2025 Oscar Predictions – ‘Wicked’, ‘Emilia Pérez’ and More

As we approach the end of January and now with a lot of the top movies being seen and shared among the Academy voters due to a high amount of FYC screenings. As well as this, screeners are now being sent out to really certify that awards season is in full swing, with voting for the Academy Awards continuously being delayed but finalising at the end of this month. This year has been a weaker year than the last, but it is going to be a more eventful season due to the fact that there is no real clear winners or locks yet. But nonetheless we will give it our best shot with our 2025 Oscar predictions.

A lot has changed already since our last set of predictions in September and Academy favourites are shifting almost biweekly at this point. As opposed to this time last year, where we knew that Oppenheimer would sweep all the major categories and probably take home Best Picture, it is very up in the air this year and that makes it all the more exciting. Whilst it’s not easy to know who will win for sure, based on who has won relevant awards already and word travelling around certain actors and aspects of movies, we can make mostly accurate predictions about the nominees and thus who will end up being the eventual winner.

Feature First’s 2025 Oscar Predictions

Best Actor

1. Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures)
2. Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (A24)
3. Ralph Fiennes, Conclave (Focus Features)
4. Colman Domingo, Sing Sing (A24)
5. Daniel Craig, Queer (A24)

Also In Contention:

• Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
• Hugh Grant (Heretic)
• Sebastian Stan (A Different Man)

Editor’s Pick: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)

Feature First Predicts: Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)

Best Actress

1. Mikey Madison, Anora (Neon)
2. Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
3. Demi Moore, The Substance (Mubi)
4. Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics)
5. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)

Also In Contention:

• Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) 
• Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
• Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl)

Editor’s Pick: Demi Moore (The Substance)

Feature First Predicts: Mikey Madison (Anora)

Best Supporting Actor

1. Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures)
2. Guy Pearce, The Brutalist (A24)
3. Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures)
4. Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing (A24)
5. Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice (Briarcliff Entertainment)

Also In Contention:

• Yuri Borlsov (Anora)
• Stanley Tucci (Conclave)
• John Magro (September 5)

Editor’s Pick: Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)

Feature First Predicts: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)

Best Supporting Actress

1. Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
2. Ariana Grande, Wicked (Universal Pictures)
3. Jamie Lee Curtis, The Last Showgirl (Roadside Attractions)
4. Isabella Rosselini, Conclave (Focus Features)
5. Felicity Jones, The Brutalist (A24)

Also In Contention:

• Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
• Margaret Qualley (The Substance)
• Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez)

Editor’s Pick: Margaret Qualley (The Substance)

Feature First Predicts: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

Best Animated Feaure

1. The Wild Robot, Chris Sanders, Jeff Hermann (Dreamworks Animation)
2. Flow, Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, Gregory Zalcman (Janus Films/Sideshow)
3. Memoir of a Snail, Adam Elliot, Liz Kearney (IFC Films)
4. Inside Out 2, Kelsey Mann, Mark Nielsen (Pixar)
5. Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham (Netflix)

Also In Contention:

• Moana 2 (Walt Disney Animation) 
• The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Warner Bros.)
• That Christmas (Netflix)

Editor’s Pick: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix)

Feature First Predicts: The Wild Robot (Dreamworks Animation)

Best Original Screenplay

1. Anora, Sean Baker (Neon)
2. The Brutalist, Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold (A24)
3. A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg (Searchlight Pictures)
4. The Substance, Coralie Fargeat (Mubi)
5. Hard Truths, Mike Leigh (Bleecker Street)

Also In Contention:

• September 5 (Amazon MGM) – Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
• All We Imagine As Light (Janus Films/Sideshow) — Payal Kapadia 
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon) — Mohammad Rasoulof

Editor’s Pick: Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)

Feature First Predicts: Anora (Neon)

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. Conclave, Peter Straughan (Focus Features)
2. Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard (Netflix)
3. A Complete Unknown, Jay Cocks, James Mangold (Searchlight Pictures)
4. Sing Sing, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield (A24)
5. Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes (Amazon MGM Studios)

Also In Contention:

• Wicked (Universal Pictures) — Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox
• Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.) — Denis Villenueve, Jon Spaihts
• I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) — Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega

