The 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony is right around the corner, and as new films are releasing and the competition is beginning to stir, now feels like a necessary time to update our current list of the 10 Best Picture nominees for 2025 (in no particular order).
Anora (Dir. by Sean Baker)
This film stars young actress Mikey Maddison in the titular role of 'Anora', a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life is flipped on it's head when she gets a chance at a Cinderella story upon meeting Ivan, the son of an oligarch.
Once the news of their marriage reaches Russia, their new found love is threatened as Ivan's parents do everything within their power to ensure that their legal partnership is annulled.
The Brutalist (Dir. by Brady Corbet)
Following the aftermath of World War II, a visionary architect named László Toth (Adrien Brody) escapes to America in a desperate attempt to rebuild his career and start a new life with his loving partner Erzsébet Toth (Felicity Jones).
Whilst witnessing the birth of Modern America happen before them, their lives are changed forever as László's work is discovered by wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce).
Emilia Pérez (Dir. by Jacques Audiard)
In this French musical/crime/drama thriller written and directed by Jacques Audiard, we see Zoey Saldana star as a Mexican attorney who is offered the unusual task of helping a notorious cartel boss retire and transition into living a free lifestyle.
This film contains arguably the best ensemble cast of the year with the stunning trio of Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascón and Selena Gomez all providing us with their career-best performances.
Dune: Part Two (Dir. by Denis Villeneuve)
Although it was released all the way back in March of this year, 11 months before the Academy Awards are set to take place, Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune: Part Two' can not ans certainly will not be forgotten for the cinematic masterpiece that it is.
The sci-fi/fantasy epic is predicted to dominate across the below-the-line technical categories at this year's ceremony, precisely in the same manor in which it's predecessor did back in 2022. But this time around, could we see a Best Director win for Villeneuve?
Blitz (Dir. by Steve McQueen)
This World War II based drama follows the story of a nine-year-old boy who is evacuated to the countryside by his Mother in order to escape the bombings currently causing mass destruction to the streets of London.
The young boy, George, embarks on an emotional and dangerous journey back to his home where his Mother, played by Saoirse Ronan, continues to desperately search for her son amidst the war zone surrounding her.
Conclave (Dir. by Edward Berger)
This Edward Berger thriller/drama, based on the original novel by Robert Harris, follows the story of Cardinal Lawrence - the man who is tasked with the responsibility with electing the new pope following the death of the existing.
Whilst surrounded by a smothering of powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) inevitably uncovers a series of deep secrets that could disturb the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.
Sing Sing (Dir. by Greg Kwedar)
After being wrongfully imprisoned for a crime that he didn't commit, Divine G discovers a new-found love for acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in a story that is inspiring and heart-warming to audience members.
Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin provide us with two of the best performances of the year. Domingo as the wrongfully imprisoned Divine G, and Maclin is portraying the role of Divine Eye, a character that is based on the actors real-life experiences in prison.
Gladiator II (Dir. by Ridley Scott)
Over two decades after Ridley Scott brought us a new look at ancient Rome with 'Gladiator', the English filmmaker is now taking us back to a post Maximus Meridius era.
This time around it is Irish actor Paul Mescal who embodies the new headline-grabbing Gladiator through the form of Lucius, nephew to Russel Crowe's iconic Maximus. Following the demolition of his home via powerful Roman emperors, Lucius must step into the colosseum in an attempt to bring glory back to the people of Rome.
A Real Pain (Dir. by Jesse Eisenberg)
Jesse Eisenberg makes his directorial debut with the 2024 comedy/drama titled 'A Real Pain'. The film follows two emotionally disconnected cousins who embark on a tour of Poland in honour of their late Grandmother. As each day of their journey passes, old tensions between the pair resurface whilst they explore their family history.
Kieran Culkin provides us with one of the best performances of the year with his supporting role of Benji Kaplan, the emotionally-damaged and grieving cousin to Eisenberg's David Kaplan.
Nickel Boys (Dir. by RaMell Ross)
Based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, 'Nickel Boys' follows the story of Elwood Curtis, a young black male whose college dreams are shattered when he is sentenced to Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory in the Jim Crow South.
The film has received plenty of praise from critics, primarily because of it's unique style opf cinematography in which the entirety of the movie takes place from the point of view of the character of Elwood.
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