Early 2025 Oscar Contenders & Predictions – Next Best Picture

After what felt like an eternity, the 97th Academy Awards are officially behind us. Though it was a rocky and abnormally unpredictable awards season, “Anora” is our reigning Best Picture winner. But as one Oscar season ends, a new one begins. This time last year, one Best Picture nominee, “Dune: Part Two,” had been released. Have we laid eyes on any of this year’s contenders? It’s time to look forward to the films of 2025 and make some wild, way-too-early predictions about what could get nominated. Rather than relying on this list as genuine predictions, think of this as a guide of films to keep an eye on or contenders to root for. It’s fun to look back on this list to see how we thought things might play out, even if we’re often completely wrong so far in advance (Check out our early 2024 predictions for a laugh).Before we begin, there’s a vital disclaimer for this list: When looking at films this far in advance, before many films are dated or before the fall festivals, the list will skew heavily toward established filmmakers, English-language films, and movies with slightly higher budgets. As such, there are disappointingly few films directed by women or people of color found on this list. Non-English language films will surely be in contention in top categories at the Oscars, but it isn’t easy to spot which ones this far in advance.Below are Next Best Picture’s first official Oscar predictions for 2025, followed by a lengthy breakdown of all the potential contenders. Which of these sound like an Oscar winner to you? Our next Best Picture could be on this list.BEST PICTURE
“After the Hunt”
“Avatar: Fire and Ash”
“Bugonia”
“The Ballad of a Small Player”
“Deliver Me from Nowhere”
“Die, My Love”
“Highest 2 Lowest”
“Marty Supreme”
“One Battle After Another”
“Wicked: For Good”BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
Edward Berger, “The Ballad of a Small Player”
Spike Lee, “Highest 2 Lowest”
Lynne Ramsey, “Die, My Love”
Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”BEST ACTRESS
Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked: For Good”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Die, My Love”
Julia Roberts, “After the Hunt”
Amanda Seyfried, “Ann Lee”
Emma Stone, “Bugonia”BEST ACTOR
Timotheé Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Anemone”
Colin Farrell, “The Ballad of a Small Player”
Jeremy Allen White, “Deliver Me from Nowhere”BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Emily Blunt, “The Smashing Machine”
Ayo Edebiri, “After the Hunt”
Ariana Grande, “Wicked: For Good”
Anne Hathaway, “Mother Mary”
Regina Hall, “One Battle After Another”BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh O’Connor, “The History of Sound”
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
Jesse Plemons, “Bugonia”
Adam Sandler, “Jay Kelly”
Jeremy Strong, “Deliver Me From Nowhere”Here is a comprehensive list of the contenders we’re keeping an eye on so far, with plenty more contenders to come as the year rolls on.AFTER THE HUNTThough “Call Me By Your Name“ scored a Best Picture nomination and Adapted Screenplay win, none of Luca Guadagnino’s following four films have received a single nomination. Nevertheless, Guadagnino seems destined to return to the Academy’s good graces sooner or later. Perhaps that will come with his 2025 film, “After the Hunt.“ Julia Roberts stars as a college professor who is forced to confront her secretive past after a colleague faces a serious allegation. In the hands of Guadagnino, this could be an extraordinarily meaty role for Roberts. Ayo Edebiri, an awards darling thus far for the TV Academy, could have her first shot at Oscar buzz as well, along with stars Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloë Sevigny, and more. Amazon has poised the film for an early October release, and this could be the right project to break back into the Oscar race for Guadagnino.Release Date: October 10th, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay & Best Original ScoreANEMONEAfter his well-publicized retirement following “Phantom Thread,” Daniel Day-Lewis surprised the world with on-set photos for a new film. How did a director coax him out of retirement? He had an in: It’s his son. Directed by Ronan Day-Lewis, who also co-wrote with his father, “Anemone“ tells a generational story, aptly, about fathers and sons. Nothing else is known about the film besides the fact that Sean Bean and Samantha Morton join Day-Lewis in the cast. Focus Features is distributing the film. Before his retirement, Day-Lewis was notoriously picky about which roles he chose. Is he as good of a writer as an actor? Does Ronan have what it takes as a director? Regardless, it’s nearly impossible to bet against Day-Lewis getting a Best Actor nomination.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Actor & Best Original ScreenplayANN LEEPartners Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet, Oscar-nominated for their screenplay for “The Brutalist,“ unite again for Fastvold’s next directorial feature, “Ann Lee.“ Described as a musical, this picture stars Amanda Seyfried as the titular founding leader of the Shakers religious sect. It’s a fascinating story, ripe for an awards-friendly film, and a perfect pairing of material for Fastvold and Corbet. Thomasin McKenzie, Christopher Abbott, Lewis Pullman, and Tim Blake Nelson round out the ensemble, with recently minted Oscar winner Daniel Blumberg scoring the film. No distributor is attached, but a fall festival release will likely come with heavy attention from studios.