The 97th Academy Oscar Awards which are scheduled to be held on March 2nd, 2025, are set to shift the direction of the movie industry, as they herald in a new era. This year’s Oscar nominations are indeed remarkable, for they cover world talent, masterful storytelling, and achieving historic milestones. The nomination of Wicked and The Brutalist for ten each, which is followed up with a record breaking selection of thirteen for Emilia Pérez is an encouraging reflection of the changing scope of cinema. In this report, we will discuss this year’s nominees, most memorable moments, and the set expectations from the main sleeping event of Hollywood.
The Best Picture category on this 2025 Oscars Nomination however features a wider range of films with unique narratives and ideas, hence 10 nominees have been selected for this category. Leading the charge this year at the Audiard camp is the musical drama Emilia Perez which has already received much critical and audience attention. Furthermore, the film is a non English piece and with a record breaking nomination of 13 it is clear that this is the frontrunner.
Other contenders include Denis Villeneuve’s visually beautiful Dune: Part Two, which is an endless continuation of the saga with remarkable imagery and a deep plot. Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist covers the intersection of art, war, and survival. Finally, Wicked brings to life the story of the Broadway musical, which is directed by Jon M. Chu.
Other films that explore different sides of storytelling are Anora and Conclave, while Sing Sing and I’m Still Here delve deep into redemption and struggle. This group also includes A Complete Unknown – a biographical movie about Bob Dylan, which is directed by James Mangold, and The Substance – a science fiction thriller with an underlying emotional story. This slate of films exemplifies the diversity of modern cinema, appealing to audiences across genres and cultures.
Directorial Excellence: A Competitive Field
In the Best Director category, there are Sean Baker and Coralie Fargeat (the substance), both of whom are strength of intimate character focus storytelling, while Jacques Audiard does ground braking work on Emilia Pérez illuminating the possibilities for international cinema.
This category is equally rounded off by Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist and James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, where both directors have received positive notes for their ability to keep an emotional center while developing complex narratives powered by intricate details. This category is highly competitive and that speaks to the quality of filmmaking in 2025.
Historic Moments in Acting Categories
The acting categories this time around are deeply rooted with momentous milestones and captivating performances. In the Best Actress category, the nomination of Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez is history in the making as she becomes the first openly transgender performer nominated in this category. Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal in Wicked also didn’t go unnoticed as she marked the first openly queer Black actress to be nominated for Best Actress.
Other nominees of notice are Emma Stone (The Bride), Jodie Turner-Smith (The Nickel Boys) and Michelle Yeoh (The Tiger’s Apprentice), who have all received significant acclaim for their performances.
When it comes to the Best Actor category, Adrien Brody (‘The Brutalist’) and Timothée Chalamet (‘A Complete Unknown’) seem to be leading the list, further clashed by Colman Domingo (‘Sing Sing’), Paul Mescal (‘A Real Pain’), and Joaquin Phoenix (‘I’m Still Here’). All of them worked into the depth of their characters which made readily one of the best competitions I have witnessed in a long time.
Key Trends and Milestones
This year’s Oscars are important for many reasons. For example, Emelia Perez is not only leading with nominations but has also emerged as the winner for the highest nominated non-English film in Oscar history. The blend of musicals with dramatic storytelling used in the film has been proven to be appealing globally, demonstrating the power of cross-cultural cinema.
The oscar nominations also depict increased focus on diversity and equality. The academies seem to finally take into account the need to tell need stories of different individuals with the advocacy nods for LGBTQ+ performers and diverse cast sets. This is a very hopeful change for the future of both Hollywood and cinema internationally.
Creative Achievements and Technical Brilliance
With the principal sections of the event apart, this years Oscars pays attention to incredible efforts taken for the event which are traditionally underrated. Wicked and Dune: Part Two tend to sweep through the technical departments such as cinematography, production design, and visual effects. Furthermore, there is no doubt that Hans Zimmer’s score for Dune: Part Two and the original songs from Wicked will receive accolades, which only adds more of the charm these movies have.
In costume design and makeup, one can expect to see some fierce competition from The Substance, The Bride and Emilia Pérez due to their awesome creative display. These categories exhibit the teamwork in the art of film, as each detail adds to the effectiveness of the story to be told.
Oscar Night Expectations
Now, Conan O’Brien is without a doubt a phenomenal choice to host the event because his wit and charm will only add better excitement to the ceremony. The 2025 Oscars will be observable live on ABC and millions are expected to revel in what the cinema has to offer every year.
There is not a shadow of a doubt that this years sets of awards will be the most exciting spectacle in recent times. Fans all around the globe are waiting to see the winning envelopes opened because the range of brilliant performances and movies this year is unmatched.
Recognizing Development Of The Film Industry
The diversity of nominees, the exceptional artwork, along with the other milestones achieved within the particular year all point to a bright outlook for the industry of cinema. The ninety-seventh Academy Awards are more than just a review and celebration of the past year within the realm of film, instead it is also a reflection of the evolution of the industry at large.
And as the clock winds down to the night of the award ceremony, one can, without doubt, look forward to not only the glamour and the spectacle which is the hallmark of the Academy Awards instead, look forward to the stories that have inspired, touched, and entertained the masses all around the world. This is especially the case with the nominees from Dune: Part Two, the very bold imagination of Emilia Perez, or heart of Wicked. The 2025 Oscars will go down as a remarkable ceremony to remember.
Conclusion
It is obvious that with the people preparing for the ninety-seventh Academy Awards, from the breathtaking achievement on the technical side, the 2025 oscars are bound to highlight the magic of cinema through the power of story telling around the world. One constant is for certain within the industry today, and that is the desire for us to profoundly inspired for many more years to come together.
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