
Current Nominations for 97th Academy Awards 2025: Full List
When the nominations dropped on January 23, 2025, one film didn’t just dominate the conversation — it rewrote the record books. Emilia Pérez snagged 13 nominations, the most ever for a non-English language feature, pulling off a feat Titanic and La La Land never could. But between the history-making milestones and the ceremony still weeks away, there’s plenty worth sorting through.
Most Nominations: Emilia Pérez (13) · Nominations Announced: Jan 23, 2025 · Ceremony Date: Mar 2, 2025 · Record Holder: Most noms for non-English film · Top Directing Nominee: Anora (Sean Baker)
Quick snapshot
- Emilia Pérez led with 13 nominations (CBS News)
- Karla Sofía Gascón became first openly trans actor nominated for Oscar acting category (Associated Press)
- Zoe Saldaña took home Best Supporting Actress at ceremony (Wikipedia)
- Whether Emilia Pérez converts nominations into wins across major categories
- Final voter swing on historic firsts vs. traditional favorites
- Impact of delayed announcement (Los Angeles wildfires) on campaign dynamics
- Wicked and The Brutalist (10 noms each) remain strong challengers
- Anora emerged as Best Picture momentum leader post-nominations
- Industry awards season could shift predictions before March 2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Event | 97th Academy Awards |
| Ceremony Date | March 2, 2025 |
| Noms Announced | Jan 23, 2025 |
| Most Noms | Emilia Pérez (13) |
| Record | Most for non-English film |
What are the current nominations for the 97th Academy Awards?
The Academy revealed its picks on January 23, 2025 — delayed twice due to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The wait was worth it: Oscars.org confirmed that Emilia Pérez topped the list with 13 nominations, just one shy of tying the all-time record held by Titanic, All About Eve, and La La Land. The ceremony airs March 2, 2025, from the Dolby Theatre.
Best Picture
Ten films competed for the night’s biggest prize. According to CBS News, the nominees were:
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
What stands out: two non-English language films earned Best Picture consideration alongside traditionally-budgeted Hollywood releases. Emilia Pérez and I’m Still Here marked the first time two films appeared in both Best Picture and Best International Feature Film categories simultaneously. The implication: international narratives now compete at the highest level without requiring separate categorization.
I’m Still Here, directed by Walter Salles, became the first Portuguese-language film ever nominated for Best Picture, according to Wikipedia. That’s a milestone worth noting alongside the Emilia Pérez breakthrough.
Directing
Jacques Audiard earned a Best Director slot for Emilia Pérez, a rare French-language directing nomination. Sean Baker took credit for Anora’s momentum, widely seen as the ceremony’s Best Picture frontrunner based on subsequent wins. Brady Corbet directed The Brutalist to its strong showing.
Leading Films
Two films tied for second place: CBS News reported that both Wicked and The Brutalist landed 10 nominations each. The musical adaptation earned recognition across technical categories, while The Brutalist impressed in directing, acting, and screenplay categories.
Emilia Pérez’s 13 nominations signals the Academy’s increasing receptiveness to international narratives, genre-blending formats, and performances that break conventional casting boundaries. Whether that translates to wins remains the real question.
Which actor refused his Oscar?
Marlon Brando holds the most famous Oscar refusal in Academy history. In 1973, he won Best Actor for The Godfather but did not attend the ceremony. Instead, he sent Sacheen Littlefeather — a Native American activist — to the stage to decline the award on his behalf. Brando cited Hollywood’s portrayal of Indigenous people as his reason, making the protest a defining moment in award-show activism.
Marlon Brando’s protest
The gesture lasted roughly 60 seconds on stage, yet generated decades of discussion. Littlefeather read a statement explaining Brando’s absence, stating he could not in good conscience accept the award given the industry’s treatment of Native American communities.
The Academy has since faced scrutiny for its handling of representation issues — a conversation that resonates differently when examining Karla Sofía Gascón’s 2025 nomination for Best Actress. Over 50 years separate these moments, yet both shine a light on who gets recognized and under what circumstances.
What was the biggest upset in best actor history?
Oscar upsets consistently capture attention precisely because they’re hard to predict. Film industry reporting has catalogued numerous examples where early frontrunners lost to surprise picks. The pattern holds: voter sentiment can shift dramatically between nomination announcements and ceremony night.
Shocking wins
Among the most discussed upsets: Adrien Brody winning for The Pianist (2003) over presumed favorite Daniel Day-Lewis for Gangs of New York. More recently, Yuh-Jung Youn’s Supporting Actress win for Minari in 2021 caught many industry observers off guard.
The lesson for 2025: Emilia Pérez may lead in nominations, but that doesn’t guarantee wins. Zoe Saldaña’s Critics’ Choice and AACTA wins positioned her as the frontrunner in Supporting Actress — and she ultimately delivered on Oscar night. But categories like Best Picture and Best Actress remained competitive going into the ceremony.
