because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alberto Pezzali/Pool/Getty Images
Travon Free, left, and Martin Desmond Roe accept the Oscar for the short film "Two Distant Strangers." Their shoes and the inside of their jackets carried the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other people killed by police violence.
Travon Free, left, and Martin Desmond Roe accept the Oscar for the short film "Two Distant Strangers." Their shoes and the inside of their jackets carried the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other people killed by police violence.
Todd Wawrychuk/AMPAS/Getty Images
Nominees attend an Oscars screening in Paris.
Nominees attend an Oscars screening in Paris.
Lewis Joly/AP
From left, Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross enter the press room after winning the Oscar for best original score ("Soul").
From left, Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross enter the press room after winning the Oscar for best original score ("Soul").
Chris Pizzelo/Pool/Getty Images
Lakeith Stanfield, a best supporting actor nominee, is interviewed in London.
Lakeith Stanfield, a best supporting actor nominee, is interviewed in London.
Alberto Pezzali/Pool/AP
Actress Reese Witherspoon enters the Oscars press room. She was one of the award presenters.
Actress Reese Witherspoon enters the Oscars press room. She was one of the award presenters.
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images
Best actor nominee Gary Oldman was among those in London.
Best actor nominee Gary Oldman was among those in London.
Alberto Pezzali/Pool/Getty Images
Chloé Zhao accepts the best director Oscar for "Nomadland." She is the first woman of color and the first woman of Asian descent <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/25/entertainment/chloe-zhao-oscar-win/index.html" target="_blank">to win best director.</a> "This is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold out to the goodness in themselves and to hold out to the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that," she said in her acceptance speech. "You inspire me to keep going."
Chloé Zhao accepts the best director Oscar for "Nomadland." She is the first woman of color and the first woman of Asian descent to win best director. "This is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold out to the goodness in themselves and to hold out to the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that," she said in her acceptance speech. "You inspire me to keep going."
AMPAS/ABC/Getty Images
Anders Hammer, director of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Do Not Split," takes part in the show from Oslo, Norway.
Anders Hammer, director of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Do Not Split," takes part in the show from Oslo, Norway.
Franciscoo Seco/Pool/Getty Images
From left, Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson and Sergio Lopez-Rivera pose with the Oscars they won for best makeup and hairstyling ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom").
From left, Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson and Sergio Lopez-Rivera pose with the Oscars they won for best makeup and hairstyling ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom").
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images
Director Thomas Vinterberg accepts the Oscar for best international feature film, which went to his film "Another Round." He said this was "beyond anything I could ever imagine -- except this is something I've always imagined, since I was 5."
Director Thomas Vinterberg accepts the Oscar for best international feature film, which went to his film "Another Round." He said this was "beyond anything I could ever imagine -- except this is something I've always imagined, since I was 5."
AMPAS/ABC/Getty Images
Phillip Bladh, holding the best sound Oscar for "Sound of Metal," enters the press room in Los Angeles.
Phillip Bladh, holding the best sound Oscar for "Sound of Metal," enters the press room in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images
Florian Zeller, speaking remotely from Paris, holds the Oscar he won for best adapted screenplay ("The Father").
Florian Zeller, speaking remotely from Paris, holds the Oscar he won for best adapted screenplay ("The Father").
Lewis Joly/Pool/AP
Songwriters Fat Max Gsus, left, and Savan Kotecha appear on the show from Stockholm, Sweden.
Songwriters Fat Max Gsus, left, and Savan Kotecha appear on the show from Stockholm, Sweden.
Fredrik Persson/Pool/AP
Daniel Kaluuya examines his best supporting actor Oscar, which he won for his role as Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in "Judas and the Black Messiah."
Daniel Kaluuya examines his best supporting actor Oscar, which he won for his role as Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in "Judas and the Black Messiah."
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images
"Pinocchio" makeup artist Dalia Colli and hair designer Francesco Pegoretti appear on the show from Rome.
"Pinocchio" makeup artist Dalia Colli and hair designer Francesco Pegoretti appear on the show from Rome.
Alessandra Tarantino/Pool/Getty Images
Emerald Fennell won the first Oscar of the night, for best original screenplay ("Promising Young Woman"). "I'm trying very hard not to cry because, as an English person ... I don't cry ever," she joked.
Emerald Fennell won the first Oscar of the night, for best original screenplay ("Promising Young Woman"). "I'm trying very hard not to cry because, as an English person ... I don't cry ever," she joked.
Todd Wawrychuk/A.M.P.A.S/Getty Images
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen is cleaned up by his wife, Isla Fisher. They appeared on the show from Sydney.
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen is cleaned up by his wife, Isla Fisher. They appeared on the show from Sydney.
Rick Rycroft/Pool/Getty Images
People attend a drive-in Oscar party in West Hollywood.
People attend a drive-in Oscar party in West Hollywood.
Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images
Actress and director Regina King opened the show at Union Station. She delivered a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/oscars-2021/h_313cd228c7644d9a54d5e67f2784e82a" target="_blank">hopeful monologue</a> and said that if things had gone differently in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, she probably would have been out marching instead of presenting. "As a mother of a Black son, I know the fear that so many live with -- and no amount of fame or fortune changes that," she said.
Actress and director Regina King opened the show at Union Station. She delivered a hopeful monologue and said that if things had gone differently in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, she probably would have been out marching instead of presenting. "As a mother of a Black son, I know the fear that so many live with -- and no amount of fame or fortune changes that," she said.
ABC/Getty Images
Attendees prepare for the beginning of the show at Union Station in Los Angeles.
Attendees prepare for the beginning of the show at Union Station in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello/Pool/Getty Images
From left, Nina Parker, Brad Goreski and Zanna Roberts Rassi were part of the panel for the E! channel's red-carpet show.
From left, Nina Parker, Brad Goreski and Zanna Roberts Rassi were part of the panel for the E! channel's red-carpet show.
Brandon Hickman/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Actress Laura Dern walks the red carpet before the show.
Actress Laura Dern walks the red carpet before the show.
Matt Petit/AMPAS/Getty Images
Best actress nominee Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, are seen on the left after arriving on the red carpet.
Best actress nominee Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, are seen on the left after arriving on the red carpet.
Mark Terrill/Pool/Getty Images