The Oscars ceremoniously wrapped a season dominated by blockbuster achievements, celebrating the extraordinary talents behind this year’s cinematic wonders. Despite the spotlight on artistic excellence, the awards season wasn’t without its missteps and controversies, notably influenced by voter apathy in the aftermath of prolonged industry strikes. This disengagement, particularly among American voters, may have bolstered the influence of the Academy’s sizable international constituency, aligning the Oscars’ outcomes more closely with the BAFTA selections than in years past.

Variety was predicting the exact 23 winners that resulted last evening in mid-February following the BAFTA Awards. After this pundit changed eight of them to the alternate picks, the lesson learned is the right answer is often the most obvious one.

Here are some takeaways from the evening’s celebrations.

“Killers of the Flower Moon”

Lily Gladstone was campaigned in the wrong category.

Emma Stone’s victory for her role in “Poor Things” stirred mixed emotions.