Editor’s Pick: Sing Sing (A24)

Feature First Predicts: Conclave (Focus Features)

Best Sound

1. Wicked, John Marquis, Nancy Nugent Title, Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson (Universal Pictures)
2. Emilia Pérez, Cyril Holtz, Erwan Kerzanet, Niels Barletta (Netflix)
3. Dune: Part Two, Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Barlett, Doug Hemphill (Warner Bros.)
4. A Complete Unknown, Ted Caplan, David Giammarco, Paul Massey, Tod Maitland, Donald Sylvester (Searchlight Pictures)
5. Alien: Romulus, Will Files, Lee Gilmore, Tamás Csaba, Mark Pearson (20th Century Studios)

Also In Contention:

• Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures) — Matthew Collinge, Danny Sheehan, Paul Massey, Stéphane Bucher
• Blitz (Apple Original Films) — Paul Cotterell, James Harrison, Kevin Penney
• The Wild Robot (Dreamworks Animation) — Randy Thom, Gary A. Rizzo, Leff Lefferts, Brian Chumney

Editor’s Pick: Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)

Feature First Predicts: Wicked (Universal Pictures)

Best Production Design

1. Wicked, Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales(Universal Pictures)
2. The Brutalist, Judy Becker (A24)
3. Conclave, Suzie Davies, Roberta Federico (Focus Features)
4. Dune: Part Two, Zsuzsanna Sipos, Shane Vieau, Patrice Vermette (Warner Bros.)
5. Nosferatu, Craig Lathrop (Focus Features)

Also In Contention:

• A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) — François Audouy, Regina Graves, Christopher J. Morris
• Gladiator II (Warner Bros.) — Arthur Max, Elli Griff
• Emilia Perez (Netflix)  — Emmanuelle Duplay, Sandra Castello

Editor’s Pick: Nosferatu (Focus Features)

Feature First Predicts: Wicked (Universal Pictures)

Best Song

1. Emilia Pérez – “El Mal”, Clément Ducol, Jaques Audiard and Camille (Netflix)
2. The Wild Robot – “Kiss The Sky”, Delacey, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack & Ali Tamposi (Dreamworks Animation)
3. Emilia Pérez – “Mi Camino”, Clément Ducol and Camille (Netflix)
4. The Six Triple Eight – “The Journey”, Diane Warren (Netflix)
5. Elton John: Never Too Late – “Never Too Late”, Elton John & Brandy Carlile (Walt Disney Pictures)

Also In Contention:

• Challengers – “Compress/Repress” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Luca Guadagnino
• Kneecap – “Sick In The Head” (Sony Pictures Classics) — Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, DJ Próvaí, Adrian Louis Richard Mcleod, and Toddla T
• Will & Harper – “Harper and Will Go West” (Netflix)  — Sean Douglas, Kristen Wiig & Josh Greenbaum

Editor’s Pick: Challengers – “Compress/Repress” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Feature First Predicts: Emilia Pérez – “El Mal” (Netflix)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

1. The Substance, Pierre-Olivier Persin (Mubi)
2. Wicked, Frances Hannon, Sarah Nuth, Laura Blount (Netflix)
3. A Different Man, Mike Marino, Sarah Graalman, Aaron Saucier (A24)
4. Emilia Pérez, Julia Floch Carbonel, Simon Livet (Netflix)
5. Nosferatu, Traci Loader, Suzanne Stokes-Munton, David White (Focus Features)

Also In Contention:

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros.) — Christine Blundell, Neal Scanlan, Lesa Warrener
• The Apprentice (Briarcliff Entertainment) — Michelle Côté, Colin Penman
• Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)  — Donald Mowat, Love Larson, Eva Von Bahr

Editor’s Pick: The Substance (Mubi)

Feature First Predicts: The Substance (Mubi)

Best Costume Design

1. Wicked, Paul Tazewell (Universal Pictures)
2. Dune: Part Two, Jacqueline West (Warner Bros.)
3. Gladiator II, Janty Yates (Paramount Pictures)
4. Nosferatu, Linda Muir (Focus Features)
5. A Complete Unknown, Arianne Phillips (Searchlight Pictures)

Also In Contention:

