It’s awards season again ahead of the Oscars 2025
, and the list of eligible movies that could receive nominations and potentially win an Academy Award shows the scope of greatness across 2024 movies. Prior to the 97th Academy Awards taking place on March 2, 2025, it is up to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to nominate five movies in all 23 categories, with Best Picture the only category to get ten nominations. The 2024 Oscar winners saw Oppenheimer dominate the field, but there does not appear to be an overall frontrunner regarding the 2025 nominees and winners.

While the official Oscars 2025 nominations will be announced until January 23, 2025, the lead-up to that date leaves room to predict which films and creatives will be recognized in each category. Big-budget fare like Gladiator II or Dune: Part Two have Oscars hopes in many categories, especially when it comes to recognizing Ridley Scott or Denis Villeneuve. There are also critically acclaimed indies like Anora, Emilia Pérez, and The Brutalist in good shape to win despite a major Oscars rule change. Each of those films and many others are among Screen Rant‘s predicted Oscars 2025 nominations and winners.

23

Best Picture

Winner: Anora

The Best Picture race for the 2025 Oscars is already forming a strong grouping of contenders at the top. Anora, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, and The Brutalist are the four that appear to be in the best position to earn nominations. Anora has the Palme d’Or from Cannes 2024 plus nominations from Golden Globes, NBR, Gotham Awards, AFI, and Film Independent Spirit Awards – which puts it very much in the lead regarding precursor recognitions. Still, the other three also have Golden Globes and PGA nominations, plus expected nominations in other Oscar categories to put them near the top.

The biggest riser to this point is undoubtedly Wicked. Following its theatrical release, Wicked won Best Film from NBR and started to climb up prediction charts. The movie is now fully expected to land Oscar nominations in several below-the-line categories and possibly even emerge in the acting categories. With voters potentially looking for more of a feel-good movie, Wicked could perform well on the preferential ballot. The same could be true of A Complete Unknown and The Substance, which have both come on strong late. Of course, if one film is rising so rapidly, that also means that others are dropping.

Gladiator II has been knocked out of contention it seems by now, with Sing Sing also stumbling a bit. The latter is still holding onto one of the ten nomination slots, but it could fall out as Nickel Boys, Nosferatu, I’m Still Here, and others attempt to get in. Even if those тιтles do emerge on nomination morning, the Best Picture Oscars winner in 2025 is likely to come from Anora, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, and The Brutalist.

22

Best Director

Winner: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)

The Best Director race for the 2025 Oscars has radically changed throughout the course of awards season. Ridley Scott (Gladiator II) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two) have fallen out of contention by most indications, as they’ve routinely missed out on major precursors. This has come as Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), and Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) have fortified their positions in the race. That leaves one spot left to fill, with Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) the late season riser.

Although Brady Corbet is our predicted Best Director Oscars 2025 winner and there’s confidence in many of these predicted nominees, a few surprises could still come. James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) has the DGA nomination to support his possible nomination. Jon M. Chu (Wicked) could also ride love for the popular musical toward a nomination. RaMell Ross (Nickel Boys) is a hopeful nominee. Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light) is looking for the growing international voting body to recognize her work after a Golden Globes nomination.

21

Best Actress

Winner: Demi Moore (The Substance)

Best Actress is shaping up to be one of the most compeтιтive categories for the Oscars 2025. This is clear with Angelina Jolie (Maria) and Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) viewed as longsH๏τs despite their name recognition and strong performances. While Mikey Madison (Anora) is still very much in contention for a win, Demi Moore (The Substance) has gained great momentum, as symbolized by her Golden Globes win. She’s now our predicted Best Actress Oscars 2025 winner.

Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez) is the safest choice of the remaining contenders when it comes to predicting the nominees. Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths), and Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl) are all vying for those final two spots then. There’s a chance Jolie or Kidman could re-emerge as surprise nominees, but that’s not expected at this stage. Erivo’s campaign has been strong, and Torres just won the Golden Globe, so they are predicted for the final two spots. But Jean-Baptiste is most certainly a strong enough contender to knock either out.

20

Best Actor

Winner: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)

The Best Actor category for the 2025 Oscars has only become more clear as the season has unfolded. Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) and Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) are the two frontrunners for the win, with Brody now our predicted Best Actor winner for the 2025 Oscars. Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) and Colman Domingo (Sing Sing) are viewed as locks for nominations, but both would need strong campaigns from this point on to get the Oscar win.

The fifth spot for Best Actor is all that’s really left for debate it seems. The slot should come down to Daniel Craig (Queer) and Sebastian Stan (for either The Apprentice or A Different Man). Craig is the more recognizable star, but he’s yet to make many waves during awards season. Stan is on the rise with his Golden Globes win coming at the perfect time. That’s momentum that Craig does not necessarily have, even if he got the SAG nom over Stan. It’s a close race to call, but we’ll give the edge to the Marvel star.

