2025 Oscar Nominations: ‘Emilia Pérez’ Dominates With 13, ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Wicked’ Follow Close Behind

‘Emilia Pérez’ tops list with 13 nominations

The 97th Academy Awards spotlighted films with bold themes and diverse perspectives, as the nominations unveiled Thursday celebrated little-seen yet impactful projects.

Leading the pack is Emilia Pérez, a Netflix musical delving into trans identity, which earned an impressive 13 nominations, including best picture and best director. Close behind are The Brutalist, an A24 epic exploring immigrant trauma and antisemitism, and the blockbuster Wicked, each receiving 10 nods. While Wicked performed well, it missed nominations in the critical directing and screenplay categories.

This year’s best picture race remains wide open, contrasting last year’s clear-cut Oppenheimer victory. The category features a blend of intimate dramas, political allegories, and big-budget hits:

• Conclave, a Vatican-set thriller tackling identity politics
• The Substance, a feminist body horror manifesto
• Nickel Boys, a historical drama on systemic racism
• Anora, a Cinderella story of a sex worker’s whirlwind marriage
• I’m Still Here, a Brazilian tale of family and political oppression
• A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan biopic
• Wicked and Dune: Part Two, rounding out the 10-film lineup

The acting categories saw fresh faces dominate, with 13 out of 20 nominees being first-timers. Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), and Demi Moore (The Substance) are among the top contenders. Moore, a Golden Globes winner, has become the favorite for best actress, joined by Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Mikey Madison (Anora), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), and Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), the first openly trans actress to receive an Oscar nomination.

In supporting roles, Ariana Grande (Wicked) and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) secured nods alongside Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), and Felicity Jones (The Brutalist).

The best director race features Sean Baker (Anora), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance), with Fargeat becoming only the 10th woman nominated in the category’s history.

As Hollywood embraces broader storytelling and representation, this year’s Oscars reflect an industry striving for change — both in the films celebrated and the people behind them.