2025 Oscar Predictions

The Oscars are back again! This year, the 97th Academy Awards will take place on March 2nd, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Every year, the Oscars are where the best films, actors, and directors of the past year get celebrated and sometimes snubbed. 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is responsible for choosing the best in film. It is a voting board made up of about 10,000 film industry insiders including actors, directors, producers, and behind-the-scenes professionals. While the Oscars have their share of controversy including shocking upsets and occasional slap incidents, one thing is for sure: they keep us talking about movies long after the credits roll.

Here are my predictions for who’s taking home the biggest awards this year! 

Best Picture: “Emilia Pérez”

“Emilia Pérez” is already leading with 13 nominations, and it’s exactly the kind of film the Oscars love: emotional, bold, and socially relevant. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the movie tells the story of a cartel leader who transitions to escape their past. It stands out as one of the most unconventional and daring films of the year.

Other strong contenders for Best Picture include “The Brutalist”, which has 10 nominations, and “Wicked”. While musicals don’t always win Best Picture, “Wicked” is a cultural phenomenon and it might have a shot.

Best Director: Brady Corbet vs. Sean Baker

This year’s Best Director category is shaping up to be a two-horse race between Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”) and Sean Baker (“Anora”), and it could go either way.

Corbet has momentum from both the Golden Globe and British Academy Film Awards, two major precursors that often align with Oscar winners. “The Brutalist” is a visually stunning, meticulously crafted historical drama, the kind of film that would traditionally win in this category. The Academy has always had a soft spot for ambitious, grand-scale storytelling, and Corbet’s film delivers on that. 

Baker’s recent Directors Guild of America win was a huge deal, and this award has historically been one of the most reliable predictors of Best Director at the Oscars. “Anora” is an intense, character-driven film, while the Academy typically leans toward bigger productions in this category

Final call: Sean Baker wins, but it’s going to be close.

Best Actor: Adrien Brody

Adrien Brody is back in the Oscar conversation with “The Brutalist,” where he plays a tortured artist, a role that perfectly fits the Academy’s love for intense, emotional performances. In 2003, Brody won an Oscar for “The Pianist,” becoming the youngest actor ever to take home the award. This could be his big comeback moment.

On the other hand, Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” is a total transformation. He perfectly captures Dylan’s signature voice, mannerisms, and mysterious persona. Biopics often do well at the Oscars (for example, Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 2018 or Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in “Lincoln” in 2012), and that combined with Chalamet’s widespread popularity and undeniable talent makes him a strong contender for the win.

Best Actress: Mikey Madison

Mikey Madison isn’t a household name yet. But her lead role in “Anora,” where she plays a Brooklyn stripper navigating a tricky relationship, has been called one of the most gripping performances of the year. If she wins, it could catapult her career in a way that’s happened for past winners like Jennifer Lawrence and Brie Larson.

At the same time, Demi Moore in “The Substance” is a strong competitor. She is already a Hollywood veteran, and this would be a defining moment in her return to the spotlight. If the Academy opts to recognize her decades-long career, she could take this win.

Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin

Coming off his “Succession” success, Kieran Culkin is the frontrunner for “A Real Pain.” He’s already proven he can deliver complex, hilarious, and heartbreaking performances on TV, and now he’s doing it on the big screen. The Academy loves actors who make the jump from TV to film.

That said, Edward Norton is in the mix for “A Complete Unknown,” and he’s an Oscar favorite. He’s been nominated three times before but has never won. If voters want to finally reward him, this could be his year.

Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña has delivered what might be the performance of her career in “Emilia Pérez.” She’s been in major blockbusters including “Avatar” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and this is her chance to be recognized at the Oscars. Given that “Emilia Pérez” is already the awards season darling coming off of the Golden Globes, Saldaña has a strong chance.

Ariana Grande in Wicked is a wild card. Her transition from popstar to leading actress in a major musical could either intrigue voters or be met with skepticism. If voters want to celebrate the movie’s massive mainstream success, they might throw her a win. However, Lady Gaga’s performance in “House of Gucci” in 2021 shows that the Oscars don’t always favor pop stars crossing into acting, even when they deliver strong performances.

The 2025 Oscars will leave a lasting impact on the careers of these nominees. A win can turn a rising star into a household name, give a veteran actor a long-awaited comeback, or even redefine the kinds of roles actors will be offered in the future. Whether it’s an unexpected victory or a predictable sweep, the results will shape Hollywood’s next big projects and the faces we will be seeing on screen in the coming years.