Oscars 2025: The Race Begins as Nominations Are Unveiled
The 2025 Oscars race has officially kicked off, with the announcement of nominees for the 98th Academy Awards. Actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman revealed the contenders in a pre-dawn ceremony at 5:30 a.m. PT on Thursday, held at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' headquarters in Beverly Hills.
A Record Number of Eligible Films and a New Category
This year, a total of 317 films were eligible for consideration across the awards' 24 competitive categories. Notably, this marks the first year the Academy will present an Oscar for Best Casting, a significant addition that highlights the crucial role of casting directors in filmmaking.
Among the most talked-about films from the past year are several major contenders:
- "One Battle After Another" – Paul Thomas Anderson's relentless political thriller.
- "Frankenstein" – Guillermo del Toro's lush Gothic monster drama.
- "Sinners" – Ryan Coogler's rich, supernatural saga set in the Jim Crow South.
Key Nomination Highlights Across Major Categories
The nominations showcase a diverse range of talent and genres. Here are some of the standout nominees in pivotal categories:
Best Supporting Actor
- Benicio Del Toro, "One Battle After Another"
- Jacob Elordi, "Frankenstein"
- Delroy Lindo, "Sinners"
- Sean Penn, "One Battle After Another"
- Stellan Skarsgard, "Sentimental Value"
Best Supporting Actress
- Elle Fanning, "Sentimental Value"
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, "Sentimental Value"
- Amy Madigan, "Weapons"
- Wunmi Mosaku, "Sinners"
- Teyana Taylor, "One Battle After Another"
Best Adapted Screenplay
- "Bugonia," Will Tracy
- "Frankenstein," Guillermo del Toro
- "Hamnet," Chloé Zhao & Maggie O'Farrell
- "One Battle After Another," Paul Thomas Anderson
- "Train Dreams," Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
Best Original Screenplay
- "Blue Moon," Robert Kaplow
- "It Was Just an Accident," Jafar Panahi & Script Collaborators
- "Marty Supreme," Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie
- "Sentimental Value," Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt
- "Sinners," Ryan Coogler
Technical and Creative Categories
In the technical realms, films like "Frankenstein" and "Sinners" continue to dominate, with nominations in Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design, Production Design, and Original Score. The Animated Feature category sees contenders such as "Elio" and "Zootopia 2," while Documentary and International features bring global stories to the forefront.
Notable Frontrunners and Previous Success
Paul Thomas Anderson's thriller "One Battle After Another" has already proven its awards season mettle, having won four trophies at the Golden Globes. Similarly, Ryan Coogler's "Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan, has been a critical and box office hit, positioning it as a strong Oscar contender.
Event Details and Host
The 98th Oscars ceremony is scheduled for March 15 at Hollywood's iconic Dolby Theatre. Comic Conan O'Brien will return to host for the second consecutive year, promising an entertaining evening celebrating cinematic excellence.
As the film industry gears up for Hollywood's biggest night, these nominations set the stage for a competitive and thrilling awards season, with audiences eagerly awaiting the final results.