19

Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

The Best Actress field for the Oscars 2025 is quite compeтιтive as notable established stars and rising names look to make a mark. Those in the strongest spots include Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez and Ariana Grande for Wicked. Both have earned high praise for their performances in their respective musicals, with Saldaña in the best position after her Golden Globes win. The rest of the predicted nominees are fluid and could shake out in many different ways.

For now, Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), and Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl) seem to be in the best positions. This would leave Danielle ᴅᴇᴀᴅwyler (The Piano Lesson), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), and Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez) on the outside of the Oscars race. Jamie Lee Curtis’ emergence is the most surprising, as the former winner in the category for Everything Everywhere All At Once has campaigned hard late in the game. It seems to be working based on her BAFTA and SAG nominations, so we’re predicting an Oscar nomination too.

18

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)

The Best Supporting Actor category was once thought to be Denzel Washington’s to lose for Gladiator II, but now it appears he won’t even be getting a nomination. He’s missed multiple precursors at the same time that Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) has secured a frontrunner status. Is there still any hope for Denzel as a nine-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner? Perhaps some, but it would not be a nomination that really gives him a sH๏τ to win at this point.

The remaining contenders in the category include Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing), and Yura Borisov (Anora). There might still be some hope for Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) to sneak into the race. Furthermore, a Stanely Tucci nomination would speak volumes for how much the Academy does love Conclave.

17

Best Original Screenplay

Winner: Anora

The Best Original Screenplay category has a few major contenders at the top of the field. Sean Baker’s script for Anora has been widely praised and recognized for how it handles its Sєx worker story and balances romance, comedy, and drama. Jesse Eisenberg’s screenplay for A Real Pain feels like it has the strongest case to pull off an upset. Both films got WGA nominations, along with Justin Kuritzkes’ work in Challengers. The Brutalist and September 5 were ineligible at WGA, but they should get nominations from Academy voters.

16

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner: Conclave

Best Adapted Screenplay is a compeтιтive category that could be a secondary chance for a Best Picture contender to win. Conclave has the Golden Globes win to help support its case so far, along with several other nominations. Emilia Pérez and A Complete Unknown should get nominations here to support their Best Picture nominations. Meanwhile, Sing Sing and Nickel Boys both may earn recognition here instead. IP-driven тιтles like Wicked and Dune: Part Two could get some love potentially, as could Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, if one of these тιтles miss.

15

Best Animated Feature Film

Winner: The Wild Robot

Best Animated Feature Film is a тιԍнт race between The Wild Robot and Flow. Pixar was thought to be in a strong position to win with Inside Out 2 and its emotional exploration of puberty, anxiety, and growing up. However, The Wild Robot‘s reviews marked just the beginning of the praise being showered upon DreamWorks’ animated movie about motherhood, family, and technology vs. nature. The film has to hold off Flow to win the Oscar, which is more difficult after its Golden Globes win. Memoir of a Snail and Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl should earn nominations, though.

14

Best International Feature Film

Winner: Emilia Pérez

The Best International Feature Film category has narrowed down through the Academy’s shortlist process. Emilia Pérez seems to be the favorite to win after France officially selected it. The movie could copy All Quiet on the Western Front by being an international contender with Netflix distribution, where it takes a win here instead of Best Picture. If not, then Germany’s The Seed of a Sacred Fig, Brazil’s I’m Still Here, and Ireland’s Kneecap could battle for the win – which are among the 15 finalists for nominations. There’s even a good chance Flow adds a second nomination here.

13

Best Documentary Feature

Winner: Daughters

Although we previously predicted that Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story would get into the Oscars race, it was left out of the shortlist for a Best Documentary Feature nomination. There are now 15 finalists to earn nominations in the category in 2025. Netflix looks to be in a good position to win the category one way or another.

The 2025 Oscars winner for Best Documentary Feature could come down to Daughters and Will & Harper, which are both beneficiaries of Netflix’s backing. The former explores the relationships between incarcerated men and their daughters through a beautiful story worthy of its 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, Will & Harper has major star power with Will Ferrell and a timely story about his friend coming out as a trans woman that could win over voters.

12

Best Documentary Short Subject

15 Finalists Are Confirmed

The Best Documentary Short Subject category is finally starting to take shape for the 2025 Oscars. On December 17, 2024, the Academy announced a list of the 15 finalists to be nominated in the category. The documentary shorts in contention are: Chasing Roo, Death by Numbers, Eternal Father, I Am Ready Warden, Incident, Instruments of a Beating Heart, Keeper, Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World, Once upon a Time in Ukraine, The Only Girl in the Orchestra, Planetwalker, The Quilters, Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr, A Swim Lesson, and Until He’s Back.

