The 2025 Oscar nominations were unveiled Thursday, with the Spanish-language, French-produced crime musical Emilia Pérez making a historic impact. The film garnered 13 nominations, setting a new record for the most nominations ever for a non-English language film, just one shy of the all-time record of 14 set by La La Land (2016), Titanic (1997), and All About Eve (1950). Close behind, The Brutalist and Wicked each earned 10 nominations.
In the race for Best Picture, Emilia Pérez joins a competitive field that includes The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, and Wicked. In a significant milestone, Wicked also secured nominations for Cynthia Erivo in Best Actress and Ariana Grande in Best Supporting Actress.
The list of nominees also highlights several other notable films, including A Complete Unknown and Conclave, each earning 8 nominations, and Anora, which received 6.
Key Nomination Highlights:
- Best Picture: Nominations include Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, The Substance, and Wicked.
- Best Director: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and Sean Baker for Anora.
- Best Actress: Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Pérez), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), and Mikey Madison (Anora).
- Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), and Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown).
In other categories, Emilia Pérez also picked up nods for Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup & Hairstyling, while Wicked earned recognition in Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
Controversy and AI in Filmmaking
Both The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez stirred controversy regarding their use of artificial intelligence in film production. The Brutalist used AI to adjust Hungarian language dialogue, while Emilia Pérez employed AI to alter Karla Sofia Gascon’s vocal range. This has sparked debate, especially in light of the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes centered on AI concerns.
The Awards Show
The 2025 Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC and Hulu on March 2 at 7 p.m. EST, with Conan O’Brien hosting for the first time.
Before the Oscars, key awards ceremonies, including the Critics Choice Awards (Feb. 7), SAG Awards (Feb. 23), and the BAFTAs (Feb. 16), will offer additional insights into the potential Oscar winners.
