Understanding this 12 months’s Oscars is so simple as studying your ABC – so this is an alphabetical run-down of this 12 months’s Academy Awards.
A is for Anora
Humorous and good, Anora has been described as a modern-day Fairly Lady and has had loads of buzz since taking house the largest prize on the Cannes Movie Pageant final 12 months. It tells the story of a younger lady, a intercourse employee, who finally ends up falling in love with a really wealthy man; this time spherical, he is the son of a Russian oligarch. It is one in every of this 12 months’s 10 greatest image nominees, with 25-year-old Mikey Madison in competition for greatest actress.
B is for The Brutalist
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Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones in The Brutalist. Pic: Rex/ Everett/Shutterstock
Largely set in America following the Second World Struggle, The Brutalist has been described as a cinematic masterpiece by some critics – albeit one with a bum-numbingly lengthy three-and-a-half-hour run time. Star Adrien Brody has gained plaudits (and a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and different awards) for his portrayal of Hungarian architect Lazlo Toth and is up as soon as once more for greatest actor right here. The movie can be within the working for greatest image; it missed out on that one on the BAFTAs, however filmmaker Brady Corbet was named greatest director – so the pair can be hoping to at the least repeat that success.
C is for Conclave
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Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence in Conclave. Pic: Focus Options 2024
This can be a frontrunner for greatest image after profitable greatest movie at this 12 months’s BAFTAs. Primarily based on Robert Harris’s 2016 novel of the identical identify and centred across the collection of a brand new pope, the movie has earned star Ralph Fiennes – who performs Cardinal Lawrence, the Vatican’s strongest determine after the pope – his third Oscar nomination. The nods earlier than had been in 1993 for Schindler’s Record and in 1996 for The English Affected person; however whereas he is lengthy overdue a win, going up towards Brody within the Brutalist is more likely to be the rationale this may not be his 12 months.
D is for Dune: Half 2
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Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Half Two. Pic: Warner Bros. Photos/Niko Tavernise
Timothee Chalamet stars in two of this 12 months’s greatest image nominees. We’ll come to his portrayal of Bob Dylan a bit later, however on this one he performs Paul Atreides within the second a part of director Denis Villeneuve’s reimagining of Frank Herbert’s extremely acclaimed 1965 novel. His is a personality in search of revenge towards those that decimated his household tree - tackling politics, faith, the battle for treasured sources – and, extra importantly, large sand worms. It is epic in scale, however not the Chalamet movie everybody’s speaking about this 12 months.
E is for Emilia Perez
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(L-R) Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez and Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Pérez. Pic: Web page 114/ Why Not Productins/ Pathe/ France 2 Cinema/ Netflix
Set in Mexico however largely filmed in France, Emilia Perez is an operatic Spanish-language musical which tells the story of a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender affirmation surgical procedure. It leads the race with 13 Oscar nods, and broke the file to change into essentially the most nominated non-English language movie within the historical past of the awards – with star Karla Sofia Gascon making historical past as a trans lady nominated for greatest actress. After profitable a number of Golden Globes at the beginning of 2025 it was one of many frontrunners, however confronted scrutiny of its themes and stars from the trans group and Mexican critics. The nail within the coffin got here after offensive tweets posted by Gascon had been unearthed.
F is for Circulation
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Pic: UFO Distribution
A dialogue-free environmental fable a couple of cat solid adrift on a ship, compelled to beat its variations with a capybara, lemur, stork, and a golden retriever with the intention to survive a flood. With Circulation, visionary animator Gints Zilbalodis has secured Latvia its first-ever Oscar nominations for greatest worldwide function movie and greatest animated function movie. Within the latter there’s some stiff competitors this 12 months, see…
G is for Gromit, as in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
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Pic: Netflix
…the return of Feathers McGraw. First seen in ’93’s Oscar-winning brief The Incorrect Trousers, he is again to get his revenge on inventor Wallace and his trusty beagle Gromit. The return of Nick Park’s immortal creations after a 16 12 months break noticed creators Aardman win two BAFTAs a couple of weeks in the past, and regardless of being unapologetically British – reportedly there was a little bit of back-and-forth with Netflix over the phrase “Flippin’ Nora!” – its confirmed a shock hit within the US over time. An Oscar win for Gromit would in fact be “absolutely cracking, lad”.
H is for Heartbreak of I am Nonetheless Right here
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Fernanda Torres stars in I am Nonetheless Right here. Pic: Altitude
Primarily based on a real story, this movie depicts the horror and heartbreak of a mom of 5 combating Brazil’s authoritarian navy regime within the Seventies after her husband is forcibly “disappeared”, leaving her to seek for the reality and rebuild her life. This Portuguese-language movie is nominated for 3 Oscars, together with greatest actress for Fernanda Torres in addition to greatest Image, however the Brazilian drama’s probabilities within the worldwide class are in all probability its greatest wager at taking house a statuette.
