The 2025 Academy Awards are just around the corner, set to take place this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. As film enthusiasts gear up for Hollywood’s biggest night, we break down the top contenders, expected winners, and surprising underdogs across all categories.
Best Picture: A Tight Race Between ‘Anora’ and ‘Conclave’
Nominees: Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, Wicked.
Predicted Winner: Anora
Sean Baker’s drama Anora has dominated the awards circuit, picking up wins from the Directors Guild and Producers Guild. However, the papal thriller Conclave, which won Best Picture at the Screen Actors Guild and BAFTAs, could pull an upset.
Best Actor: Adrien Brody Expected to Win His Second Oscar
Nominees: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Predicted Winner: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
Brody’s portrayal of architect and Holocaust survivor Lazlo Toth is a career-defining role. Despite controversy over the use of A.I. in the film, Brody remains the favorite to take home his second Oscar.
Best Actress: Demi Moore vs. Mikey Madison
Nominees: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
Predicted Winner: Demi Moore (The Substance)
Best Actress is a dead heat between Madison and Moore. While Madison has received widespread praise, Moore’s decades-long career and emotional performance may give her the edge.
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin Leads the Pack
Nominees: Yura Borisov (Anora), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
Predicted Winner: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
Culkin has swept every major precursor award, making him the clear favorite. However, Guy Pearce’s villainous performance in The Brutalist remains a standout.
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña Set for Victory
Nominees: Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
Predicted Winner: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
Despite Emilia Pérez facing controversy, Saldaña has consistently won major awards leading up to the Oscars.
Best Director: Brady Corbet Leads, But Sean Baker Could Surprise
Nominees: Sean Baker (Anora), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
Predicted Winner: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
Though Sean Baker’s work in Anora is highly praised, Corbet’s ability to create The Brutalist on a $10 million budget is an impressive achievement that has won over voters.
Best Original Screenplay: ‘Anora’ Expected to Win
Nominees: Anora, The Brutalist, A Real Pain, September 5, The Substance
Predicted Winner: Anora
Sean Baker’s script blends multiple genres seamlessly, making it a strong contender for this award.
Best Adapted Screenplay: ‘Conclave’ Holds the Edge
Nominees: A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing
Predicted Winner: Conclave
The gripping adaptation of Robert Harris’s novel is expected to take home this award.
Best Animated Feature: ‘The Wild Robot’ Set to Win
Nominees: Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, The Wild Robot
Predicted Winner: The Wild Robot
Best International Feature: ‘Emilia Pérez’ Stands Strong
Nominees: I’m Still Here (Brazil), The Girl with the Needle (Denmark), Emilia Pérez (France), The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany), Flow (Latvia)
Predicted Winner: Emilia Pérez
Best Documentary Feature: ‘Porcelain War’ Leads the Pack
Nominees: Black Box Diaries, No Other Land, Porcelain War, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, Sugarcane
Predicted Winner: Porcelain War
Best Original Song: ‘El Mal’ from ‘Emilia Pérez’ Expected to Win
Nominees: El Mal (Emilia Pérez), The Journey (The Six Triple Eight), Like A Bird (Sing Sing), Mi Camino (Emilia Pérez), Never Too Late (Elton John: Never Too Late)
Predicted Winner: El Mal (Emilia Pérez)
Best Original Score: ‘The Brutalist’ Holds Strong
Nominees: The Brutalist, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Wicked, The Wild Robot
Predicted Winner: The Brutalist
Best Cinematography: ‘The Brutalist’ Likely to Win
Nominees: The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, Maria, Nosferatu
Predicted Winner: The Brutalist
Best Visual Effects: ‘Dune: Part Two’ a Clear Favorite
Nominees: Alien: Romulus, Better Man, Dune: Part Two, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Wicked
Predicted Winner: Dune: Part Two
With frontrunners like Anora, The Brutalist, and Conclave leading the race, the 2025 Oscars promise to be an exciting event. While some categories have clear winners, others remain unpredictable, keeping audiences eagerly awaiting the final results.
The Information is Collected from Boston and NYTimes.