Which actress has lost Best Actress 18 times?
Meryl Streep holds the record for most acting nominations without a win in a single category. As of 2025, Streep has been nominated 21 times across acting categories, with three wins (two for Supporting Actress, one for Best Actress). Her 18 losses — primarily in the Best Actress category — represent both an extraordinary career and a particular kind of heartbreak.
Meryl Streep’s losses
The math is striking: Streep has been nominated for Best Actress 17 times, winning once (for Sophie’s Choice in 1983). She earned her 21st nomination for The Paper in a supporting role — a category she has rarely competed in, yet where she finally broke through early in her career.
For 2025, the Best Actress race featured five nominees: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here). None of these nominees matched Streep’s nomination volume, but several — particularly Gascón — represented historic firsts regardless of outcome.
Nomination counts don’t always correlate with wins. Streep’s career proves longevity matters — showing up repeatedly matters as much as any single performance. Karla Sofía Gascón’s nomination may matter less as a win probability and more as an opening: proof that the Academy can recognize trans actors in major categories, regardless of one year’s outcome.
What is the biggest Oscar snub of all time?
Critics and audiences have catalogued numerous high-profile omissions over the Academy’s history. According to Time Out, the 97th nominations themselves contained notable absences alongside their breakthroughs.
Top snubs
Several films and performances generated conversation before nominations landed. Some industry observers expected more recognition for independent features that earned critical acclaim at fall festivals. Dune: Part Two’s technical categories showed the Academy remained receptive to franchise films, but certain performances went unrecognized.
What constitutes a snub versus a competitive year? The line blurs regularly. For every film that generates “how did they miss X?” discourse, there’s an equally surprising inclusion. The 97th nominations featured 10 films competing for Best Picture — the most diverse field in recent memory by language, genre, and scale. The pattern: nomination breadth doesn’t always translate to consensus, and industry observers will continue debating exclusions alongside inclusions.
What we know vs. what remains uncertain
The nominations tell a clear story on paper: Emilia Pérez rewrote records, Karla Sofía Gascón made history, and Zoe Saldaña delivered a performance voters rewarded. Here’s the balance sheet:
Confirmed
- Emilia Pérez received 13 nominations — most for any non-English film
- Karla Sofía Gascón: first openly trans actor nominated in acting category
- Zoe Saldaña: won Best Supporting Actress at ceremony
- Nominations announced January 23, 2025 after two delays
- Wicked and The Brutalist tied for second with 10 nominations each
- I’m Still Here: first Portuguese-language Best Picture nominee
Uncertain
- Whether Emilia Pérez converts nominations into major category wins
- How BAFTA and guild awards shape final voter preferences
- Whether Gascón’s historic nomination leads to sustained inclusion or remains isolated
- Impact of wildfire-related delays on campaign momentum
What the 97th nominations mean for the industry
Emilia Pérez’s 13 nominations is the most ever by a non-English language film, surpassing Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Roma.
— Time Out
Karla Sofía Gascón’s nomination represents the first time an openly trans actor has been recognized for an Oscar in any acting category.
— Wikipedia
Three patterns emerge from this nomination class. First, non-English language cinema is no longer relegated to a separate category — it competes at the highest level across major awards. Second, the Academy’s voter demographics continue shifting toward international and independent cinema sensibilities. Third, performances that challenge convention — whether through genre (The Substance), language (Emilia Pérez), or identity (Gascón) — receive serious consideration.
For producers, directors, and talent representatives, the message is clear: films that push boundaries in form or subject matter no longer face automatic exclusion from mainstream recognition. The 97th nominations prove the Academy’s appetite for diversity extends beyond social commentary into genuine artistic variety.
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Frequently asked questions
When were the 97th Academy Awards nominations announced?
January 23, 2025. The announcement was delayed twice due to the Los Angeles wildfires, with Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang revealing the picks at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Which film has the most nominations for the 97th Oscars?
Emilia Pérez led with 13 nominations. That’s the highest total ever for a non-English language film.
What films are nominated for Best Picture 97th Academy Awards?
Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.
Is Emilia Pérez a frontrunner for 97th Oscars?
It led in nominations (13), but Anora emerged as the Best Picture momentum leader after the nominations announcement, ultimately winning the top prize. Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for the film.
When is the 97th Academy Awards ceremony?
March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Which categories did Dune: Part Two get nominated for?
Dune: Part Two received multiple technical category nominations including Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Production Design.
What is the record for most Oscar nominations?
Fourteen nominations, held jointly by Titanic (1997), All About Eve (1950), and La La Land (2016). Emilia Pérez’s 13 nominations came just one short of this record.