The red carpet has been rolled out and the champagne is on ice, as Hollywood gets set to crown this year’s best film, with joint-favourites Anora and Conclave heading for a dramatic showdown for Best Picture.
A turbulent awards season—shaken by Los Angeles wildfires and a racism scandal—reaches its climax today as the 97th Academy Awards get underway, hosted by Conan O’Brien. As stars put the final touches on their gowns and tuxedos, the race for Hollywood’s biggest honour remains too close to call.
Taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, this year’s Oscars will conclude one of the most unpredictable races in recent memory. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. EST, airing live on ABC and streaming on Hulu. O’Brien, making his Oscars hosting debut, will also lead the official red carpet preshow from 6:30 p.m. on ABC and Hulu, while E!’s unofficial coverage kicks off at 4 p.m. EST. Viewers in India can tune in on Monday, March 3, 2025, from 5:30 AM IST on JioHotstar.
Leading the nominations is Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, with 13 nods. However, its prospects have taken a significant hit following backlash over resurfaced offensive tweets by its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans actor nominated for Best Actress.
The frontrunner for Best Picture is Sean Baker’s Anora, a drama about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Its stiffest competition comes from Conclave, a papal thriller starring Ralph Fiennes. Also vying for the top prize are The Brutalist and the musical blockbuster Wicked, both with 10 nominations. In the technical categories, Wicked and Dune: Part Two are expected to split several early awards.
Adrien Brody is the favourite for Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, though Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) is a strong challenger. Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet remains a serious contender for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. If Chalamet wins, he would become the youngest Best Actor recipient in history, breaking Brody’s record from 2003 for The Pianist.
The Best Actress race is equally competitive. Mikey Madison (Anora) could become one of the youngest winners at 25, but she faces stiff competition from Demi Moore, who has enjoyed a career resurgence thanks to her role in the body horror film The Substance. If the vote splits, Brazil’s Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), portraying a family torn apart by her country’s military dictatorship, could pull off an upset.
In the supporting categories, Zoe Saldana (Emilia Pérez) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) are considered overwhelming favourites. However, both lead acting races remain wide open.
The ceremony is expected to be emotionally charged, as it will honour the firefighters who battled the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that claimed at least 29 lives in January.
With hopes of continuing last year’s ratings boost—bolstered by a memorable Barbie-themed musical performance—producers have enlisted Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for a special performance. Last year’s acting winners, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, will also be part of the show. While the Academy initially planned to bring back the “Fab Five” format—where five past winners present the acting awards—those plans have reportedly been scrapped.