I is for Inside Out 2
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Pic: Disney/Pixar
J is for Jeremy Sturdy… and Sebastian Stan
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Jeremy Sturdy (left) as Roy Cohn and Sebastian Stan (proper) as Donald Trump in The Apprentice. Pic: Briarcliff Leisure
They’re the celebrities of the contentious biopic of newly inaugurated president Donald Trump and have each acquired performing nominations. The Apprentice concentrates on Trump’s early years as an aspiring real-estate mogul in New York – and whereas the president described it as a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job”, the Academy didn’t agree. Stan will get a nod for his portrayal of Trump, whereas Sturdy is recognised for his efficiency as mentor Roy Cohn. He finds himself up towards his former Succession Roy brother Kieran Culkin in one of the best supporting class. Could one of the best Roy win.
Okay is for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (and different monkeys)
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Pic: twentieth Century Studios
This movie is nominated for greatest visible results, a class that is awash with simian illustration this 12 months as at least three of the nominees prominently function CGI monkeys. In addition to the most recent instalment within the acclaimed Planet Of The Apes franchise, there’s additionally the Robbie Williams biopic Higher Man, which sees the singer depicted as an ape, and the creepy winged monkey guards of Depraved, who will in all probability fly off with the prize.
L is for Late… which Elton John in all probability can be to his personal social gathering
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Pic: Walt Disney Photos
Sir Elton John, who just lately retired from performing reside, is up for greatest unique music for By no means Too Late, from the documentary about his life. He already has two Oscars in his awards cupboard – for Can You Really feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King in 1994, and for (I am Gonna) Love Me Once more from Rocketman in 2019 – however can he make it a hat-trick? Whereas little doubt he is satisfied to be nominated, from a party-planning perspective it is a tad awkward – because it means he’ll must miss most of his annual charitable Oscars social gathering, which takes place on the similar time.
M is for Memoir Of A Snail
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Pic: Fashionable Movies
One other greatest animation nominee, this stop-motion providing is far more bleak than Wallace And Gromit. Succession’s Sarah Snook lends her voice to Australian animator Adam Elliot’s tragicomic story of loneliness, taking part in a girl referred to as Grace who’s suffering from a lot misfortune she needs to crawl into her shell, similar to her snail pet.
N is for Nickel Boys
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Ethan Herisse as Elwood and Brandon Wilson as Turner in Nickel Boys. Pic: Orion Photos
Telling a narrative of abuse at a US reform faculty within the Sixties, this greatest image nominee is the movie with maybe essentially the most distinctive visible model, shot virtually totally from the standpoint of the 2 lead characters. It is a disorientating drama that may stick with you lengthy after the credit roll.
O is for O’Brien
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Pic: AP
The comic and former late-night speak present host Conan O’Brien takes over from four-time veteran Jimmy Kimmel. It is not at all times a straightforward gig, and after California’s devastating wildfires it is perhaps particularly difficult to get the tone proper this 12 months. Whereas he is stated he’ll be conserving in thoughts what the Los Angeles space has been by way of, with regards to making enjoyable of the celebrities within the viewers he is joked he intends to “go after the ones that have personally been cruel” to him over time. Honest sufficient.
P is for A Actual Ache
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Kieran Culkin (left) and Jesse Eisenberg in A Actual Ache. Pic: Courtesy of Searchlight Photos 2024
The story of two cousins who journey to Poland to retrace their household’s historical past, A Actual Ache is written by and in addition stars Jesse Eisenberg. Nevertheless, it is his co-star Kieran Culkin who’s stealing the limelight this awards season. He is loved a greatest supporting actor profitable streak at ceremonies together with the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, giving show-stealing speeches which have livened issues up a bit.
Q is for Queer (and different snubs)
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Daniel Craig (left) and Drew Starkey in Queer. Pic: Mubi/A24
When you could have so many movies, so few nomination areas to fill, there are at all times going to be people who miss out. Many felt Daniel Craig ought to have been up for greatest actor for his efficiency in Queer, through which he performs an American expatriate in Fifties Mexico Metropolis who turns into infatuated with a youthful man. Elsewhere, Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of opera singer Maria Callas in Maria additionally did not make an impression with the Academy, as did Hugh Grant’s efficiency within the horror Heretic. London-born actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste additionally missed out, regardless of a BAFTA nod and important approval for her efficiency in Exhausting Truths. Others who had been thought of contenders embody Nicole Kidman (Babygirl), Selena Gomez (Emilia Perez), Denzel Washington (Gladiator II) and Pamela Anderson (The Final Showgirl).
