The nominations for the 2025 Academy Awards have finally been revealed, celebrating the best of Hollywood’s cinematic achievements over the past year. Initially delayed twice due to fires in the Los Angeles area, the much-anticipated announcement was worth the wait, as several critically acclaimed films secured major recognition.
Best Picture Race: A Tight Competition
The Best Picture category features a diverse selection of films, ranging from powerful dramas to ambitious musicals. Anora, Sean Baker’s gripping story about a young stripper navigating unexpected life challenges, is among the frontrunners. The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, also landed a spot, with its intense narrative on art, exile, and survival. Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez, a genre-defying musical crime drama by Jacques Audiard, has cemented its status as a major contender. Other nominees include the highly anticipated Dune: Part Two, the star-studded Conclave, and the fantasy spectacle Wicked.
Acting Categories: Fresh Faces and Seasoned Veterans
This year’s acting categories highlight a blend of established stars and emerging talents. Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) earned a Best Actor nod for his portrayal of Bob Dylan, while Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice) secured a nomination for his role in the controversial political drama. Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) round out the category.
For Best Actress, the lineup is equally compelling. Cynthia Erivo’s transformative performance in Wicked earned her a nomination, alongside Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez) and Mikey Madison (Anora), whose breakout role has garnered widespread acclaim. Demi Moore’s turn in The Substance, a provocative body-horror thriller, and Fernanda Torres’ moving performance in I’m Still Here complete the list.
The supporting categories also showcase standout performances. Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) battle it out for Best Supporting Actor, while Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) and Ariana Grande (Wicked) compete for Best Supporting Actress.
Full List of 2025 Oscar Nominations
Best Picture
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
Best Actor
- Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
- Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Best Actress
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
- Mikey Madison – Anora
- Demi Moore – The Substance
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Best Supporting Actress
- Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
- Ariana Grande – Wicked
- Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
- Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
- Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
Best Supporting Actor
- Yura Borisov – Anora
- Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
- Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
- Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
- Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
Best Director
- Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
- Sean Baker – Anora
- Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
- Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
- James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
Best Adapted Screenplay
- A Complete Unknown – Jay Cocks and James Mangold
- Conclave – Peter Straughan
- Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
- Nickel Boys – RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
- Sing Sing – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best Original Screenplay
- Anora – Sean Baker
- The Brutalist – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
- A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg
- September 5 – Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
- The Substance – Coralie Fargeat
Best Original Song
- Never Too Late – Never Too Late
- El Mal – Emilia Pérez
- Mi Camino – Emilia Pérez
- Like A Bird – Sing Sing
- The Journey – The Six Triple Eight
Best Original Score
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
Best International Feature
- I’m Still Here – Brazil
- The Girl with the Needle – Denmark
- Emilia Pérez – France
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Germany
- Flow – Latvia
Best Animated Feature
- Flow
- Inside Out 2
- Memoir of a Snail
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
Best Documentary Feature
- Black Box Diaries
- No Other Land
- Porcelain War
- Soundtrack to a Coup d’État
- Sugarcane
Best Costume Design
- Wicked
- Nosferatu
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Gladiator II
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
- A Different Man
- Emilia Pérez
- Nosferatu
- The Substance
- Wicked
Best Production Design
- Wicked
- The Brutalist
- Dune: Part Two
- Nosferatu
- Conclave
Best Sound
- A Complete Unknown
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
Best Film Editing
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
Best Cinematography
- The Brutalist
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Maria
- Nosferatu
Best Visual Effects
- Alien: Romulus
- Better Man
- Dune: Part Two
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Wicked
Best Live Action Short
- Anuja
- I’m Not a Robot
- The Last Ranger
- A Lien
- The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Best Animated Short
- Beautiful Men
- In the Shadow of the Cypress
- Magic Candies
- Wander to Wonder
- Yuck!
Best Documentary Short
- Death by Numbers
- I Am Ready, Warden
- Incident
- Instruments of a Beating Heart
- The Only Girl in the Orchestra
