Every year, February and March are considered Oscar months. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences conducts this highly prestigious award ceremony to commemorate the achievements of talented actors, actresses, and crew members from various departments who have significantly contributed to the film industry.
Many films are nominated for the Oscars, but only a few win. Additionally, Oscar-nominated movies are no less than Oscar-winning movies, both make equal contributions to the industry.
This year, the 97th Academy Awards was held in the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on March 2, 2025, honoring movies released in 2024. It was a dazzling night, attended by many film fraternities and hosted by Conan O’Brien. Let us look at the top Oscar-nominated movies of 2025 to gain more insight.
Anora
Anora is an American romantic-comedy drama film. Directed, edited, and produced by Sean Baker. The film’s star cast includes Mikey Madison in a leading role as Anora (Ani), a sex worker, and Mark Eydelshteyn as Zakharov, a Russian oligarch. The main story is about how a sex worker falls in love with the son of a highly reputed, wealthy Russian family, which ultimately leads to a complex relationship.
The film also sheds light on how power, money, and class can overrule humanity or love in reality. All the other supporting actors play an equal role in the movie. Anora was nominated in six Academy Award categories—Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. However, the film won 5 awards in the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing categories.
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown is an American biographical musical drama film. Directed by James Mangold, this film unfolds the ups and downs of the musical legend Bob Dylan. Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan is the main character in the film. However, other supporting actors’ portrayals remain exceptional. The story sheds light on how an artist seeks artistic freedom amidst stardom and how an artist has to evolve in the music industry.
This unique concept made the film garner numerous recognitions from the audience and the film fraternity. This remarkable appreciation led the film to enter the Academy Awards officially by earning nominations in the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress categories.
The Substance
The Substance, directed and written by Coralie Fargeat, is an American body horror film. This film specifically showcases the emotional and mental pressure experienced by aging actresses in the beauty industry. The film’s leading star cast includes Demi Moore as actress Elisabeth Sparkle and Margaret Qualley as a younger version of Demi Moore.
The film revolves around a fading actress’s life, which takes a drastic turn when she chooses a different path to sustain her identity in the showbiz. The unique depiction of characters led the film to earn a nomination in the categories of Best Picture, Best Actress in a leading role, and Best Makeup and hair styling.
Written by: Tejaswini Prasad