The Race Begins: 2025 Oscar Nominations Revealed, "Emilia Pérez" Leads the Pack

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards, kicking off the final sprint to Hollywood's biggest night. In a virtual announcement by actors Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang, a diverse array of films and talent were recognized for their achievements in cinema from 2024. Leading the nominations with an impressive 13 nods is Jacques Audiard's musical crime drama EMILIA PEREZ, making history as the most nominated non-English language film in Oscar history.

THE BRUTALIST and WICKED also garnered significant attention, each receiving 10 nominations, setting the stage for a competitive awards season. The ceremony itself is slated for Sunday, March 2, 2025, airing live on ABC and, for the first time, streaming live on Hulu.

Here's a breakdown of some of the key nominations:

Best Picture

The contenders for the coveted Best Picture Oscar represent a wide range of genres and storytelling.

• Anora: Sean Baker's critically acclaimed film.

• The Brutalist: Brady Corbet's ambitious drama.

• A Complete Unknown: James Mangold's highly anticipated biopic.

• Conclave: A compelling drama that has resonated with voters.

• Dune: Part Two: Denis Villeneuve's epic sci-fi sequel.

• Emilia Pérez: Jacques Audiard's unique musical crime drama.

• I'm Still Here: A powerful and poignant narrative.

• Nickel Boys: A significant cinematic adaptation.

• The Substance: Coralie Fargeat's genre-bending film.

• Wicked: Jon M. Chu's dazzling musical adaptation.

Best Director

The directors recognized for their vision and craftsmanship include:

• Sean Baker for "Anora"

• Brady Corbet for "The Brutalist"

• James Mangold for "A Complete Unknown"

• Jacques Audiard for "Emilia Pérez"

• Coralie Fargeat for "The Substance"

Best Actor

The nominees for Best Actor showcase powerful performances across a spectrum of characters:

• Adrien Brody for his role in "The Brutalist"

• Timothée Chalamet for his portrayal in "A Complete Unknown"

• Colman Domingo for his work in "Sing Sing"

• Ralph Fiennes for his compelling performance in "Conclave"

• Sebastian Stan for his transformative role in "The Apprentice"

Best Actress

The Best Actress category features a competitive lineup of compelling performances:

• Cynthia Erivo for her vibrant performance in "Wicked"

• Karla Sofía Gascón for her groundbreaking role in "Emilia Pérez," making her the first openly trans actress nominated in an acting category.

• Mikey Madison for her memorable turn in "Anora"

• Demi Moore for her impactful work in "The Substance"

• Fernanda Torres for her performance in "I'm Still Here"

Best Supporting Actor

This category highlights standout supporting performances that elevated their respective films:

• Yura Borisov for his role in "Anora"

• Kieran Culkin for his work in "A Real Pain"

• Edward Norton for his performance in "A Complete Unknown"

• Guy Pearce for his role in "The Brutalist"

• Jeremy Strong for his work in "The Apprentice"

Best Supporting Actress

The nominees for Best Supporting Actress demonstrate strong contributions to their ensembles:

• Monica Barbaro for her role in "A Complete Unknown"

• Ariana Grande for her performance in "Wicked"

• Felicity Jones for her work in "The Brutalist"

• Isabella Rossellini for her memorable performance in "Conclave"

• Zoe Saldaña for her role in "Emilia Pérez"

Other Key Categories:

• Best Original Screenplay: Nominees include "Anora" (Sean Baker), "The Brutalist" (Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold), "A Real Pain" (Jesse Eisenberg), "September 5" (Tim Fehlbaum & Moritz Binder), and "The Substance" (Coralie Fargeat).

  
  

• Best Adapted Screenplay: This category features "A Complete Unknown" (Jay Cocks & James Mangold), "Conclave" (Peter Straughan), "Emilia Pérez" (Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain & Nicolas Livecchi), "Nickel Boys" (RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes), and "Sing Sing" (Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin & John "Divine G" Whitfield).

  
  

• Best International Feature Film: Strong contenders include "I'm Still Here" (Brazil), "The Girl with the Needle" (Denmark), "Emilia Pérez" (France), "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" (Germany), and "Flow" (Latvia).

  
  

• Best Animated Feature Film: The nominees are "Flow" (Janus Films/Sideshow), "Inside Out 2" (Disney/Pixar), "Memoir of a Snail" (IFC Films), "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl" (Aardman/Netflix), and "The Wild Robot" (Dreamworks/Universal).

  
  

The full list of nominees across all 23 categories can be found on the Academy's official website. As the film industry now shifts its focus to final campaigns and predictions, the 97th Academy Awards promise to be a night celebrating the best of cinematic achievements from the past year.