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Both films heading into Oscar night were heavy contenders. La La Land, with 14 Academy Award nominations, and Moonlight, with 8 nominations, stood as two of the most acclaimed films of the year. La La Land marked Damien Chazelle’s follow up to his breakout success Whiplash, while Barry Jenkins delivered a deeply personal drama about identity and self discovery in Moonlight.

Both films secured major wins throughout the night, but Moonlight ultimately took the biggest honor: Best Picture.

From a personal standpoint, my vote would have gone to La La Land. Its pure craftsmanship, scale, and execution elevate it slightly above Moonlight in my eyes. However, I completely understand why Academy voters leaned toward Moonlight.

At its core, Moonlight is a low budget indie film about a young man named Chiron. We follow him through three defining stages of his life as he navigates identity, masculinity, and self acceptance. On paper, La La Land feels like the larger, more commercial “four-quadrant” film, but Moonlight carries a narrative weight that is deeply compelling.

The film is raw, intimate, and unflinching in how it approaches sensitive subject matter. Barry Jenkins’ direction and writing cannot be ignored. The dialogue feels personal, the performances feel lived in, and even the quietest or most chaotic moments feel emotionally grounded. At its heart, it is a character study of Chiron.

With the help of a strong supporting cast, including Janelle Monáe and Mahershala Ali, the film’s emotional dynamics are portrayed beautifully. La La Land shares some of these qualities, but Moonlight’s heavier dramatic focus gives it an edge in terms of raw storytelling impact.

When La La Land was originally announced as the winner of Best Picture, no one was shocked. It was the frontrunner going into the night, especially after winning multiple awards. But then the mistake happened: Moonlight was the actual winner, and the wrong envelope was initially read.

It became one of the most embarrassing yet unforgettable moments in Oscars history. The audience rose to their feet, the La La Land team gracefully congratulated the Moonlight team, and Moonlight finally had its moment in the spotlight.

Maybe some believe the “wrong” film won that night, but there’s no denying that Moonlight is a film equally deserving of Best Picture.