Al Pacino's Surprising Best Picture Announcement at the Oscars Sparks Confusion

There was no mix up with the envelopes at the Oscars on Sunday. However, there was a bit of confusion in the audience when Al Pacino casually announced that "Oppenheimer" had won the award for best picture.

The star of "The Godfather" started to announce the winner of the top prize of the night by mentioning that out of the ten wonderful films nominated, only one would take home the award for best picture.

There was no mention of the other films nominated in the category before Pacino announced the winner.

"I have to open the envelope to reveal the winner, and I will. Here it is. And the winner is 'Oppenheimer.' Yes. Yes."

THE OSCARS - The 96th Oscars held on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide. (Disney/Frank Micelotta) RYAN GOSLING

THE OSCARS - The 96th Oscars took place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The event was broadcast live on ABC and seen in over 200 countries around the globe. (Disney/Frank Micelotta)RYAN GOSLING

Frank Micelotta/Disney

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The audience paused before breaking into applause and the orchestra began playing. The cast and crew of "Oppenheimer" then stood up to accept the award that most Oscars observers predicted they would win.

Moments before Pacino took the stage, Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel had joked about tearing up the envelope with Emma Stone's name for best actress for "Poor Things." This was a nod to the 2017 best picture mix-up, where "La La Land" was mistakenly announced as the winner before it was corrected that "Moonlight" had won.

Best picture: "Oppenheimer"

Best picture: "Oppenheimer"

Universal Pictures

Best actress: Emma Stone, "Poor Things"

Best actress: Emma Stone, "Poor Things"

Searchlight Pictures

Best actor: Cillian Murphy, "Oppenheimer"

Best actor: Cillian Murphy, "Oppenheimer"

Universal Pictures

Best director: Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"

Best director: Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"

Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures

Best supporting actress: Da'Vine Joy Randolph, "The Holdovers"

Best supporting actress: Da'Vine Joy Randolph, "The Holdovers"

Seacia Pavao/Focus Features

Best supporting actor: Robert Downey Jr., "Oppenheimer"

Best supporting actor: Robert Downey Jr., "Oppenheimer"

Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures

Best adapted screenplay: "American Fiction"

Best adapted screenplay: "American Fiction"

Claire Folger/Orion Releasing

Best original screenplay: "Anatomy of a Fall"

Best original screenplay: "Anatomy of a Fall"

Les Films Pelléas

Best international feature film: "The Zone of Interest"

Best international feature film: "The Zone of Interest"

Courtesy of A24

Best costume design: "Poor Things"

Best costume design: "Poor Things"

Atsushi Nishijima/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Best production design: "Poor Things"

Best production design: "Poor Things"

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Best cinematography: "Oppenheimer"

Best cinematography: "Oppenheimer"

Universal Pictures

Best original score: "Oppenheimer"

Best original score: "Oppenheimer"

Universal Pictures

Best original song: "What Was I Made For?" performed by Billie Eilish for the film "Barbie"

Best original song: "What Was I Made For?" performed by Billie Eilish for the film "Barbie"

Lara Cornell/Warner Bros. Pictures

Best animated feature: "The Boy and the Heron"

Best animated feature: "The Boy and the Heron"

GKIDS

Best animated short film: "War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko"

Best animated short film: "War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko"

ShortsTV

Best live action short film: "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar"

Best live action short film: "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar"

ShortsTV

Best documentary feature film: "20 Days in Mariupol"

Best documentary feature film: "20 Days in Mariupol"

Mstyslav Chernov/AP

Best documentary short film: "The Last Repair Shop"

Best documentary short film: "The Last Repair Shop"

ShortsTV

Best editing: "Oppenheimer"

Best editing: "Oppenheimer"

Universal Pictures

Best makeup and hairstyling: "Poor Things"

Best makeup and hairstyling: "Poor Things"

Searchlight Pictures/Landmark Media/Alamy

Best sound: "The Zone of Interest"

Best sound: "The Zone of Interest"

Courtesy of A24

Best visual effects: "Godzilla Minus One"

Best visual effects: "Godzilla Minus One"

Toho Co., Ltd.

Photos: Oscars winners 2024

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Pacino was just being Pacino, according to Bill Kramer, chief executive of the Academy.

“Everything went beautifully,” Kramer told the New York Times. “He was just having fun up there.”

CNN has reached out to representatives for Pacino for comment.

Editor's P/S:

The Oscars ceremony is a highly anticipated event that celebrates the best in cinema. However, this year's ceremony was marred by a brief moment of confusion when Al Pacino mistakenly announced "Oppenheimer" as the winner of the Best Picture award. The audience was left momentarily stunned before breaking into applause, and the cast and crew of "Oppenheimer" took to the stage to accept the award.

While the mix-up was quickly corrected, it served as a reminder of the pressure and excitement that surrounds the Oscars. The Academy has since stated that Pacino was simply "having fun" and that the error was not a result of any mix-up with the envelopes. Nonetheless, the incident highlights the importance of accuracy and professionalism at such a prestigious event. in balancing spontaneity and accuracy in live award ceremonies.