The Oscar race for 2025 heats up as the Academy announces shortlists in ten categories, narrowing the field of contenders for cinema's most prestigious awards. Leading the charge are the eccentric musical Emilia Perez, which tells the story of a drug lord who transitions gender, and the family-friendly fantasy musical Wicked: Part 1.
This year’s 97th Oscar season unfolds in stages, each adding excitement to the competition. The shortlist has whittled down nominees in key categories such as Best International Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Original Song.
Emilia Perez stands out with six nominations, the most of any film, and is vying for two spots in the Original Song category—an unusual feat. Following closely is Wicked, with four mentions across categories including Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Music, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
Animation The Wild Robot has made strides in three categories, including Best Song, competing against Disney's Inside Out 2, which only secured one nomination.
Other notable films include Gladiator 2 and Alien: Romulus, both with three nominations. The final nominations will be announced on January 17, 2025, with the ceremony set for March 2, 2025, broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.