The 2025 Oscar Nominations: A Comprehensive Breakdown

The 2025 Oscar Nominations have been announced, showcasing a diverse array of films and performances that have captivated audiences and critics. Leading the pack is “Emilia Pérez” with a historic 13 nominations, followed closely by “The Brutalist” and “Wicked,” each securing 10 nods.

Best Picture: A Showcase of Excellence

The Best Picture category is always a highlight, and this year, it offers a blend of blockbusters and thought-provoking dramas. Here are the nominees:

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• I’m Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked

Emilia Pérez leads the pack with 13 nominations, making history as the most-nominated non-English-language film ever. Meanwhile, Dune: Part Two and The Brutalist continue to build momentum, showcasing the Academy’s love for both epic and intimate storytelling.

Acting Categories: A Year of Unforgettable Performances

Best Actor

• Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
• Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
• Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
• Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
• Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown has been widely celebrated, while Colman Domingo’s raw and heartfelt performance in Sing Sing has drawn significant acclaim.

Best Actress

• Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
• Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
• Mikey Madison (Anora)
• Demi Moore (The Substance)
• Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)

Karla Sofía Gascón makes history as the first openly transgender actress to be nominated in this category, an achievement that reflects the Academy’s growing inclusivity.

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 Supporting Actress

• Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
• Ariana Grande (Wicked)
• Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
• Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
• Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

Directing and Screenwriting: Masterful Storytelling

Best Directing

• Sean Baker (Anora)
• Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
• James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
• Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
• Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)

Best Adapted Screenplay

• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Emilia Pérez
• Nickel Boys
• Sing Sing

Best Original Screenplay

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Real Pain
• September 5
• The Substance

Technical Categories: A Feast for the Eyes and Ears

Best Cinematography

• The Brutalist
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Maria
• Nosferatu

Best Production Design

• The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Nosferatu
• Wicked

Best Editing

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Emilia Pérez
• Wicked

Best Costume Design

• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Gladiator II
• Nosferatu
• Wicked

Best Visual Effects

• Alien: Romulus
• Better Man
• Dune: Part Two
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Wicked

Music and Sound: Captivating the Audience

Best Original Score

• The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Emilia Pérez
• Wicked
• The Wild Robot

Best Original Song

• “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez)
• “The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight)
• “Like a Bird” (Sing Sing)
• “Mi Camino” (Emilia Pérez)
• “Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late)

Best Sound

• A Complete Unknown
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Wicked
• The Wild Robot

Special Categories: Animated and International Features

Best Animated Feature

• Flow
• Inside Out 2
• Memoir of a Snail
• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
• The Wild Robot

Best International Feature

• I’m Still Here
• The Girl With the Needle
• Emilia Pérez
• The Seed of a Sacred Fig
• Flow

Short Films and Documentaries

Best Documentary Feature

• Black Box Diaries
• No Other Land
• Porcelain War
• Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
• Sugarcane

Best Live Action Short

• A Lien
• Anuja
• I’m Not a Robot
• The Last Ranger
• 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

Also Read: 5 Worst Superhero Movies of 2024