FINAL 2025 Oscar Predictions in all 23 Categories
Here are my final 2025 Oscar predictions in all 23 categories for the 97th Academy Awards, all in one place. Click on each category for deeper analysis.
BEST PICTURE
| 1. Anora (NEON) (Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker) BAFTA, Cannes (Palme d’Or), CCA, GG, PGA, Spirit, SAG |
| 2. Conclave (Focus Features) (Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman) BAFTA, CCA, GG, PGA, SAG |
| 3. The Brutalist (A24) (Brady Corbet, D.J. Gugenheim, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison and Nick Gordon) BAFTA, CCA, GG, PGA |
| 4. A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) (Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman) BAFTA, CCA, GG, PGA, SAG |
| 5. Emilia Pérez (Netflix) (Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard) BAFTA, Cannes (Jury Prize), CCA, GG, PGA, SAG |
| 6. The Substance (MUBI) Coralie Fargeat and Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner CCA, GG, PGA, Spirit |
| 7. Wicked Part 1 (Universal Pictures) (Marc Platt) CCA, GG, PGA, SAG |
| 8. I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) (Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira) |
| 9. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros) (Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve) CCA, GG, PGA |
| 10. Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM) (Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Joslyn Barnes) CCA, GG, Spirit |
BEST DIRECTOR
| 1. Sean Baker – Anora (NEON) BAFTA, CCA, DGA, GG, Spirit |
| 2. Brady Corbet – The Brutalist (A24) BAFTA, CCA, DGA, GG, Spirit, Venice (Silver Lion) |
| 3. Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez (Netflix) BAFTA, CCA, DGA, GG |
| 4. Coralie Fargeat – The Substance (MUBI) BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 5. James Mangold – A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) DGA |
BEST ACTOR
| 1. Adrien Brody – The Brutalist (A24) BAFTA, Gotham, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 2. Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 3. Ralph Fiennes – Conclave (Focus Features) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 4. Colman Domingo – Sing Sing (A24) BAFTA, Gotham, CCA, GG, Spirit, SAG |
| 5. Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice (Briarcliff Entertainment) BAFTA, GG |
BEST ACTRESS
| 1. Demi Moore – The Substance (MUBI) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG, Spirit |
| 2. Mikey Madison – Anora (NEON) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG, Spirit |
| 3. Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) GG |
| 4. Cynthia Erivo – Wicked Part 1 (Universal Pictures) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 5. Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez (Netflix) BAFTA, Cannes, CCA, GG, SAG |
SUPPORTING ACTOR
| 1. Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 2. Yura Borisov – Anora (NEON) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 3. Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 4. Guy Pearce – The Brutalist (A24) BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 5. Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice (Briarcliff Entertainment) BAFTA, GG, SAG |
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
| 1. Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez (Netflix) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 2. Ariana Grande-Butera – Wicked Part I (Universal Pictures) BAFTA, CCA, GG, SAG |
| 3. Isabella Rossellini – Conclave (Focus Features) BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 4. Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) SAG |
| 5. Felicity Jones – The Brutalist (A24) BAFTA, GG |
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
| 1. Conclave (Focus Features) Peter Straughan (based on “Conclave” by Robert Harris) | BAFTA, CCA, GG, USC |
| 2. Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM/Orion) RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes (based on “The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead) | BAFTA, CCA, WGA, USC |
| 3. Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Jacques Audiard (based on “Listen” by Boris Razon) | BAFTA, CCA, EFA, GG |
| 4. A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) Jay Cocks, James Mangold (based on “Dylan Goes Electric!” by Elijah Wald | BAFTA, WGA, USC |
| 5. Sing Sing (A24) Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield (based on “The Sing Sing Follies” by John H. Richardson and “Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code” by Brent Buell) | BAFTA, CCA, USC |
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
| 1. Anora (NEON) Sean Baker | BAFTA, CCA, GG, WGA |
| 2. A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures) Jesse Eisenberg | BAFTA, CCA, GG, WGA |
| 3. The Substance (MUBI) Coralie Fargeat | BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 4. The Brutalist (A24) Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold | BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 5. September 5 (Paramount Pictures) Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum | CCA |
FILM EDITING
| 1. Anora (NEON) Sean Baker | ACE, BAFTA, CCA |
| 2. Conclave (Focus Features) Nick Emerson | ACE, BAFTA, CCA |
| 3. Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Juliette Welfling | ACE, BAFTA |
| 4. Wicked (Universal Pictures) Myron Kerstein | ACE |
| 5. The Brutalist (A24) Dávid Jancsó | CCA |
CINEMATOGRAPHY
| 1. The Brutalist (A24) Lol Crawley | ASC, BAFTA, BSC, CCA |
| 2. Maria (Netflix) Edward Lachman | ASC |
| 3. Nosferatu (Focus Features) Jarin Blaschke | ASC, BAFTA, BSC, CCA |
| 4. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros) Greig Fraser | ASC |
| 5. Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Paul Guillaume | BAFTA, BSC |
COSTUME DESIGN
| 1. Wicked Part I (Universal Pictures) Paul Tazewell | BAFTA, CCA, CDG |
| 2. Conclave (Focus Features) Lisy Christi | BAFTA, CCA, CDG |
| 3. Nosferatu (Focus Features) Linda Muir | BAFTA, CCA, CDG |
| 4. A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) Arianne Phillips | BAFTA |
| 5. Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures) Janty Yates and Dave Crossman | CCA, CDG |
PRODUCTION DESIGN
| 1. Wicked Part I (Universal Pictures) Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales | ADG, BAFTA, CCA, SDSA |
| 2. Conclave (Focus Features) Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia Sleiter | ADG, BAFTA, CCA, SDSA |
