The Oscars is a night set to celebrate the very best in movie magic with a line up of star-studded guests, yet despite its predictability the Academy Awards has thrown up many surprises over the years.
The attention should be on the films, actors and directors being awarded, but many other things have grabbed headline attention.
From powerful statements to unforgettable mistakes, the Oscars has certainly got its fair share of shocking moments.
As the 95th Academy Awards gets ready to take place later today in Los Angeles, we have rounded up ten of the most memorable moments to ever take place in its near 100 year history, as researched by SlotBuzz.
The slap
The most recent shocking moment took place at last year's awards when actor Will Smith marched on stage and slapped Oscars' presenter Chris Rock across the face.
After the comedian made a joke about Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star got out of his seat shouting: "Keep my wife’s name out your f****** mouth!”
Both the audience and everyone across the world watching from home were stunned.
Will has since been given a 10 year ban from attending any Academy events.
Jennifer Lawrence fall
The Silver Linings and Hunger Games star was so shocked to win best actress, she was literally swept off her feet as she climbed the stairs to collect her award.
Jennifer used her humour to laugh it off, as she said on stage: “You guys are just standing up ’cause you feel bad that I fell, and that’s really embarrassing, but thank you.”
The fall quickly went viral across the world with some people even questioning if the actress staged the whole thing.
Marlon Brando's protest
One of the most shocking speeches to ever take place at the Oscars was Marlon Brando's when he refused to accept the award for best actor for to his role in The Godfather.
He declined the invite to the 45th Academy Awards and gave up his spot to Native American human rights advocate Sacheen Littlefeather.
She delivered a statement from Brando saying he was declining the award because of "the abuse of American Indians today by the film business".
Campaigning speeches
In 2020, Joaquin Phoenix accepted his best actor award for Joker with a speech campaigning for equality.
The actor used his spotlight to talk about racism, women's rights and the dairy industry.
“But for me, I see commonality. I think, whether we’re talking about gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights, we’re talking about the fight against injustice," he said.
“We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. Then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal."
He ended his speech by quoting a song lyric by his brother River: “Run to the rescue with love and peace will follow”.
Jumping for joy
In a show of clear elation, Roberto Benigni made headlines for how he reacted when he won best foreign language film in 1999.
When his name was read out, the actor and director jumped for joy quite literally.
He stood on his seat cheering and responding to the applause from the audience. Taking his win even further, Roberto stood right over Speilberg in excitement, straddling the seats.
A famous kiss
A jaw dropping moment in 2003, Adrien Brody accepted his award a little differently to others.
Winning best actor for The Pianist, Brody went in for a full kiss with Halle Berry instead of the usual handshake.
The crowd could be heard cheering and gasping at what was happening in front of them.
Too much?
In the year 2000, winner of best supporting actress Angelina Jolie rocked the world when she kissed her brother on the lips.
Accepting her award Angelina said: "I’m in shock, and I’m so in love with my brother right now. He just held me and said he loved me, and I know he’s so happy for me. And, um, thank you for that.”
Later that night Jolie, 24, attended an afterparty where she posed with her brother for photographers.
The pair shared a kiss on the lips and the split-second move made newspaper front pages around the world.
Unforgettable mistake
One of the most awkward and embarrassing moments to take place at the Academy Awards happened in 2017 during the announcement of the most anticipated award, Best Picture..
La La Land was incorrectly announced as winners, but no-one knew otherwise as the cast and directors headed to the stage to pick up their award.
Producer Mark Platt gave his thank you speech but producer Fred Berger takes over the mic and gives a speech anyway, finishing with: “We lost.”
Horowitz holds up his hand and said: “This is not a joke." La La Land realised they hadn't won and now given the right card, Horowitz holds up the right card which reads Moonlight are the winners.
Political stance
Picking up his first Academy Award for Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore used his speech to make a political stance.
Moore invited his fellow documentary nominees onstage as he accepted his prize.
He gave a passionate speech, not about his film, but about "fictitious times", directly referring to the contested presidential election of George W. Bush and the Iraq War.
"We are against this war, Mr. Bush! Shame on you!,” Moore declared. The crowd instantly turned on him, booing until the music played him out and off the stage.
Unlikely winner
A fugitive who cannot set foot in the United States picked up best director in 2003, sparking controversy.
Roman Polanski won for the Holocaust drama The Pianist.
He fled the US for France in 1978 as he was about to be sentenced to prison for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
No one was expecting the film to win and caused one of the biggest upsets in recent Oscars history.
