January 31, 2025/Midnight
Erie, Pa. –– On Thursday, January 23, comedians Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott announced the nominations for the 97th annual Academy Awards during a live broadcast from Beverly Hills.
Emilia Pérez, Netflix’s comedy musical about a trans drug lord in Mexico, is leading the race with 13 nominations. These include nods for Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña for acting, Jacques Audiard for directing, and a nomination for Best Picture. Gascón’s nomination for Best Actress is a historic achievement, as she becomes the first openly trans person of any gender to be nominated for acting. With a record–breaking 13 nominations, Emilia Pérez is the most–nominated non–English language film in Oscar history.
Wicked and The Brutalist follow with 10 nominations, both securing spots in the Best Picture category. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande received nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, for their roles in Wicked. Adrien Brody earned another Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a Jewish architect who immigrated to the U.S. after World War II in The Brutalist.
The new cult favorite, The Substance, earned five nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Demi Moore’s portrayal of a fading star seeking a shortcut to rejuvenate her career is widely considered one of the most impressive performances of the year. The Best Actress nomination is Moore’s first Academy nomination after four decades in the industry.
The nominations announcement was delayed twice due to the devastating wildfires in Southern California, which occurred during the kickoff of the annual awards season. The annual Academy luncheon honoring nominees was canceled altogether.
In a letter to its members, the Academy announced that this year’s ceremony would honor Los Angeles. “We will reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that define Los Angeles and our industry,” said the Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang.
The 2025 Academy Awards ceremony is set to take place on Sunday, March 2, hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theater. Click here to see the full list of nominees for the 97th Academy Awards.
