The Oscars 2024 featured many viral moments, including hilarious clips and bits from Messi the Dog, Batman baddies Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, and Barbenheimer stars Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling.
The 96th Academy Awards celebrated the best of the best in the world of movies from 2023, and it came with lots of laughs, tears, and a few jeers. The greatest and most memorable moments drew attention online as audiences watching at home relished all the chaos and drama from the star-studded ceremony this year.
Messi the Dog Steals the Spotlight (And Everyone's Hearts)
Rumors circulated online that Messi, the border collie who plays a prominent role in Best Picture nominee Anatomy of a Fall, would not be at the Oscars, so it came as a welcome surprise when the canine star showed up at the event in his Sunday finest with a fetching bow-tie that could put him in the running for best-dressed.
Several clips from the evening saw the professional pooch sitting in the audience, following proceedings alongside other guests inside the Dolby Theatre. Messi even clapped on cue and joined in with a round of a-paws that caught Ryan Gosling's eye as he stole the spotlight and the hearts of all those watching from home.
Ryan Gosling’s face lighting up after he sees Messi, the dog from Anatomy of a Fall, clapping on the big screen at the Oscars LOL pic.twitter.com/maKz53vAHp
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 11, 2024
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito Reunite for Batman Bit
Former Twins co-stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito received a standing ovation as they reunited on stage to present the award for Best Visual Effects (which went to Godzilla Minus One), but that was only the start of it, as the pair had the audience erupting in laughter with their comments about Batman.
"Arnold and I are presenting together for a very obvious reason," DeVito said, leaving Schwarzenegger to finish the sentence with an applause-worthy punch line: "We both tried to kill Batman!"
Schwarzenegger famously portrayed Mr. Freeze in 1997's Batman & Robin, five years after DeVito starred as the villainous Penguin in 1992's Batman Returns opposite Michael Keaton's Caped Crusader. The two actors bonded over how Batman defeated them and ultimately labelled their heroic opponent a "son of a b***h."
DeVito declared that Batman was in the audience as the camera cut to Keaton in the audience, who seemingly invited the comments. "You have a lot of nerve to show your face here," Schwarzenegger remarked from the stage, with DeVito adding, "You're a real beak-breaker. I'm gonna see you after the Governors Ball, pal!"
This is why Michael Keaton will forever be THE BATMAN pic.twitter.com/e0j4HdPM7h
— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) March 11, 2024
Paul Giamatti Can't Hold Back the Tears for His Holdovers Co-Star
One of the most heartfelt and sincere reactions at the ceremony came from Paul Giamatti, who was spotted shedding a tear as his Holdovers co-star Da'Vine Joy Randolph took to the stage to pick up the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress but found herself overcome with emotion while delivering her acceptance speech.
Paul Giamatti sobbing during co-star Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Oscar acceptance speech…love pic.twitter.com/LlGyDhci8W
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 10, 2024
Emma Stone Gives Eye-Rolling Reaction to Poor Things Joke
Jimmy Kimmel didn't pull any punches as the host of the 96th Academy Awards, but in true Oscars fashion, not all jokes landed as intended. A few of them, however, did turn into viral moments, including one with Emma Stone looking less than impressed by Kimmel's gags about Poor Things (for which she won Best Actress).
After showing a clip from the movie, Kimmel quipped: "Those are all the parts of Poor Things we're allowed to show on TV," implying that the rest of the film is highly sexual in nature. Stone didn't take kindly to the comment as the camera caught her delivering an eye-roll in response to it, along with a potential expletive.
Emma Stone's reaction to Jimmy Kimmel's joke about poor things.. oh YEAH pic.twitter.com/LlIKvGr4H2
— best of emma stone (@badpostestone) March 10, 2024
Ryan Gosling Delivers Star-Studded 'I'm Just Ken' Performance
Ryan Gosling led one of the highlights of the 2024 Oscars as he donned a bright pink suit to perform a star-studded rendition of ''I'm Just Ken" alongside other Kens from the Barbie movie like Simu Liu, as well as Guns N' Roses' Slash, Emma Stone, and even Margot Robbie, America Ferrera, and director Greta Gerwig.
While the performance was undoubtedly memorable and full of the Kenergy we have all come to know and love, "I'm Just Ken" didn't triumph in the Best Song category at the Academy Awards. Instead, the statue went to another Barbie song - Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" - which was the only Oscar the film won.
Ryan Gosling and the cast of "Barbie" perform "I'm Just Ken" at the #Oscars. https://t.co/UNgGySGz3r pic.twitter.com/00hd0Jw8cy
— Variety (@Variety) March 11, 2024
Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling Banter Over Barbenheimer
The cultural phenomenon known as Barbenheimer spilled into the 2024 Oscars as Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt and Barbie actor Ryan Gosling playfully kept the rivalry of last year's duelling summer blockbusters going by trading jibes live onstage before agreeing to "squash" their Barbenheimer beef and move on.
"I'm just happy that we can finally put this Barbenheimer rivalry behind us," Gosling said, with Blunt adding, "With the way this awards season has turned out, it wasn't that much of a rivalry."
"I think I figured out why they call it Barbenheimer, and they didn't call it Oppenbarbie," Gosling served back. "I think you guys are at the tail end of that because you were riding Barbie's coat-tails all summer."
#Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt and #Barbie star Ryan Gosling give digs at each other about #Barbenheimer at the 2024 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/iaGqlGcfOL
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 11, 2024
John Cena Bares All to Announce Costume Design Award
In one of the most talked-about moments of the 2024 Oscars, John Cena appeared on stage almost fully nude in a funny nod to the 50th anniversary of an actual incident that happened during 1974's Academy Awards when a naked man went streaking on stage while David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor.
As part of a gag set up by host Jimmy Kimmel, Cena came out on stage wearing nothing but the winner's envelope for Best Costume Design to cover his modesty and a pair of sandals. It was the perfect category for this bit, as he then said, "Costumes... They are so important. Maybe the most important thing there is."
A naked John Cena and Jimmy Kimmel bicker on stage at the 2024 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/1JYd5qth6F
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 11, 2024
Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
