2025 Above The Line Oscar Predictions – 6 Months Before

It is now only six months until the 97th Academy Awards which means it’s a good time to start making solid Oscar predictions on who will be receiving nominations. As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) begins and the Venice Film Festival finishes, strong acclaim has begun building for actors and films alike. Whilst some have come out more poorly received than expected, a few dark horses have emerged that shake up what the runnings for awards in 2025 could look like.

These predictions and whether a film qualifies for the 2025 Oscars are subject to change. For example, it is not yet known whether A24 will be pushing The Brutalist for this year’s Oscars or, due to the heavy load on their plate with Queer and Sing Sing, wait until next year to release it.

Best Actor

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

Also In Contention: John David Washington (The Piano Lesson), Paul Mescal (Gladiator II), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

Editor’s Pick: Daniel Craig (Queer)
Feature First Predicts: Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)

Best Actress

1. Mikey Madison, Anora (Neon)
2. Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun (Sony Pictures Classics)
3. Angelina Jolie, Maria (Netflix)
4. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
5. Julianne Moore, The Room Next Door (Sony Pictures Classics)

Also In Contention: Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Nicole Kidman (Babygirl), Amy Adams (Nightbitch)

Editor’s Pick: Mikey Madison (Anora)
Feature First Predicts: Mikey Madison (Anora)

Best Supporting Actor

1. Guy Pearce, The Brutalist (A24)
2. Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing (A24)
3. Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures)
4. Stanley Tucci, Conclave (Focus Features)
5. Denzel Washington, Gladiator II (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Also In Contention: Gabriel LaBelle (Saturday Night), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Samuel L Jackson (The Piano Lesson)

Editor’s Pick: Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
Feature First Predicts: Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)

Best Supporting Actress

1. Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door (Sony Pictures Classics)
2. Saoirse Ronan, Blitz (Apple Original Films)
3. Zoe Saldana, Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
4. Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson (Netflix)
5. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM Studios)

Also In Contention: Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Isabella Rosselini (Conclave), Lady Gaga (Joker: Folie à Deux)

Editor’s Pick: Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
Feature First Predicts: Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door)

Best Animated Feaure

1. The Wild Robot, Chris Sanders, Jeff Hermann (Dreamworks Animation)
2. Memoir of a Snail, Adam Elliot, Liz Kearney (IFC Films)
3. Inside Out 2, Kelsey Mann, Mark Nielsen (Pixar)
4. Flow, Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, Gregory Zalcman (Janus Films/Sideshow)
5. Piece by Piece, Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Pharrell Williams (Focus Features)

Also In Contention: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix), The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Warner Bros.), Transformers One (Paramount Pictures)

Editor’s Pick: The Wild Robot (Dreamworks Animation)
Feature First Predicts: The Wild Robot (Dreamworks Animation)

Best Original Screenplay

1. Anora, Sean Baker (Neon)
2. Blitz, Steve McQueen (Apple Original Films)
3. A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg (Searchlight Pictures)
4. Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard (Netflix)
5. Saturday Night, Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman (Sony Pictures)

Also In Contention: Challengers (Amazon MGM) – Justin Kuritzkes, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street) — Mike Leigh, The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon) — Mohammad Rasoulof

Editor’s Pick: Anora (Neon)
Feature First Predicts: Anora (Neon)

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. Sing Sing, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield (A24)
2. Conclave, Peter Straughan (Focus Features)
3. A Complete Unknown, Jay Cocks, James Mangold (Searchlight Pictures)
4. The Piano Lesson, Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington (Netflix)
5. Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts (Warner Bros.)

Also In Contention: The Room Next Door (Sony Pictures Classics) — Pedro Almodóvar, Hit Man (Netflix) — Richard Linklater, Glen Powell, Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures) — David Scarpa, Peter Craig

Editor’s Pick: Sing Sing (A24)
Feature First Predicts: Sing Sing (A24)

Best Picture

1. Sing Sing, Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Monique Walton (A24)
2. The Brutalist, Nick Gordon, D.J. Gugenheim, Brian Young, Andrew Lauren, Trevor Matthews, Andrew Morrison (A24)
3. Anora, Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan (Neon)
4. Conclave, Alice Dawson, Robert Harris, Juliette Howell, Michael Jackman, Tessa Ross (Focus Features)
5. Blitz, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Michael Schaefer (Apple Original Films)
6. Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann, Anthony Vacarello (Netflix)
7. The Room Next Door, Agustín Almodóvar, Esther García (Sony Pictures Classic)
8. A Complete Unknown, Fred Berger, Bob Bookman, Timothée Chalamet, Alan Gasmer, Alex Heineman, Peter Jaysen, James Mangold, Jeff Rosen (Searchlight Pictures)
9. Saturday Night, Jason Blumenfeld, Peter Rice, Jason Reitman, GIl Kenan (Sony Pictures)
10. Dune: Part Two, Alice Dawson, Robert Harris, Juliette Howell, Michael Jackman, Tessa Ross (Warner Bros.)

Also In Contention: Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures), Joker: Folie à Deux (Warner Bros.), A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures)

Editor’s Pick: Sing Sing (A24)
Feature First Predicts: Sing Sing (A24)

There is a lot to look forward to when it comes to the next Oscars and the year isn’t over yet. Whilst most of the major players have had their first screenings, the majority of these films are yet to be released to the public or even have multiple showings. Once they release, predictions could shift massively but as of halfway through 2024, it seems all of the films with the potential to win are clear. 

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