| 3. The Brutalist (A24) Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia | ADG, BAFTA, CCA, SDSA |
| 4. Nosferatu (Focus Features) Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerová | ADG, BAFTA, CCA, SDSA |
| 5. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros) Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau | ADG, BAFTA, CCA, SDSA |
ORIGINAL SCORE
| 1. The Brutalist (A24) Daniel Blumberg | BAFTA, CCA, GG, SCL |
| 2. Conclave (Focus Features) Volker Bertelmann | BAFTA, CCA, GG, HMMA, SCL |
| 3. The Wild Robot (Universal Pictures) Kris Bowers | BAFTA, CCA, GG, HMMA (animated), SCL |
| 4. Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Clément Ducol and Camille | BAFTA, CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL |
| 5. Wicked (Universal Pictures) John Powell and Stephen Schwartz | SCL |
ORIGINAL SONG
| 1. “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard | CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL |
| 2. “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight (Netflix) Music and lyrics by Diane Warren | GMS, HMMA (main), SCL |
| 3. “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late (Disney+) Music and lyrics by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin | HMMA (documentary), SCL |
| 4. “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing (A24) Music and lyrics by Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada“ | GMS |
| 5. Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Music and lyrics by Camille and Clément Ducol | CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL |
SOUND
| 1. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros) Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill | AMPS, BAFTA, CAS, MPSE |
| 2. A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David Giammarco | AMPS, CAS, MPSE |
| 3. Wicked Part I (Universal Pictures) Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John Marquis | AMPS, BAFTA, CAS, MPSE |
| 4. Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta | MPSE |
| 5. The Wild Robot (Universal Pictures) Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo, and Leff Lefferts | MPSE |
MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
| 1. The Substance (MUBI) Pierre-Oliver Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli | BAFTA, CCA, MUAH |
| 2. Wicked Part I (Universal Pictures) Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, and Sarah Nuth | BAFTA, CCA, MUAH |
| 3. Emilia Pérez (Netflix) Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini | BAFTA, MUAH |
| 4. A Different Man (A24) Mike Marino, David Presto, and Crystal Jurado | CCA, MUAH |
| 5. Nosferatu (Focus Features) David White, Traci Loader, and Suzanne Stokes-Munton | BAFTA, CCA |
VISUAL EFFECTS
| 1. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros) Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer | BAFTA, CCA, VES |
| 2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Studios) Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, and Rodney Burke | Annie, BAFTA, CCA, VES |
| 3. Better Man (Paramount Pictures) Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, and Peter Stubbs | Annie, BAFTA, CCA, VES |
| 4. Wicked (Universal Pictures) Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk, and Paul Corbould | BAFTA, CCA |
| 5. Alien: Romulus (20th Century Studios) Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, and Shane Mahan |
ANIMATED FEATURE
| 1. The Wild Robot (Universal Pictures) Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann | Annie, BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 2. Flow (Janus Films/Sideshow) Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens and Gregory Zalcman | Annie, BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 3. Inside Out 2 (Walt Disney/Pixar) Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen | BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 4. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Aardman/Netflix) Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham and Richard Beek | BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 5. Memoir of a Snail (IFC Films) Adam Elliot and Liz Kearney |
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
| 1. Porcelain War (Picturehouse) Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev, Aniela Sidorska, and Paula DuPré Pesmen | CEH, DGA, PGA, Sundance |
| 2. No Other Land (No U.S. distribution) Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham | BAFTA, Berlinale Documentary Award – Berlin, CEH, EFA, Gotham, IDA |
| 3. Sugarcane (National Geographic Documentary Films) Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie and Kellen Quinn | CCA, CEH, DGA, IDA |
| 4. Black Box Diaries (MTV Documentary Films) Shiori Itō, Eric Nyari, and Hanna Aqvilin | BAFTA, CEH, IDA |
| 5. Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber) Johan Grimonprez, Daan Milius, and Rémi Grellety | DGA, EFA, Gotham, IDA |
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
| 1. Brazil – I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) | BAFTA, CCA, GG |
| 2. France – Emilia Pérez (Netflix) | BAFTA, Cannes (Jury Prize), CCA, GG |
| 3. Latvia – Flow (Sideshow/Janus) | CCA |
| 4. Germany – The Seed of the Sacred Fig (NEON) | BAFTA, Cannes (Special Jury Prize), CCA, GG |
| 5. Denmark – The Girl with the Needle (MUBI) | GG |
ANIMATED SHORT
| 1. Yuck! Loïc Espuche and Juliette Marquet | |
| 2. In the Shadow of the Cypress Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi | Annie |
| 3. Wander to Wonder Nina Gantz and Stienette Boskloppe | BAFTA, Annie |
| 4. Magic Candies Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio | |
| 5. Beautiful Men Nicolas Keppens and Brecht Van Elslande | Annie |
DOCUMENTARY SHORT
| 1. I Am Ready, Warden Smriti Mundhra and Maya Gnyp | |
| 2. The Only Girl in the Orchestra Molly O’Brien and Lisa Remington | |
| 3. Incident Bill Morrison and Jamie Kalven | IDA, CEH |
| 4. Instruments of a Beating Heart Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari) | |
| 5. Death by Numbers Kim A. Snyder and Janique L. Robillard |
LIVE ACTION SHORT
| 1. A Lien Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz |
| 2. The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent Nebojša Slijepčević and Danijel Pek |
| 3. Anuja Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai |
| 4. I’m Not a Robot Victoria Warmerdam and Trent |
| 5. The Last Ranger Cindy Lee and Darwin Shaw |
Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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