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros.) — Christine Blundell, Neal Scanlan, Lesa Warrener
• Maria (Netflix) — Massimo Cantini Parrini
• Blitz (Apple Original Films)  — Jacqueline Durran

Editor’s Pick: Nosferatu (Focus Features)

Feature First Predicts: Wicked (Universal Pictures)

Best Live Action Short

1. The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (Antitalent Produkcija)
2. Dovecote (LEAF Entertainment)
3. I’m Not A Robot (OAK Motion Pictures)
4. Anuja (Graves Films)
5. The Masterpiece (Mubi)

Also In Contention:

• Paris 70 (Astronauta Films)
• An Orange From Jaffa (Synecdoche)
• I’m Not A Robot (OAK Motion Pictures)

Editor’s Pick: The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (Antitalent Produkcija)

Feature First Predicts: The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (Antitalent Produkcija)

Best Animated Short

1. A Bear Named Wojtek (Illuminated Film Company)
2. Au Reviour Mon Monde (Ecole MoPA)
3. Origami (Mont Blanc Entertaiment)
4. Yuk! (Ikki Films)
5. Maybe Elephants (National Film Board of Canada)

Also In Contention:

• In The Shadow of the Cypress (Voce Spettaco)
• The Wild-Tempered Clavler (SND Films)

Editor’s Pick: A Bear Named Wojtek (Illuminated Film Company)

Feature First Predicts: A Bear Named Wojtek (Illuminated Film Company)

Best Documentary Short

1. A Swim Lesson (Le Train Train)
2. Once Upon A Time in Ukraine (Earle Mack Productions)
3. I Am Ready, Warden (MTV Documentary Films)
4. The Only Girl In The Orchestra (Netflix)
5. Death by Numbers (Cuomo Cole Productions)

Also In Contention:

• Chasing Roo (Spin Film)
• Makalya’s Voice: A Letter To The World (Netflix)

Editor’s Pick: A Swim Lesson (Le Train Train)

Feature First Predicts: A Swim Lesson (Le Train Train)

Best Original Score

1. The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg (A24)
2. Conclave, Volker Bertelmann (Focus Features)
3. Challengers, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross (Amazon MGM Studios)
4. Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol, Camille (Netflix)
5. The Wild Robot, Kris Bowers (Dreamworks Animation)

Also In Contention:

• Wicked (Universal Pictures) – John Powell, Stephen Schwartz
• Nosferatu (Focus Features) – Robin Carolan
• Blitz (Apple Original Films)  – Hans Zimmer

Editor’s Pick: Queer (A24)

Feature First Predicts: The Brutalist (A24)

Best Visual Effects

1. Dune: Part Two – Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, Gerd Nefzer (Warner Bros.)
2. Wicked – Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Paul Corbould, David Shirk (Universal Pictures)
3. Better Man – Luke Miller, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs, David Clayton (Paramount Pictures)
4. Deadpool & Wolverine – Matthew Twyford, Swen Gillberg, Vincent Papaix, Dominic Tuohy (Marvel Studios)
5. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, Rodney Burke (20th Century Studios)

Also In Contention:

• Alien Romulus (20th Century Studios) – Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, Shane Patrick Mahan
• Twisters (Universal Pictures) – Olivier Beaulieu, Bill Georgiou, Ben Snow, Florian Witzel
• Mufasa: The Lion King (Walt Disney Pictures) – Audrey Ferrara, Adam Valdez

Editor’s Pick: Better Man (Paramount Pictures)

Feature First Predicts: Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)

Best Film Editing

1. Dune: Part Two, Joe Walker (Warner Bros.)
2. Conclave, Nick Emerson (Focus Features)
3. Anora, Sean Baker (Neon)
4. Emilia Pérez, Juliette Welfling (Netflix)
5. The Brutalist, Dávid Jancsó (A24)

Also In Contention:

• Wicked (Universal Pictures) – Myron Kerstein
• Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM Studios) – Nicholas Monsour
• Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios) – Marco Costa

Editor’s Pick: Conclave, Nick Emerson (Focus Features)

Feature First Predicts: Dune: Part Two, Joe Walker (Warner Bros.)

