Hyderabad: The 97th Academy Awards are all set for a star-studded event set to take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. With the nominees to be announced on Thursday (6:30 PM IST), all eyes are on the probable films that have a fair chance to make it to the list, which will be revealed in a unique two-part virtual announcement. Comedians Rachel Sennott (from Saturday Night Live and The Idol) and Bowen Yang (from Saturday Night Live and Wicked) will take the stage for the announcement, marking a lively beginning to the Oscar season.
What to Expect from the Nominations
This year, there is no clear frontrunner, making the Best Picture race particularly exciting. Movies like Emilia Perez, Conclave, and Wicked are generating significant buzz, with predictions that they will dominate the nominations. These films could lead the charge with 10 nominations each across various categories, such as Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.
Moreover, The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, and The Substance can also emerge as strong contenders. However, films like Anora, A Real Pain, and September 5 could provide surprises.
The Best Director category, however, remains particularly competitive, with filmmakers like Edward Berger (for Conclave) and Coralie Fargeat (for The Substance) possibly making it to the cut. Actors are also expected to shine this year, with names like Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothee Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), and Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) being strong contenders for Best Actor. Meanwhile, Demi Moore (The Substance) and Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) could dominate the Best Actress race.
Other categories to watch out for include Best Supporting Actor, with a likely nomination for Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave) for Best Supporting Actress. The Best Original Song category will also look different this year, as the Academy has decided to focus more on the songwriters, moving away from live performances.