The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards on Thursday, January 23, 2025. While the annual announcement is typically a celebration of the film industry’s finest achievements, this year’s ceremony arrives under the shadow of tragedy.
Wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have claimed at least 28 lives, left countless others displaced, and caused significant property damage. The natural disaster not only delayed the voting process for the nominations but also forced a reflection on the fragility of the environment and the resilience of those affected.
The Academy has announced that the ceremony, scheduled for March 2 at the Dolby Theatre, will include a segment dedicated to honoring the firefighters and first responders who battled the catastrophic wildfires.
Despite the somber context, the nominations themselves offer a glimpse into an exciting year for cinema, with a diverse range of films and performances earning recognition. Leading the pack is Emilia Pérez, a Spanish-language, French-produced musical about a drug kingpin who undergoes gender-affirming surgery to evade the law.
The groundbreaking film received 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress, making it the most-nominated non-English-language film in Academy history. It narrowly missed tying the all-time record of 14 nominations held by La La Land (2016), Titanic (1997), and All About Eve (1950).
Closely trailing Emilia Pérez are The Brutalist, a historical drama exploring the immigrant experience, and Wicked, the long-anticipated screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, both securing 10 nominations each.
Other standout films include Conclave, a gripping political thriller about the election of a new pope, and A Complete Unknown, a biographical drama about Bob Dylan’s early years, each earning eight nominations. Among the Best Picture contenders are a mix of major studio productions and independent films, highlighting the Academy’s efforts to celebrate cinematic diversity.
Key Highlights and Historical Moments
This year’s nominations reflect significant milestones, both in terms of representation and storytelling. Karla Sofía Gascón, who stars in Emilia Pérez, became the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Oscar, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the awards. In the Best Actress category, she joins Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Demi Moore (The Substance), Mikey Madison (Anora), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here). Moore’s nomination is particularly noteworthy, signaling a career resurgence for the actor, who was a major Hollywood star in the 1990s.
Timothée Chalamet, celebrated for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, earned a Best Actor nomination. His performance has been lauded for its depth and transformative quality. Chalamet faces stiff competition from Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice). Notably, Stan’s nomination comes despite the distribution challenges faced by The Apprentice, a controversial biopic about Donald Trump.
In the Best Supporting Actress category, Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) secured her nomination after showcasing her versatility in a role that required both acting and musical performance. She is joined by Ariana Grande (Wicked), Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave). Rossellini’s nomination adds a layer of historical significance, as her mother, Ingrid Bergman, won an Oscar in the same category in 1974.
The Best Supporting Actor race features Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), who has emerged as the frontrunner after earning critical acclaim for his emotionally layered performance. He competes against Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Yura Borisov (Anora), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice).
Directorial Achievements
This year’s Best Director nominees reflect a blend of seasoned auteurs and fresh voices in cinema. Brady Corbet’s labor of love, The Brutalist, finally came to fruition after nearly a decade of production challenges, earning him a nomination.
French filmmakers Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) also received nods, alongside American directors Sean Baker (Anora) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown). Each nominee contributed to their films in multiple capacities, whether as screenwriters, producers, or editors, underscoring their multifaceted contributions to the art of filmmaking.
The success of Emilia Pérez, released by Netflix, spotlights the continued impact of streaming platforms on the film industry. With 16 nominations overall, Netflix remains a dominant force in awards season. Universal Pictures, bolstered by its releases Wicked and Conclave, leads the studio pack with 25 nominations. Meanwhile, A24 continues its tradition of championing bold, unconventional cinema, with 14 nominations largely driven by The Brutalist.
The rise of streaming platforms has changed how audiences engage with films, but the industry remains in recovery from challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the strikes that disrupted production schedules in 2023. The domestic box office, while improving, still lags behind pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, ticket sales totaled $8.7 billion, significantly lower than the $11.3 billion recorded in 2019. This year’s Oscars serve as a reminder of the industry’s resilience amid ongoing uncertainties.
Here they are. All the 2025 #Oscars nominees are here! 23 Categories.??️? #Oscars2025 pic.twitter.com/W1ccqJnhYi
— Cinematico ?️?? (@cinematico_com) January 23, 2025
Comedian and former late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien will host the 97th Academy Awards. Known for his sharp wit and unique comedic style, O’Brien will helm the ceremony for the first time. The show will be broadcast live on ABC and, for the first time, streamed simultaneously on Hulu, reflecting the changing habits of audiences.
Major films that got 0 #Oscars nominations:
• Blitz
• Furiosa
• Babygirl
• Juror #2
• Longlegs
• Civil War
• Challengers
• Madame Web
• We Live In Time
• The Piano Lesson
• Transformers One
• I Saw The TV GlowSee the full nominees list: https://t.co/OKiP9PBUtq pic.twitter.com/Ep3kq4NwsQ
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 23, 2025
As the industry continues to grapple with both natural disasters and corporate upheaval, this year’s Oscars are likely to strike a balance between celebration and reflection. The inclusion of a segment honoring those impacted by the wildfires ensures that the night will not only spotlight artistic achievement but also acknowledge the challenges faced by the broader community.
‘DUNE: PART 2’ only got 5 #Oscars nominations.
The first film got 10 nominations.
See the full nominees list: https://t.co/OKiP9PBUtq pic.twitter.com/Ou9goTN5NI
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 23, 2025