Best Documentary Picture

1. No Other Land (ImmerGuteFilme)
2. Daughters (Netflix)
3. Sugarcane (National Geographic Documentary Films)
4. Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber)
5. Dahomey (Les Films du Bal)

Also In Contention:

• Black Box Diaries (MTV Documentary Films)
• Union (Level Ground)
• Will & Harper (Netflix)

Editor’s Pick: Daughters (Netflix)

Feature First Predicts: No Other Land (ImmerGuteFilme)

Best International Feature

1. Emilia Pérez, France (Netflix)
2. I’m Still Here, Brazil (Sony Pictures Classics)
3. Flow, Latvia (Janus Films/Sideshow)
4. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Germany (Neon)
5. Kneecap, Ireland (Sony Pictures Classics)

Also In Contention:

• How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, Thailand (Well Go Entertainment)
• Vermigllo, Italy (Janus Films)
• The Girl With the Needle, Denmark (Mubi)

Editor’s Pick: I’m Still Here, Brazil (Sony Pictures Classics)

Feature First Predicts: Emilia Perez, France (Netflix)

Best Cinematography

1. The Brutalist, Lol Crawley (A24)
2. Dune: Part Two, Greig Fraser (Warner Bros.)
3. Nickel Boys, Jomo Fray (Amazon MGM Studios)
4. Emilia Pérez, Paul Guilhaume (Netflix)
5. A Complete Unknown, Phedon Papamichael (Searchlight Pictures)

Also In Contention:

• Nosferatu (Focus Features) – Jarin Blaschke
• Conclave (Focus Features) – Stéphane Fontaine
• Maria (Netflix) – Edward Lachman

Editor’s Pick: The Brutalist, Lol Crawley (A24)

Feature First Predicts: The Brutalist, Lol Crawley (A24)

Best Director

1. Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (A24)
2. Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
3. Edward Berger, Conclave (Focus Features)
4. Sean Baker, Anora (Neon)
5. Coralie Fargeat, The Substance (Mubi)

Also In Contention:

• Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light (Janus Films/Sideshow)
• RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM Studios)
• James Mangold, A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures)

Editor’s Pick: Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (A24)

Feature First Predicts: Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (A24)

Best Picture

1. The Brutalist, Nick Gordon, D.J. Gugenheim, Brian Young, Andrew Lauren, Trevor Matthews, Andrew Morrison (A24)
2. Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann, Anthony Vacarello (Netflix)
3. Conclave, Alice Dawson, Robert Harris, Juliette Howell, Michael Jackman, Tessa Ross (Focus Features)
4. Wicked, Marc Platt, David Stone (Universal Pictures)
5. Anora, Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan (Neon)
6. A Complete Unknown, Fred Berger, Bob Bookman, Timothée Chalamet, Alan Gasmer, Alex Heineman, Peter Jaysen, James Mangold, Jeff Rosen (Searchlight Pictures)
7. The Substance, Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner (Mubi)
8. Sing Sing, Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Monique Walton (A24)
9. A Real Pain, Ewa Puszczyńska, Jennifer Semler, Jesse Eisenberg (Searchlight Pictures)
10. Dune: Part Two, Alice Dawson, Robert Harris, Juliette Howell, Michael Jackman, Tessa Ross (Warner Bros.)

Also In Contention:

• Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM Studios)
• All We Imagine As Light (Janus Films/Sideshow)
• I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics)
• September 5 (Paramount Pictures)
• Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)

Editor’s Pick: The Brutalist (A24)

Feature First Predicts: The Brutalist (A24)

Runner Up: Emilia Perez (Netflix)

There is a lot to look forward to when it comes to this year’s Oscars. With so many categories having unclear winners and favourites changing all the time, we won’t truly know how the evening is going to play out until it arrives on March 3rd. This year, even the extras included ‘In Contention’ still have a chance of bringing home a nomination. It’s truly anyone’s game, but we tried to lock down the most probable victors and nominees for the 97th Academy Awards.

Nominations for the 97th Academy Awards, or the 2025 Oscars, will be announced on Thursday 23rd January at 5:30am Pacific Time.

Thanks for reading this article for our 2025 Oscar predictions! For articles similar to this and for more movie news, make sure to check out our news section.