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score & Best Original SongAT THE SEAKornél Mundruczó’s last English language feature, “Pieces of a Woman,“ scored Vanessa Kirby her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Now he’s back with “At the Sea,“ a similar leading actress showcase for Amy Adams. She stars as Laura, a woman returning to her family’s beach home from rehab, picking up the pieces of her life and career that she was forced to leave behind. The project sounds reminiscent of last year’s “The Outrun,“ which failed to score any nominations. Still, this could have a much more comedic tone, with Brett Goldstein, Murray Bartlett, Dan Levy, Jenny Slate, Rainn Wilson, and Chloe East joining Adams. It’s only a matter of time before Adams wins her Oscar. Is this the project to do it?Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Actress & Best Original ScreenplayAVATAR: FIRE AND ASHThere’s no justification needed to include James Cameron’s latest picture on this list – another return visit to Pandora. “Avatar: Fire and Ash“ reunites the legendary director with Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and more, along with newcomers to the franchise, David Thewlis and Oona Chaplin. While Cameron didn’t score a Best Director nomination for the second entry in the franchise, it still scored four nominations, including Best Picture. There’s little reason to doubt that this third entry will perform reliably well at the box office and perform at least as well with the Academy as “Avatar: The Way of Water.“ Mark it down for a Best Picture nomination.Release Date: December 19, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Sound & Best Visual EffectsTHE BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYERWhile Edward Berger may have shockingly missed a Best Director nomination for “Conclave“ and “All Quiet on the Western Front,“ the Academy is still clearly paying attention to his films. Right on the heels of “Conclave“ comes “The Ballad of a Small Player,“ based on the novel by Lawrence Osborne. Colin Farrell stars as a high-stakes gambler hiding out in Macau from his debts and past, with Tilda Swinton, Alex Jennings, and more rounding out the cast of this psychological thriller. Farrell received his first Oscar nomination for “The Banshees of Inisherin“ just two years ago and is gunning for a potential Emmy win later this year for his work on “The Penguin.“ This could be a perfect storm for Berger’s film.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography & Best Original ScoreBLUE MOONThe first of two films from Richard Linklater coming in 2025, “Blue Moon,” is a biopic about songwriter Lorenz Hart, played by Linklater’s longtime collaborator Ethan Hawke. Andrew Scott joins him as composer Richard Rogers, alongside Margaret Qualley and Bobby Cannavale. The film premiered at Berlinale just weeks ago to excellent reviews, with critics hinting that this could be a legitimate contender, especially for Hawke’s performance. Our Berlinale review agreed, noting Oscar potential for the performances, along with Picture and Director possibilities. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film in May, which may be too early in the year to make an impact in awards season, especially with another Linklater film coming in the fall. Even so, the Academy loves a Hollywood biopic, so we can’t count this one out too early.Release Date: May 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor & Best Supporting ActressTHE BRIDE!Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, “The Lost Daughter,“ garnered three Oscar nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress for Olivia Colman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessie Buckley. Gyllenhaal and Buckley reunite for a fresh vision of a classic monster film with “The Bride!“ This new spin on “The Bride of Frankenstein“ has a stacked cast: Buckley (who stars as the titular Bride), Christian Bale (as Frankenstein’s monster), Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening, Peter Sarsgaard, and John Magaro. While horror films rarely land with the Academy, “The Substance” proves that a film can break through genre stigma when done right and with a perspective. Interestingly, this version of Frankenstein will directly compete with Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein“ from Netflix. Is there space for both with the Academy? Seems unlikely.Release Date: September 26, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography & Best Makeup & HairstylingBUGONIAYorgos Lanthimos has undeniably tapped into the Academy’s tastes despite crafting films that don’t fit into the traditional Oscar mold. Last year’s “Kinds of Kindness” didn’t connect as much, but perhaps his new film “Bugonia“ will bring him back into the conversation. His third film in as many years with Emma Stone, “Bugonia,” is an adaptation of the South Korean film “Save The Green Planet!,“ in which two conspiracy theorists kidnap the CEO of a major company, thinking she’s an alien attempting to destroy the Earth. Stone portrays the CEO, while Jesse Plemons plays one of the kidnappers. This plot sounds a bit out there, but that didn’t stop the Academy from awarding Stone her second Oscar for “Poor Things.