The 97th Academy Awards of 2025 arrived in many categories honoring films from 2024. The films nominated by the Oscars include Anora, A Complete Unknown, and The Brutalist as they have been rewarded four or more top places through a select few categories. The top category, best picture, includes the films Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emelia Perez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked. Anaora is most likely to win best picture because the film captivates everyone with its rawness and aesthetics. The film perfects its use of set dressing and is predicted by many outlets to win the top prize.
Directed by Sean Baker, Anora goes into the life of a Russian-American club performer portrayed by Mikey Madison. The film’s portrayal of the protagonist’s journey is something that really stuck with audiences, earning it the Best Picture nomination. Madison’s immersive preparation, including attending a form of training for the role added authenticity thereby contributing significantly to the film’s success. While Anora is a favorite, other nominees offered compelling narratives. The Brutalist, Brady Corbet’s architectural drama, stood out for its unique storytelling and visuals, securing multiple nominations including Best Director and Best Cinematography. A Complete Unknown, James Mangold’s exploration of identity and transformation, captivated audiences earning nominations for Best Director and Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet’s extraordinary performance as musician Bob Dylan. Conclave, Edward Berger’s film about papal politics, offered a fascinating story with Ralph Fiennes who delivered a standout performance that earned him a Best Actor nomination.
Other nominated films include The Wild Robot, Flow, and The Substance. Best Picture and Best Actress nominee, The Substance, is a horror film about escaping expectations, wrong morals, and the reality of the world using a “mysterious serum” to make the main character, played by Demi Moore, “a younger, better version of herself” until things get out of hand. The Wild Robot is nominated for Best Animated Feature Film, Music, and Sound. This film takes place in a futuristic world where a plane crashes with only one robot surviving on an untouched island where the robot has to adapt to its surroundings and bond with the animals to care for them to the best of its abilities. Another Best Animated Feature Film nominee, Flow, tells the story of a cat who survived a great flood and has to find ways to survive by itself until it finds a boat populated by various species. They have to team up, despite their differences, to survive together. Each of these films carry interesting stories and amazing characteristics.
All together, the Oscars recognize many great movies. With the 2025 awards season coming to an end in March, everyone looks forward to seeing who will be winning in each category. Many controversies could arise about whether audiences think they “deserve” to win or not. To find out who the big winners are for the 97th Academy Awards, Oscars of 2025, watch the awards show March 2, starting at 4 PM.
