Oscars 2025 Best Picture Predictions: Nominees and Winners

Now that the dust has settled after the 2024 ceremony, it’s time to turn attention to these 2025 Oscars And the movies competing to secure a Best Picture nomination and campaign for a win. As surprising nominees and winners at the 2024 Oscars proved, predicting the 2025 results so far ahead of time is no easy task. However, some serious contenders for awards season have already emerged as Oscars 2025 predictions for all categories begin to take shape. This includes a strong group of films competing for one of the ten Best Picture nominations.

Even in the 2025 Oscars season, several movies are being considered early as major contenders. Dunn: Part Two is available after being delayed from its original release date of 2023, while new movies from Luca Guadagnino, Yorgos Lanthimios, Sean Baker, Edward Berger, Ridley Scott, Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood are considered contenders to watch. Of course, awards season always has a few surprises that gain momentum and find themselves in the best picture race. Ahead of the official nomination announcement on January 17, 2025, Screen RantIts predicted Best Picture nominees and winners look like this.

10

sing sing

Release: July 12, 2024

After debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, sing sing Established itself as a genuine awards contender by ticking several popular Oscars boxes. The movie is based on the real-life story of the rehabilitation through the arts program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. In this context, it uses a combined cast of professional actors, including former Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, and former inmates to recreate the production of an original musical, Break the mommy’s code.

The movie’s unique premise and production, coupled with extremely positive reviews and an intriguing biographical elementMakes it a serious contender for Best Picture in 2025. There is no debating the film’s quality and favorable reception from audiences and critics, but whether it secures a Best Picture nomination may depend on A24’s campaign. The July release made the movie an early contender, but the buzz died down in the months since as other festivals happened and put more contenders in stronger positions. sing sing Still holds a Best Picture nomination for now.

9

Dunn: Part Two

Release: March 1, 2024

After an extended delay, Denis Villeneuve’s awe-inspiring Don Sequel missed out on eligibility for the 2024 Oscars. Considering its cultural impact, many felt it was a missed opportunity. However, after huge critical and commercial success, the movie established itself as a firm favorite for the next round of awards despite releasing long before other competitors. Completing the story of Paul Atreides and his transition from bandit to emperor, the film weaves expert epic scope with a thoughtful discussion of imperialism, religion and romance. Villeneuve is already tipped as a candidate for Best Director To help his best picture credentials.

History is also on Dunn: Part Twos side to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination in 2025. Villeneuve’s original movie received a nomination in 2022But it did not win. His sci-fi film Arrival Also received a Best Picture nomination. With the Academy Awards voting body clearly fans of his work, Doon 2 Arguably surpassing what he did in the first film should get it into the 2025 Best Picture race – even if its odds of winning may be lower than the rest.

8

Flash

Release: November 1, 2024

Directed by previous Best Picture winner Steve McQueen, Flash is an unpleasant historical drama that happened during the titular German bombing campaign in World War II. An impressive cast with Saoirse Ronan, Stephen Graham and Harris Dickinson only adds to the sense of excitement surrounding the project. As far as the Oscars are concerned, however, there is reason to be bullish about the movie’s chances. The director’s previous historical drama, 12 years a slaveWon Best Picture and two other Oscars out of nine nominationsSo Flash Being a strong contender is no surprise.

Flashs full campaign push has yet to even really begin. The film did not play at busier film festivals such as Toronto, Venice or Cannes, instead being the opener at the BFI London Film Festival on October 9, 2024. Flash Could rise above and become a legitimate contender to win Best Picture in 2025.

7

A complete unknown

Release: December 25, 2024

Bob Dylan biopic by James Mangold A complete unknown is an expected contender for the 2025 Oscars Best Picture race. Starring Timothée Chalamet as the iconic musician, the film will look to join the list of music biopics that received Best Picture nominations. The academy shows a lot of favor to true storiesEspecially ones that revolve around massive pop culture figures and have the kind of star power in front of and behind the camera as A complete unknown.

There is still uncertainty about A complete unknownAlthough, how the film is still completely unknown. Nobody saw the movie because it wasn’t ready for the festival circuit. Searchlight seems to have a lot of faith in it by giving it a Christmas 2024 release dateAllowing it to be one of the late-year, splashy titles to enter the race. However, this could also be to the detriment of the film if a consensus has already started to form for titles released earlier. A complete unknown Will need to be really special to make enough to become a legitimate contender to win.

6

Conclave

Release: November 2024

Based on the best-selling novel by author Robert Harris, Conclave Combines a stacked cast with a gripping story – potentially creating the ideal Best Picture formula. Starring the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, the film concerns a papal election and an intriguing mystery. Not only the talent lined up in front of the camera contains multiple Academy Award nominees, however Conclave is also directed by Academy Award-winner Edward Bergerwhose previous project, All quiet on the western frontWon the best international feature film award in 2023.

