The 97th Academy Awards, set to take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, promises an exciting and unpredictable evening as there is no clear front-runner this year. Following the controversy surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón, the competition is wide open and numerous films have a chance at winning.
The annual Oscars awards ceremony will be streamed live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, featuring notable predictions for key categories. The competition for Best Picture includes several strong contenders:
Best Picture
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
Early indications suggest Anora may lead, given its recent accolades, but films like The Brutalist and Conclave could also make significant impacts.
Best Actress
- Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
- Karla Sofia Gascon, Emilia Pérez
- Mikey Madison, Anora
- Demi Moore, The Substance
- Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Demi Moore is emerging as a strong candidate due to her captivating performance and compelling narrative leading to the Oscars.
Best Actor
- Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
- Timothee Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
- Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Adrien Brody and Timothée Chalamet are leading the pack, but Brody is anticipated to take home the award this year.
Best Supporting Actress
- Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
- Ariana Grande, Wicked
- Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
- Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
- Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Zoe Saldaña is expected to emerge victorious despite recent controversies surrounding Emilia Pérez.
Best Supporting Actor
- Yura Borisov, Anora
- Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
- Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
- Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
- Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Kieran Culkin is anticipated to clinch this award thanks to a standout performance.
Best Director
- Sean Baker, Anora
- Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
- James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
- Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
- Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
The competition is tight with Brady Corbet and Sean Baker, but Corbet’s ambitious work may give him the edge.
Best Original Screenplay
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Real Pain
- September 5
- The Substance
A Real Pain appears to have a strong shot at winning this category based on its compelling dialogue.
Best Adapted Screenplay
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Nickel Boys
- Sing Sing
Conclave is predicted to take this award as it stands out for its writing.
Best Cinematography
- The Brutalist
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Maria
- Nosferatu
The Brutalist seems best positioned to win Best Cinematography, while Dune: Part Two has its own strengths in visual effects.
Best Original Score
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
The Brutalist is anticipated to win Best Original Score given its strong musical composition.
Best Original Song
- “El Mal,” Emilia Pérez
- “Mi Camino,” Emilia Pérez
- “The Journey,” The Six Triple Eight
- “Like a Bird,” Sing Sing
- “Never Too Late,” Elton John: Never Too Late
Despite the mixed reviews, “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez remains a frontrunner for the award.
Best Editing
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
Anora is favored to take home the editing award, which often signifies a Best Picture winner.
Best Production Design
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Nosferatu
- Wicked
With its alluring settings, Wicked is likely to win this category, reflecting its widespread acclaim.
Best Costume Design
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Gladiator II
- Nosferatu
- Wicked
Wicked is expected to dominate in this category given its vibrant visuals.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
- A Different Man
- Emilia Pérez
- Nosferatu
- The Substance
- Wicked
Wicked is anticipated to win for its exceptional makeup and hairstyling achievements this year.
Best Sound
- A Complete Unknown
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Wicked
- The Wild Robot
A Complete Unknown, with its focus on music, is predicted to take home the Best Sound award.
Best Visual Effects
- Alien: Romulus
- Better Man
- Dune: Part Two
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Wicked
Dune: Part Two is the frontrunner in this category, thanks to its groundbreaking visual effects.
Best International Feature
- I’m Still Here
- The Girl With the Needle
- Emilia Pérez
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig
- Flow
With 13 nominations, Emilia Pérez is likely to win Best International Feature, although I’m Still Here cannot be dismissed.
Best Animated Feature
- Flow
- Inside Out 2
- Memoir of a Snail
- The Wild Robot
Flow is anticipated to triumph in this category due to its unique animation style and success in previous awards.
Best Live-Action Short Film
- A Lien
- Anuja
- I’m Not a Robot
- The Last Ranger
- The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
With significant buzz, Anuja is seen as a serious contender for the Best Live-Action Short Film award.
Best Animated Short Film
- Beautiful Men
- In the Shadow of the Cypress
- Magic Candies
- Wander to Wonder
- Yuck!
Wander to Wonder is predicted to win for its innovative concept and triumph at the BAFTAs.
Best Documentary Feature Film
- Black Box Diaries
- No Other Land
- Porcelain War
- Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
- Sugarcane
No Other Land has emerged as a strong contender for Best Documentary Feature Film this year.
Best Documentary Short Film
- Death by Numbers
- I Am Ready, Warden
- Incident
- Instruments of a Beating Heart
- The Only Girl in the Orchestra
I Am Ready, Warden is positioned for success, highlighting pressing societal issues and garnering much discussion.