R is for Robots (of the wild selection)
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Pic: Common Photos/DreamWorks Animation
Lupita Nyong’o performs the ROZZUM unit 7134, in any other case often known as Roz within the adaptation of Peter Brown’s New York Instances bestseller Wild Robotic. This greatest animation providing follows Roz the android because it washes up on a distant island and turns into an adoptive guardian to an orphaned gosling. This one’s an actual tear-jerker and whereas a lot has been written concerning the movie’s animated artistry – with some critics claiming it is one of the best animated movie of the 12 months, if not the last decade – its music, written by Kris Bowers, is equally as spectacular.
S is for Sing Sing
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Colman Domingo (left) and Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing. Pic: Pat Scola
That is the true story of an arts programme for males incarcerated at a jail in New York State. Alongside Colman Domingo, who’s up for greatest actor, and Paul Raci, a lot of the solid is made up of former prisoners taking part in themselves, who attended the group throughout their sentences. Whereas Domingo is not the frontrunner to win in his class, he has, as soon as once more, been setting the bar for males’s style on the pink carpets this 12 months, so look out for his outfit.
T is for The Substance
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Demi Moore in The Substance. Pic: Mubi
Physique horror film The Substance has given its star Demi Moore a profession reboot like no different. The well timed narrative about an older actress refusing to fade into obscurity, with horrifying penalties, is one voters are more likely to lap up. It noticed Moore take greatest actress in a musical or comedy on the Golden Globes, giving an acceptance speech through which she spoke about being written off as a “popcorn actress” early on in her profession – which has laid the bottom for additional wins, together with a Critics Alternative gong. Can she add an Oscar to the shelf?
U is for Unknown
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Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Full Unknown. Pic: Searchlight Photos
Chalamet’s second punt at greatest image sees him choose up the guitar and provides it some mumbling Bob Dylan vitality in A Full Unknown, taking part in the Nobel prize-winning folks hero. The star spent 5 years engaged on his singing, harmonica and guitar expertise. May the Academy reward him for his efforts with one of the best actor gong? Apparently, if he beats Adrien Brody, he will even steal the actor’s present file because the youngest ever greatest actor winner; Brody was 29 years and 343 days previous when he gained in 2003 for his efficiency in The Pianist, whereas Chalamet can be 29 years and 65 days previous on Oscar night time.
V is for Vampires
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Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu. Pic: Aidan Monaghan
Primarily based on the 1922 movie Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Horror and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Robert Eggers’s movie sees Invoice Skarsgard remodel into vampire Depend Orlok in a nod to basic cinema. Skarsgard, who additionally performed Pennywise the clown in 2017 horror IT, says it took some time for him to distance himself from the eerie feeling he embodied as Nosferatu. The movie is up for cinematography, manufacturing design, costume, and make-up and hairstyling awards.
W is for Depraved
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Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Depraved. Pic: Common Photos
The Wizard Of Ozprequel starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo is likely one of the highest-grossing musical diversifications of all time – and its stars press interviews have been simply as field workplace. However will it have the identical magic contact on the Academy Awards? Its up for greatest image however faces robust competitors, so is extra more likely to declare victories within the costume, make-up, rating and sound classes.
X is for The SiX Triple Eight
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Kerry Washington as Main Charity Adams in The Six Triple Eight. Pic: Laura Radford/ Perry Properly Movies 2/ Netflix
X is at all times the difficult one, is not it? This point out is definitely much less about Tyler Perry’s Second World Struggle drama however about songwriter Diane Warren, the lady accountable for its one Oscar nod. Regardless of being nominated 16 instances she has by no means gained an Academy Award – not even for Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Cease Us Now (Model, 1988), Celine Dion’s As a result of You Liked Me (Up Shut & Private, 1997), or Aerosmith’s I Do not Wanna Miss A Factor (Armageddon, 1999). A travesty! This time, Warren is up for greatest music for The Journey, carried out by H.E.R. Warren does have an honorary Oscar, awarded in 2022, simply not a aggressive one, and she or he advised Selection: “Yes, I would like to break my decades-long tradition and win.”
Y is for Yuck!
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Pic: Miyu Distribution
A 13 minute French animated brief about childhood and the invention of affection, centred round a boy referred to as Leo who thinks kissing is the grossest factor ever. Whereas the large hitters get a lot of the airtime and a spotlight, if you cannot face sitting by way of one other prolonged indie providing it is price having a look on the 15 brief movies competing throughout three classes (animated, live-action, and documentary).
Z is for Hans Zimmer
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Composer Hans Zimmer – not up for the Oscar this 12 months. Pic: Reuters/ Yara Nardi
And at last, spare a thought for the two-time Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who is not within the working for greatest unique rating this 12 months as his was disqualified. Whereas the music for Dune 2 was as epic because the movie itself it didn’t meet the Academy’s eligibility standards; the principles are {that a} nominee should have at the least 80% unique content material of their composition, and though Zimmer composed new items for the second instalment it was determined that an excessive amount of of the rating was derived from the primary movie. Dangerous luck, Hans.
