The 97th Academy Awards are March 2, 2025. There are 10 films nominated for Best Picture, each with a cast and crew hoping to take home the title.
“A Complete Unknown”
Up for a total of eight Oscars, “A Complete Unknown” is a biopic about legendary musician Bob Dylan. Directed by James Mangold and starring the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning, “A Complete Unknown” explores the life of Dylan when he arrived in New York in 1961 at 19 years old.
“A Complete Unknown” is currently available to watch in theaters.
“Anora”
“Anora,” Sean Baker’s modern take on “Cinderella,” tells the story of young sex worker Ani (Mikey Madison) and her life after marrying Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian billionaire. However, things take a turn for the couple when Vanya’s parents find out about the marriage and send henchmen to annul the marriage, leaving Ani and Vanya to run through the streets of New York.
In addition to Best Picture, “Anora” is also nominated for five other Oscars including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
The movie is available to rent or own online and is still showing in select theaters.
“Conclave”
Edward Berger’s “Conclave,” adapted from Rober Harris’ 2016 novel of the same name, explores what happens when a pope dies. The suspicious death is complicated, and cardinals arrive at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to select a new pope.
“Conclave” is nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.
“Conclave” is available to stream on Peacock.
“Dune: Part Two”
In “Dune: Part Two,” Denis Villeneuve takes viewers on a journey through love, life and fate as Paul Arteides (Chalamet) joins Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen as he seeks revenge on those who destroyed his family in “Dune” (2021).
“Dune” (2021) won six Oscar awards in 2022, and “Dune: Part Two” is nominated for five awards this year.
“Dune: Part Two” is available to stream on Netflix or Max and is available to rent or own on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
“Emilia Pérez”
Netflix original “Emilia Pérez,” directed by Jacques Audiard, takes viewers on a journey through Mexico as Emilia (Karla Sofia Gascón), a cartel leader, seeks the help of lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña) to fake her own death and get gender-affirming procedures.
Although the film has received criticism for its representation of Mexican culture and transgender people as well as its use of AI, “Emilia Pérez” has received 13 Oscar nominations.
“Emilia Pérez” is available to stream on Netflix.
“I’m Still Here”
Based on a true story, director Walter Salles tells the devastating story of a wife's relentless search for the truth about her husband’s disappearance in “I’m Still Here.”
The film is adapted from Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir. Former politician Rubens Pavia was outspoken in his criticism of Brazil's military dictatorship and was taken by government officials from his home in Rio De Janeiro. Rubens Pavia was told he must give a disposition to authorities, and then disappeared. “I’m Still Here” follows Eunice’s perspective as she tirelessly fights for justice.
In addition to Best Picture, “I’m Still Here” is nominated for two other Oscars: Best International Feature and Best Actress for Fernanda Torres.
“I’m Still Here” will be available to watch in theaters nationwide Feb. 14.
“Nickel Boys”
“Nickel Boys,” directed by RaMell Ross and based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning book of the same name, follows the close friendship of Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson) as they do everything they can to survive the abusive conditions of Nickel Academy. Curtis is sent to Nickel Academy, based on The Dozier School for Boys, after falsely being accused of a crime in the 1960s, crushing his dreams of attending college.
The film is also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.
“Nickel Boys” is available to watch in theaters.
“The Brutalist”
With a runtime of 3 hours and 35 minutes with a 15-minute intermission, “The Brutalist” is a beast of a film. Directed by Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist” follows Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody) as he and his wife emigrate to the U.S. to start a new life after surviving the Holocaust.
“The Brutalist” is nominated for a total of 10 awards, including Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Adrien Brody and Best Original Screenplay.
“The Brutalist” is currently only available to watch in theaters.
“The Substance”
Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” critiques women’s beauty standards in modern day society. The film follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a famous aerobics instructor with her own television show who gets fired on her 50th birthday.
Plagued by her age and the feeling as though her time has passed, Sparkle begins to use a black-market drug which promises to turn her into a younger, more beautiful version of herself so long as she lives as her normal 50-year-old self every seven days.
The horror film has a grand total of five Oscar nominations.
“The Substance” is available to stream on Mubi, and is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV.
“Wicked”
Originally a Broadway musical, “Wicked” was adapted to film and released in theaters Nov. 22, 2024. “Wicked” is directed by Jon M. Chu and follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a young witch determined to discover her power and use it for good, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), the popular girl at Shiz University yearning for power and praise. Together, they navigate an unlikely friendship and a journey to the mythical land of Oz.
The film is nominated for a total of 10 awards including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Cynthia Erivo and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Ariana Grande.
“Wicked” is currently available to rent or buy online.