11

Best Animated Short Film

15 Finalists Have Been Announced

The Best Animated Short Film category is also rounding into shape after the Academy announced 15 finalists for nominations on December 17. The list of animated short films in contention include: Au Revoir Mon Monde, A Bear Named Wojtek, Beautiful Men, Bottle George, A Crab in the Pool, In the Shadow of the Cypress, Magic Candies, Maybe Elephants, Me, Origami, Percebes, The 21, Wander to Wonder, The Wild-Tempered Clavier, and Yuck!.

10

Best Live-Action Short Film

The List Of 15 Finalists Is Known

The Academy has narrowed down the list of contenders for Best Live-Action Short Film to 15 finalists. As announced on December 17, the finalists to earn nominations and eventually win the Oscar are: Anuja, Clodaugh, The Compatriot, Crust, Dovecote, Edge of Space, The Ice Cream Man, I’m Not a Robot, The Last Ranger, A Lien, The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, The Masterpiece, An Orange from Jaffa, Paris 70, and Room Taken.

9

Best Original Song

Winner: Emilia Pérez

The Best Original Song category for the Oscars 2025 is expected to go Emilia Pérez for one of its songs. “El Mal” won the Golden Globe over “Mi Camino,” so that likely gives it an edge – and gives it a chance to support Saldaña’s Best Supporting Actress case. The Wild Robot has a strong contender with “Kiss the Sky,” as is The Six Triple Eight‘s “The Journey” from usual Oscars contender Dianne Warren. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross could gain recognition with Challengers here, but Mufasa: The Lion King, Moana 2, and others are hoping for a nomination still.

8

Best Original Score

Winner: The Brutalist

It was widely expected that Hans Zimmer would win another Oscar for Dune: Part Two, but that has become impossible due to it being deemed ineligible to compete based on the rules ᴀssociated with franchise films. Zimmer’s absence opens the race up much wider, with Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist) ready to emerge as the frontrunner. There’s still room for this race to shift drastically, but all five of these films have secured Golden Globes nominations. While the Globes aren’t always predictive, it boosts the composers ᴀssociated with each score.

7

Best Sound

Winner: Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two can continue the success of the first movie in the below-the-line categories with a win in Best Sound. The sound team on Denis Villeneuve’s sequel did excellent work once again and should be recognized with a nomination at least. If another movie comes in to win the category, A Complete Unknown and Wicked are two strong contenders thanks to their musical elements. Still, the same could be said for Emilia Pérez, while Gladiator II could gain recognition too.

6

Best Visual Effects

Winner: Dune: Part Two

The Best Visual Effects Oscar can often go to a movie where the VFX is so good and so subtle that viewers don’t fully notice it as opposed to a тιтle that is very clearly CGI heavy. That should work in Dune: Part Two‘s favor to win another Oscar in the same category as the original. Still, it would be nice for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes to win here since the Planet of the Apes movies have never won a Best VFX Oscar despite their remarkable displays of motion and performance capture technology.

Gladiator II‘s CGI looks a bit shakier compared to the other predicted nominees, while Mufasa: The Lion King has the results of the Oscar-nominated 2019 live-action remake to surpᴀss. Blockbusters like Wicked and Twisters could enter the race, although Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was left off the shortlist for further consideration. Currently, Civil War might gain an advantage because of its seamless use of visual effects to bring the war-torn American story to life, with an Alex Garland movie already winning the category before with Ex Machina.

5

Best Film Editing

Winner: Anora

Best Film Editing can often be a precursor to the Best Picture winner, as roughly two thirds of Film Editing winners go on to win Best Picture. That trend could continue with Anora winning both categories as we’ve predicted. The Brutalist could pull an upset here thanks to how well the edit helps the three-and-a-half-hour drama fly by. Emilia Pérez‘s editing has also gained recognition, while Dune: Part Two hopes to follow Dune‘s win in the category. Given Conclave‘s expected strong performance overall, if it is going to steal Best Picture, a nomination or win here helps.

4

Best Costume Design

Winner: Wicked

Costume Design could be a spot for the Academy to recognize Wicked at the 2025 Oscars. The costuming done to bring the characters in Oz to life are bright and detailed, and the intricate designs should catch the eyes of voters. Dune: Part Two has plenty of great costumes worth celebrating, such as Florence Pugh’s Irulan outfits, so the added work done in the sequel could be celebrated. The period-accurate costumes for Nosferatu and Blitz fit the Academy’s tendency to highlight less flashy work, while Beetlejuice Beetlejuice could get an Oscar nomination for its imaginative costumers.