OSCARS 2025 SHORTLIST!

17th December 2024

And they’re off! The 2025 Oscar nominations are here, and—unsurprisingly—the Academy has gifted us a chaotic mix of brilliance, bold plays, and head-scratching decisions.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 97th Oscars ceremony.

Leading the charge is Emilia Pérez, the audacious French musical that came out swinging, earning a hefty stack of nominations across Best International Feature, Original Score, and Makeup and Hairstyling. While it’s being celebrated as an unconventional frontrunner, it hasn’t dodged controversy. The film’s handling of trans identity has sparked a cultural debate—revolutionary or reductive?

Meanwhile, Wicked has proven it’s impossible to keep a good witch down. The emerald-tinged blockbuster turned heads in Original Score, Visual Effects, and Sound, but the real headline here? Both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande scored acting nods—Erivo in Best Actress and Grande in Supporting Actress. It’s a smart (and suspiciously familiar) play, as Hollywood’s unofficial rules dictate you don’t put co-leads up against each other. Regardless, the move has paid off, and now Grande’s legions of fans—known to cause mild internet earthquakes—have an Oscar race to rally behind.

Elsewhere, the International Feature category is poised to steal the spotlight this year, with films from Brazil, Senegal, Germany, and Ireland breathing fire into the competition. This isn’t just a nod to cinematic excellence—it’s a sign of how global storytelling is increasingly outpacing Hollywood in raw creativity.

Add to that the return of Conan O’Brien as host—yes, a comedian hosting the Oscars—and you’ve got a recipe for a ceremony that promises to be less “Hollywood navel-gazing” and more “entertainment with teeth.”

This year feels like a line in the sand: will the Academy lean into bold, progressive voices, or default to comfort and nostalgia? On March 2, we’ll see who gets their fairytale ending—and who’s left with nothing but memes.

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