Here are the biggest surprises and snubs of the 2025 Oscar nominations.
Emilia Pérez has swept the 2025 Academy Award nominations, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked. Credit: Netflix
Surprise: International films dominate
He also addressed the ongoing controversy in Mexico, where some have criticised the film for its portrayal of the country and its drug trafficking problems, even before its theatrical release there.
It has earned a nomination for Best Animated Feature and Best International Film, marking Latvia’s first-ever Oscar nominations.
Karla Sofía Gascón (right) and Zoe Saldaña (left) have both been nominated for their performances in Emilia Pérez. Gascón is the first openly transgender person to ever be nominated for an acting Oscar. Credit: Netflix
Surprise: Karla Sofía Gascón becomes the first openly transgender acting nominee
The movie’s approach to LGBTIQ+ representation was dubbed “retrograde” by advocacy group GLAAD.
Guy Pearce is representing Australians this award season, earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Brutalist. Credit: Universal
Surprise: Australians sneak in
Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser also earned a nomination for cinematography for his work on Dune: Part Two.
Brazilian fans were shocked and elated to discover Walter Salles’ family drama, I’m Still Here, earned a nomination for Best Picture, the Oscars’ most important award. Credit: Sony Pictures Classics
Surprise: I’m Still Here joins the race
The combined nomination in the two top movie categories is unprecedented for Brazil. It is also the first time a Brazilian film in which actors only speak Portuguese is nominated for Best Picture.
Demi Moore and director Coralie Fargeat have been nominated for The Substance, a body horror tackling ageism in Hollywood. Credit: Mubi
Surprise: Multiple nominations for The Substance
“In those moments when we don’t think we’re smart enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or are basically just not enough, I had a woman say to me, ‘Just know you will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick’.”
Snub: A-listers miss out
Despite the success of The Substance, Margaret Qualley couldn’t get a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Sebastian Stan picked up a nomination for The Apprentice, a move that may ruffle feathers in the White House. Credit: StudioCanal
Surprise: Sebastian Stan makes a subtle entry with his critique of Trump
Jeremy Strong, who plays the youthful Trump’s mentor Roy Cohn, was also nominated for his supporting role alongside fellow Succession star Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain.
Snub: Challengers and Hard Truths completely shut out
The Black-led film Hard Truths was also overlooked, despite a widespread campaign for Marianne Jean-Baptiste in the Best Actress category.
Cynthia Erivo is the second Black woman to be nominated multiple times in the Best Actress category, following in the footsteps of Viola Davis. Credit: Universal
Surprise: Cynthia Erivo makes history
This year, Colman Domingo also became the first Black back-to-back Best Actor nominee since Denzel Washington, for his role in prison drama Sing Sing.
Snub: Denis Villeneuve snubbed for Best Director for Dune: Part Two
“Apparently, I am going to quit acting because Denis Villeneuve didn’t get nominated. This is just how this thing works. It makes no sense to me.”
The full Oscar 2025 nominations
Best Picture
AnoraThe BrutalistA Complete UnknownConclaveDune: Part TwoEmilia PérezI’m Still HereNickel BoysThe SubstanceWicked
Director
Anora — Sean BakerThe Brutalist — Brady CorbetA Complete Unknown — James MangoldEmilia Pérez — Jacques AudiardThe Substance — Coralie Fargeat
Leading Actor
Adrien Brody in The BrutalistTimothée Chalamet in A Complete UnknownColman Domingo in Sing SingRalph Fiennes in ConclaveSebastian Stan in The Apprentice
Leading Actress
Cynthia Erivo in WickedKarla Sofía Gascón in Emilia PérezMikey Madison in AnoraDemi Moore in The SubstanceFernanda Torres in I’m Still Here
Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov in AnoraKeiran Culkin in A Real PainEdward Norton in A Complete UnknownGuy Pearce in The BrutalistJeremy Strong in The Apprentice
Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro in A Complete UnknownAriana Grande in WickedFelicity Jones in The BrutalistIsabella Rossellini in ConclaveZoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez
Animated Feature Film
FlowInside Out 2Memoir of a SnailWallace & Gromit: Vengence Most FowlThe Wild Robot
Cinematography
The Brutalist — Lol CrawleyDune: Part Two — Greig FraserEmilia Pérez — Paul GuilhaumeMaria — Ed LachmanNosferatu — Jarin Blaschke
Costume design
A Complete Unknown — Arianne PhillipsConclave — Lisy ChristlGladiator II — Janty Yates and Dave CrossmanNosferatu — Linda MuirWicked — Paul Tazewell
Documentary feature film
Black Box DiariesNo Other LandPorcelain WarSoundtrack to a Coup d’EtatSugarcane
Documentary short film
Death by NumbersI Am Ready, WardenIncidentInstruments of a Beating HeartThe Only Girl in the Orchestra
Film editing
Anora — Sean BakerThe Brutalist — David JancsoConclave — Nick EmersonEmilia Pérez — Juliette WelflingWicked — Myron Kerstein
International feature film
Brazil: I’m Still HereDenmark: The Girl with the NeedleFrance: Emilia PérezGermany: The Seed of the Sacred FigLatvia: Flow
Makeup and hairstyling
A Different Man — Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal JuradoEmilia Pérez — Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier and Jean-Christophe SpadacciniNosferatu — David White, Traci Loader and Suzanne Stokes-MuntonThe Substance — Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne ScarselliWicked — Frances Hannon, Laura Blount and Sarah Nuth
Music (original score)
The Brutalist — Daniel BlumbergConclave — Volker BertelmannEmilia Pérez — Clément Ducol and CamilleWicked — John Powell and Stephen SchwartzThe Wild Robot — Kris Bowers
Music (original song)
El Mal from Emilia Pérez; Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; Lyric by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques AudiardThe Journey from The Six Triple Eight; Music and Lyric by Diane WarrenLike A Bird from Sing Sing; Music and Lyric by Abraham Alexander and Adrian QuesadaMi Camino from Emilia Pérez; Music and Lyric by Camille and Clément DucolNever Too Late from Elton John: Never Too Late; Music and Lyric by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin
Production design
The Brutalist — Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia CucciaConclave — Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia SleiterDune: Part Two — Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane VieauNosferatu — Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice BrentnerováWicked — Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
Short film (animated)
Beautiful MenIn the Shadow of the CypressMagic CandlesWander to WonderYuck!
Short film (live action)
A LienAnujaI’m Not a RobotThe Last RangerThe Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Sound
A Complete Unknown — Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David GiammarcoDune: Part Two — Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug HemphillEmilia Pérez — Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz and Niels BarlettaWicked — Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson and John MarquisThe Wild Robot — Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo and Leff Lefferts
Visual effects
Alien: Romulus — Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane MahanBetter Man — Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft and Peter StubbsDune: Part Two — Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd NefzerKingdom of the Planet of the Apes — Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story and Rodney BurkeWicked — Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk and Paul Corbould
Adapted screenplay
A Complete Unknown — Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay CocksConclave — Screenplay by Peter StraughanEmilia Pérez — Screenplay by Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas LivecchiNickel Boys — Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn BarnesSing Sing — Screenplay by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield
Original screenplay
Anora — Written by Sean BakerThe Brutalist — Written by Brady Corbet, Mona FastvoldA Real Pain — Written by Jesse EisenbergSeptember 5 — Written by Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex DavidThe Substance — Written by Coralie Fargeat
— With additional reporting from AFP.
