2025 Oscars Nominations: The Biggest Surprises, Snubs, and Contenders
The 97th Academy Awards are on the horizon, and after a tumultuous lead-up—including wildfires in Los Angeles that impacted the entire region—the nominations are finally in. Below, we break down this year’s headline-making nods, surprising omissions, and everything else you need to know about the race for Hollywood’s biggest prize.
Pro Tip: Over at What’s After the Movie, you can find dedicated pages for each of the nominated movies—complete with movie summaries, quizzes, links to other movie-information providers like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, and more. Don’t forget to check out our blog for additional film reviews and quizzes!
1. The Top Contenders
The nominees for Best Picture reveal a heated race:
| Movie | Notable for |
|---|---|
| Emilia Pérez | Led nominations with 13 total, a new high for a non-English language musical. Stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, & Selena Gomez. |
| The Brutalist | Tied with Wicked at 10 total nominations. Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones star, with controversy over AI usage. |
| Wicked | Also 10 nods, including first-time Oscar recognition for Ariana Grande and another nod for Cynthia Erivo, who is nearing EGOT status. |
| Anora | Made waves with 6 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Directed by Sean Baker. |
| A Complete Unknown | 8 nods, featuring Timothée Chalamet (as Bob Dylan) and Monica Barbaro (Joan Baez), directed by James Mangold. |
| Conclave | 8 nominations total. Starring Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini; script by Peter Straughan. |
| Dune: Part Two | A blockbuster sequel with 5 nominations, including Best Picture. Notably snubbed in several craft categories. |
| Nickel Boys | Scored a surprise Best Picture nod, plus Best Adapted Screenplay, though missed out on cinematography. |
| I’m Still Here | A Brazilian film that scored an unexpected Best Picture nod, as well as Best International Feature. |
| The Substance | A breakthrough horror nomination, earning Coralie Fargeat five nods, including Best Director and Best Actress for Demi Moore. |
2. Musicals in the Spotlight
Emilia Pérez
- Nominations: 13 (including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song)
- Controversies: Criticism over the representation of transgender experiences and Selena Gomez’s Spanish dialogue.
- Why It Matters: Karla Sofía Gascón’s Best Actress nod marks the first time an openly trans actress has been nominated for an Oscar. Plus, it’s among the first musicals in years to snag both a Best Picture nod and multiple major acting nominations.
Wicked
- Nominations: 10 (including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song)
- Fan Favorites: Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Glinda). Both recognized for their powerhouse performances.
- Fun Fact: The last time two musicals (Emilia Pérez and Wicked) were nominated for Best Picture in the same year was back in 1968 (Oliver! and Funny Girl).
3. Horror Finds Its Footing
The Substance stands out as a rare horror nomination for Best Picture—a feat not often seen since The Exorcist made waves over fifty years ago. Director Coralie Fargeat and lead actress Demi Moore are being hailed for blending body horror, sharp social commentary, and satire about Hollywood’s treatment of aging female actors.
Still, some fans are disappointed that other horror flicks like Nosferatu or Smile 2—with Naomi Scott’s widely praised performance—didn’t earn more than technical nods or a mention in the “snubs” list.
4. Snubs, Shocks, and Surprises
-
Denis Villeneuve for Best Director
Despite Dune: Part Two securing a Best Picture nod, Villeneuve was left off the director slate. -
Jon M. Chu (Wicked) Overlooked
Another high-profile musical adaptation that landed Best Picture but not a directing nod. -
Daniel Craig (Queer)
Critics championed his against-type performance, but it was considered “too challenging” for mainstream awards. -
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino’s tennis love-triangle film starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor was a Golden Globe darling early in the year but entirely ignored by Oscar voters. -
Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez)
Her supporting turn was overshadowed by castmate Zoe Saldaña, who managed a nomination. Selena’s performance had early buzz but was ultimately passed over. -
Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
Despite taking critics’ group honors, her complex character didn’t resonate enough with the Academy’s voters for a Best Actress spot.
5. The Year of the “First-Time” Nominees
A striking 13 first-time acting nominees were recognized:
- Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here) in Best Actress
- Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice) for Best Actor
- Demi Moore (The Substance) in a first-ever horror nod
- Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) in Supporting Actress
- Ariana Grande (Wicked) in Supporting Actress
- Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) in Supporting Actress
…and more across various categories. The influx of fresh faces suggests the Academy is continuing its slow shift toward newer, more diverse talents.
6. Controversies, Conversations, and Criticisms
-
AI in The Brutalist
Brady Corbet staunchly defended the film’s usage of AI for dialect coaching, sparking debate on technology’s place in film. -
Trans Representation
The enormous success of Emilia Pérez revitalized discussions about transgender narratives in mainstream cinema. Critics and fans remain divided about its portrayal, but it still broke ground with Karla Sofía Gascón’s nomination. -
Horror’s Place at the Oscars
With The Substance making the cut, and Nosferatu relegated mostly to technical categories, horror fans are simultaneously celebrating and lamenting. Some argue more genre films deserved major recognition. -
Underrepresentation of Early Releases
Dune: Part Two and Challengers—both released earlier in 2024—seem to have fallen victim to “recency bias,” overshadowed by year-end contenders like Emilia Pérez.
7. Conan O’Brien Hosting
For the first time, Conan O’Brien will take center stage at the Dolby Theatre. Known for his razor-sharp wit and late-night talk show prowess, Conan follows in the footsteps of comedic hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Chris Rock. The Academy hopes his blend of humor and empathy can bring levity in the wake of the Los Angeles fires that threatened to upend the entire awards season.
8. When and How to Watch
- Date: March 2
- Location: Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood
- Telecast: Airing live on ABC, with a newly adjusted start time at 7 p.m. ET (red carpet at 6:30 p.m. ET).
Can’t catch it on cable? Platforms like Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV also carry the show. International viewers can tune in across 200+ territories.
9. What’s Next?
As the 2025 Oscars race continues to heat up, stay tuned for more updates and in-depth analysis on the What’s After the Movie blog. Wondering which nominated films to watch first? Head to each movie’s dedicated page on What’s After the Movie—you’ll find:
- Movie summaries
- Behind-the-scenes trivia
- Fun quizzes
- Links to Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Metacritic, and more
Will Emilia Pérez dominate all 13 of its categories? Could The Substance become the first horror film to win Best Picture since The Silence of the Lambs? And is this the year “snubbed” directors like Denis Villeneuve see redemption in craft categories? We’ll find out when the envelopes are opened on March 2.
Final Thoughts: 2025 Oscars Nominations
Despite some snubs (*looking at you, Challengers) and controversies (AI in The Brutalist, representation in Emilia Pérez), the 2025 Oscars look to be one of the most diverse and competitive in years. Don’t forget to explore all the behind-the-scenes details at What’s After the Movie.