Conclave Looks to be in a good position to get a Best Picture nomination, but whether it can become a winner is a different question. This may largely depend on how voters respond to the unexpected tone of the film. Conclave Reviews from Telluride and TIFF noted that it was sillier than many thought it would be. The performances certainly deliver, but if the tone of the movie proves to be too divisive, it might be enough to be happy about being nominated. It’s also trickier since Focus Features has never won the Best Picture Oscar Despite 12 previous nominations.

5

The room next door

Release date: December 20, 2024

Pedro Almodóvar’s new movie The room next door Looks to be a potential contender for a Best Picture nomination at the 2025 Oscars. The film stars former Oscar winners Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore and marks Almodovar’s first feature-length film made in English. The change is notable considering his track record with the Academy in the international feature film category. He won the category in 2000 with All about my mother And was nominated again in 2020 for Pain and glory. but, The room next door May be first nominated for Best Picture.

Early reviews for The room next door have been mostly positive from screenings in Toronto and Venice, which is why the movie has some buzz for the Oscar nomination, especially after Winning the Golden Lion in Venice. However, they also reveal a problem with his chances of winning. Most point out that The room next door Is not among Pedro Almodóvar’s best movies. The Academy is also known to give makeup Oscars to honor people who have done better work before and are not properly recognized. Perhaps the story could advance Almodóvar’s film next.

4

Gladiator II

Release: November 22, 2024

Considering Ridley Scott’s mixed critical and commercial performance in recent years, Gladiator II Doesn’t seem like an obvious 2025 Oscars candidate. However, despite the failure of projects like NapoleonThe movie can still be successful. This is thanks in no small part to the legacy of his illustrious predecessor. The original Gladiator Won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. This suggests that Scott’s movie has the potential to be a major contender at the ceremony in 2025. This is especially true, given the involvement of illustrious performers such as Paul Mescal and Oscar heavyweights such as Denzel Washington.

Another point in Gladiator 2The favor for his best picture case is what it would mean for Ridley Scott. His movies earned him only one other nomination, The MartianIn his fruitful career. A third nomination at this stage of his career would be huge. If Gladiator 2 Ultimately winning Best Picture as the original 2000 movie, it will be only the third sequel to win the category.

3

The Brutalist

Release date: December 20, 2024

The Brutalist has emerged as a major contender for the best picture Oscar in 2025. The three-and-a-half-hour historical epic left a major impression on audiences after its premiere in Venice and subsequent showing in Toronto. It was enough to get A24 to acquire the project, which comes from director Brady Corbett and Starring Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and Oscar-nominee Felicity JonesAnd give it a late December 2024 release date.

While the release date of the end of the year could hurt something like A complete unknownWhich is less of a concern for The Brutalist Thanks to its reception in festivals. The movie is already mounting support in many other categories—like Best Director, Best Editing, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor—and that should only bolster its Best Picture potential. A24 is no stranger to turning movies into Best Picture contenders Or. The Brutalist Will now look to connect Moon light And Everything everywhere all at once Like A24’s Best Picture winners.

2

Emilia Perez

Release: November 1, 2024

Winner of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Emilia Perez is a boundary-pushing contender for Oscar glory. Starring Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascon and Selena Gomez, the film mixes musical sensibilities with the story of a cartel leader who undergoes sex reassignment surgery with the help of a disaffected lawyer. With original songs and virtuoso performances across the board, the movie quickly established an impressive reputation.

Although its content may in some years have been considered too unconventional for the Oscars, there are other indicators Emilia Perez is on track to succeed. Not only was nominated for a Palm d’Or, but the combined cast of the movie received the best actress award as a collective ensemble. After finishing as A runner-up for the People’s Choice Award at TIFF, Emilia Perez is building a necessary resume to be a Best Picture winner as supporting mounts for it to be recognized in Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, and more.

1

Anora

Release date: October 18, 2024

Arguably the most anticipated movie to come out of Cannes 2024, Anora is already a frontrunner for the Oscars and our predicted Best Picture winner. An atypical romance that shines a light on the world of sex work, Anora has enjoyed critical acclaim – receiving a 10-minute standing ovation from festival-goers after its premiere. Given this reaction, it is not surprising that the movie won the 2024 Palme d’Or.

AnoraThe success of Cannes provides a fascinating insight into the Oscars. The film is set to be distributed by Neon in the United States, becoming the fifth Palme d’Or winner to do so. interesting, One previous Neon project was a 2020 Best Picture winner parasite – Provide a clear precedent for Anoras potential success. With nominations expected in other major categories like Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing, there is room for Anora To be much greater at the Oscars 2025 Just like a Best Picture winner.