The oscars 2025 nominations are officially here, and the 97th Academy Awards are shaping up to be one of the most exciting ceremonies in recent memory. With groundbreaking films, powerhouse performances, and historic firsts dominating this year’s race, movie lovers everywhere are preparing for a star-studded night at the Dolby Theatre. Whether you’re tracking your favorite contenders or simply want to catch up on the buzz, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s nominees, how the ceremony came together, and where you can watch the action unfold.
The Road to the 97th Academy Awards
Every year, the Oscars deliver a unique blend of glamour, recognition, and celebration , but the 2025 Academy Awards nominees carry an extra layer of meaning. After a difficult period for Los Angeles, including devastating Southern California wildfires that claimed at least 29 lives and displaced thousands, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made a conscious decision to dedicate this year’s broadcast to honoring the resilience of the city.
A Ceremony Honoring Resilience
In a letter sent to Academy members on January 22, organizers announced that the ceremony would pay tribute to Los Angeles and its enduring spirit. Originally scheduled for January 17, the nominations announcement was first delayed to January 19 due to the wildfires, then postponed a second time to January 23. Comedian Conan O’Brien takes the stage as host, bringing his signature wit to a night that promises both entertainment and emotional depth.
How and When to Watch
The 97th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 2, beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. For the first time ever, the ceremony will also stream live on Hulu, making it easier than ever for cord-cutters to tune in. Live red carpet coverage kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars,” available on ABC, OnTheRedCarpet.com, and the On the Red Carpet Facebook and YouTube pages.
The nominations themselves were announced on January 23 by Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, and broadcast globally across Oscar.com, Oscars.org, “Good Morning America,” ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu.
The Top Contenders of Oscars 2025 Nominations
This year’s Oscar nominations showcase an eclectic mix of established auteurs and fresh voices. Several films emerged as clear frontrunners, dominating both headline categories and technical races.
Emilia Pérez Leads the Pack
Jacques Audiard’s audacious musical crime drama Emilia Pérez stunned industry watchers by earning a leading 13 nominations, the highest tally of any film this year. The genre-defying movie, which blends musical spectacle with a powerful redemption narrative, earned recognition across major categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón, and Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña.
Strong Showings Across Categories
Hot on Emilia Pérez’s heels, The Brutalist and Wicked each secured 10 nominations, demonstrating the Academy’s appreciation for ambitious filmmaking and beloved adaptations. Meanwhile, Bob Dylan’s biopic A Complete Unknown and the papal thriller Conclave earned eight nods apiece, rounding out a remarkably competitive field. The breadth of recognition across these films highlights the diversity of storytelling that defined cinema in 2024.
The Complete List of 2025 Oscar Nominations by Category
Below is the comprehensive rundown of every nominee across all 23 categories for the 97th Academy Awards.
Best Picture
- Anora , Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, Producers
- The Brutalist , Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim, and Brady Corbet, Producers
- A Complete Unknown , Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman, Producers
- Conclave , Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman, Producers
- Dune: Part Two , Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve, Producers
- Emilia Pérez , Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard, Producers
- I’m Still Here , Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira, Producers
- Nickel Boys , Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Joslyn Barnes, Producers
- The Substance , Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner, Producers
- Wicked , Marc Platt, Producer
Best Director
- Sean Baker , Anora
- Brady Corbet , The Brutalist
- James Mangold , A Complete Unknown
- Jacques Audiard , Emilia Pérez
- Coralie Fargeat , The Substance
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Adrien Brody , The Brutalist
- Timothée Chalamet , A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo , Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes , Conclave
- Sebastian Stan , The Apprentice
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Cynthia Erivo , Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón , Emilia Pérez
- Mikey Madison , Anora
- Demi Moore , The Substance
- Fernanda Torres , I’m Still Here
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Yura Borisov , Anora
- Kieran Culkin , A Real Pain
- Edward Norton , A Complete Unknown
- Guy Pearce , The Brutalist
- Jeremy Strong , The Apprentice
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Monica Barbaro , A Complete Unknown
- Ariana Grande , Wicked
- Felicity Jones , The Brutalist
- Isabella Rossellini , Conclave
- Zoe Saldaña , Emilia Pérez
Writing Categories
Original Screenplay:
- Anora , Sean Baker
- The Brutalist , Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
- A Real Pain , Jesse Eisenberg
- September 5 , Moritz Binder and Tim Fehlbaum, co-written by Alex David
- The Substance , Coralie Fargeat
Adapted Screenplay:
- A Complete Unknown , James Mangold and Jay Cocks
- Conclave , Peter Straughan
- Emilia Pérez , Jacques Audiard, in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Lea Mysius, and Nicolas Livecchi
- Nickel Boys , RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
- Sing Sing , Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley; story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, and John “Divine G” Whitfield
Music Categories
Original Score:
- The Brutalist , Daniel Blumberg
- Conclave , Volker Bertelmann
- Emilia Pérez , Clément Ducol and Camille
- Wicked , John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
- The Wild Robot , Kris Bowers
Original Song:
- “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez
- “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight
- “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing
- “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez
- “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late
Animated Feature Film
- Flow
- Inside Out 2
- Memoir of a Snail
- Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
International Feature Film
- I’m Still Here , Brazil
- The Girl with the Needle , Denmark
- Emilia Pérez , France
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig , Germany
- Flow , Latvia
Documentary Feature Film
- Black Box Diaries
- No Other Land
- Porcelain War
- Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
- Sugarcane
Cinematography
- The Brutalist , Lol Crawley
- Dune: Part Two , Greig Fraser
- Emilia Pérez , Paul Guilhaume
- Maria , Ed Lachman
- Nosferatu , Jarin Blaschke
Film Editing
- Anora , Sean Baker
- The Brutalist , Dávid Jancsó
- Conclave , Nick Emerson
- Emilia Pérez , Juliette Welfling
- Wicked , Myron Kerstein
Production Design
- The Brutalist , Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia
- Conclave , Suzie Davies, Cynthia Sleiter
- Dune: Part Two , Patrice Vermette, Shane Vieau
- Wicked , Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales
Costume Design
- A Complete Unknown , Arianne Phillips
- Conclave , Lisy Cristl
- Gladiator II , Janty Yates and David Crossman
- Nosferatu , Linda Muir
- Wicked , Paul Tazewell
Makeup and Hairstyling
- A Different Man , Mike Marino, David Presto, Crystal Jurado
- Nosferatu , David White, Traci Loader, Suzanne Stokes-Munton
- The Substance , Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, Marilyne Scarselli
- Wicked , Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, Sarah Nuth
Sound
- A Complete Unknown
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
Visual Effects
Live Action Short Film
- A Lien
- Anuja
- I’m Not a Robot
- The Last Ranger
Animated Short Film
- Beautiful Men
- In The Shadow of the Cypress
- Magic Candies
- Wander to Wonder
- Yuck!
Documentary Short
- Death by Numbers
- I Am Ready, Warden
- Incident
- Instruments of a Beating Heart
- The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Final Thoughts on Oscars 2025 Nominations
The oscars 2025 nominations reflect a transformative moment in cinema, honoring bold storytelling, international voices, and a stunning range of creative achievements. From Emilia Pérez‘s record-breaking haul to the historic nominations for Fernanda Torres and the inclusion of Latvian animation Flow, this year’s contenders prove that the Academy continues to embrace global, genre-bending work. With Conan O’Brien at the helm, a heartfelt tribute to Los Angeles, and a streaming option on Hulu, the March 2 broadcast promises to be more accessible and meaningful than ever. As the countdown to Oscar Sunday continues, one thing is certain: this is a celebration of cinema that no film fan will want to miss.