The 97th Academy Awards are set to captivate audiences around the world on March 2, 2025, showcasing the brightest talents and the most acclaimed films of the past year. This year is particularly noteworthy with intense competition and some fascinating records on the line, making Oscar predictions as thrilling as ever.
This year, the musical categories are making history as both Wicked: A Tale of the West and Emilia Perez vie for the Best Film title, marking the first time two musicals have been nominated since 1969. Such developments underline the resurgence of musicals as mainstream contenders, significantly attributed to the expanded field of nominees now allowing ten slots for the Best Film award.
Leading the nominations with thirteen is Emilia Perez, which competes for prominent awards including Best Film and Best Director. Behind it are Brutalist and Wicked: A Tale of the West, each with ten nominations, and Conclave with eight, followed closely by Anora, which secured six nominations.
Among the films competing for Best Film this year are Anora, Brutalist, Bob Dylan: The Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, I Am Still Here, Boys from Nickel, Substance, and Wicked: A Tale of the West.
On the directing front, Anora’s Sean Baker faces off against Brady Corbet (Brutalist), James Mangold (Bob Dylan: The Unknown), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Perez), and Coralie Fargeat (Substance).
For the Best Actor category, the spotlight is on Adrian Brody for his role in Brutalist, with strong challengers like Timothée Chalamet (Bob Dylan: The Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice: The Rise of Trump).
The Best Actress nominations include Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: A Tale of the West), Carla Gascón (Emilia Perez), Mikey Madison (Anora), and Carey Mulligan (Maestro), along with Demi Moore (Substance) and Fernanda Torres (I Am Still Here).
One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s Oscars is the chance for Yuri Borisov, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Anora, to potentially win. He is joined by Kieran Culkin (Real Pain), Edward Norton (Bob Dylan: The Unknown), Guy Pearce (Brutalist), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice: The Rise of Trump).
Also noteworthy is the Best Animated Feature category, where films such as Flow, Snail Memoirs, Puzzle 2, Wallace and Gromit: The Wildest Revenge, and The Wild Robot are up for consideration. The Best International Feature category boasts contenders like I Am Still Here from Brazil, The Girl with the Needle from Denmark, Emilia Perez from France, Seed of the Sacred Fig from Germany, and Flow from Latvia.
The Oscars will be presented at the Dolby Theatre, with famed comedian Conan O’Brien hosting this year’s ceremony. A total of ten primary awards and thirteen secondary awards will be announced, alongside three special honors recognizing outstanding contribution to cinema.
The buzz surrounding this year’s Oscars is amplified by several unique records potentially within reach. Brody could become the first actor to win the Best Actor award following his initial two nominations; this possibility is heightened by his competition, the young and talented Chalamet, who could dethrone Brody as the youngest winner if he prevails. The age difference between them is merely ten months.
One fascinating contender is Substance, recognized as the first body-horror film to be nominated for Best Film and the seventh horror film to appear in this prestigious category. With its gripping narrative, it is also likely to excel in the Best Makeup and Hairstyling category, which often aligns with the winners of the acting categories.
Adding to the intrigue is the underdog, Flow, which has already surprised audiences by winning the Golden Globe over established favorites like Puzzle 2 and The Wild Robot. The film is being labeled as the dark horse for the Best Animated Feature award.
This year marks the first time since 1977 all actresses nominated for Best Actress have appeared in films competing for Best Film, showcasing the Academy’s shifting focus toward greater female representation within narrative-driven cinema. This trend highlights the significant appreciation of stories with female leads.
Notably, Diane Warren received her 16th nomination for Best Original Song with The Journey from Battalion 6888. Despite her record number of nominations, she has never won, and her pursuit of this elusive accolade fuels interest as she humorously commented on social media about the longing for her Oscar victory.
The ceremony promises to deliver another year of memorable moments and surprises, including the anticipation surrounding the nominees, the honored accolades, and the potential for record-breaking achievements. Excitement grows as Hollywood prepares to celebrate the achievements of the past year, and viewers around the globe eagerly await the victor announcements and cherished moments of cinematic excellence.