“ Perhaps it’s time Lanthimos won one of his own.Release Date: November 7, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography & Best Production DesignCAUGHT STEALINGDarren Aronofsky’s films have been hit or miss with the Academy, but coming off of Best Actor-winning “The Whale,” there’s a good chance they’ll go for his next project. “Caught Stealing“ stars Austin Butler as an ex-baseball player tangled up in the seedy criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, embarking on a bloody treasure hunt across the town. A big ensemble joins Butler, including Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, and Carol Kane. Butler came close to winning an Oscar in 2022, only to lose to Brendan Fraser. Will pairing with Aronofsky help remedy that loss? The early release date doesn’t inspire immense confidence, but stranger things have happened.Release Date: August 29, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor & Best Adapted ScreenplayDELIVER ME FROM NOWHERECould we get major nominations for a Bruce Springsteen biopic the year after the success of a Bob Dylan biopic? I wouldn’t put it past the Academy. Jeremy Allen White stars as Springsteen in “Deliver Me from Nowhere,“ alongside Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, Paul Walter Hauser, and more. The last time Scott Cooper directed a musically-driven film, it won Jeff Bridges an Oscar. White has already proved to be an awards favorite for his work on “The Bear,“ so an Oscar nomination (or win) doesn’t seem too out of reach. Never bet against a good biopic.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing & Best SoundDIE, MY LOVELynne Ramsey hasn’t directed a film since 2017’s wildly underrated, “You Were Never Really Here.” Ramsey’s films haven’t yet connected with the Academy, but she’s an undeniable talent. For her next feature, “Die, My Love,” she’s paired with a remarkable cast that could be attractive to the Academy. Based on the book of the same name, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte star in this story about a woman (Lawrence) who has mental health issues as her marriage collapses. The film is rumored to premiere at Cannes, which could be a perfect launchpad for a fall release. Robert Pattinson has three films on this list, but this sounds perfect for his first nomination.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay & Best CinematographyTHE DRAMAKristoffer Borgli gained plenty of attention for his 2023 film “Dream Scenario,“ which stars Nicolas Cage. He’s back with A24 and producer Ari Aster for “The Drama,“ starring Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Mamoudou Athie, and Alana Haim. Plot details are being kept under wraps, so Borgli may have cooked up another strange and strangely affecting work like “Dream Scenario.“ Will it be to the Academy’s tastes?Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Actor, Best Actress & Best Original ScreenplayEDDINGTONWhen will the Academy sync up with Ari Aster’s style? He’s becoming a brand unto himself, attracting horror audiences on his name alone, and yet his films aren’t the sort of thing the Academy generally recognizes. That might change with his next film, “Eddington,“ described as a contemporary Western black comedy, apparently eschewing Aster’s typical horror genre. Joaquin Phoenix plays a small-town New Mexico sheriff with higher aspirations, and stars like Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, and more join him. “Beau is Afraid“ was an extraordinarily divisive film, with some hailing it as a masterpiece while some deeply detested it. Where will “Eddington“ fall?Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay & Best CinematographyELLA McCAYAnother holdover from last year’s list, the delay behind “Ella McCay” doesn’t inspire confidence. Even so, James L. Brooks was once an Academy darling and could easily find love from them again. While the Academy has rarely acknowledged comedies over the years, Brooks’ films have been an exception. From Best Picture-winner “Terms of Endearment“ to “As Good As It Gets,“ Brooks had managed to crack the code of Oscar-worthy comedies. Still, it’s been 14 years since his last film and nearly 30 years since his previous critically acclaimed film. “Ella McCay“ could be a return to form. Emma Mackey stars as the titular Ella McCay, a young politician trying to balance work and family life as she steps into the role of governor. Albert Brooks, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Ayo Edebiri, Kumail Nanjiani, and more star alongside Mackey. Here’s hoping it’s a return to form for Brooks.Release Date: September 19th, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor & Best Original ScreenplayF1Typically, a film like “F1” wouldn’t land on this list; it sounds like a blockbuster hit, not an awards play. Even so, it’s hailing from Joseph Kosinski, his first film since directing Best Picture-nominee “Top Gun: Maverick.“ Brad Pitt plays a former Formula One driver who was forced to retire after a serious crash. He is coaxed out of retirement by a team owner, Javier Bardem, to coach a rookie, played by Damson Idris. Can Kosinski turn a blockbuster into an awards contender yet again? With Oscar winners Pitt and Bardem on the roster, it’s possible.Release Date: June 27, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score, Best Sound & Best Visual EffectsFRANKENSTEINAfter teaming up with Netflix for his Oscar-winning animated feature, “Pinocchio,“ Guillermo del Toro is finally tackling his long-awaited “Frankenstein.“ This is a no-brainer pairing of material to a director. Add Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein’s monster, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and more, and this is shaping up to be a surefire hit for Netflix. They’ve promised a “bespoke theatrical release strategy,“ which is just code for dumping it in as few theaters as it possibly can while still appeasing del Toro. Nevertheless, this will likely rack up loads of craft nominations, but can it crack categories above the line? Don’t doubt del Toro’s pull with the Academy.Release Date: November 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Sound & Best Visual EffectsGOOD FORTUNEAziz Ansari’s directorial debut has taken a few years to get up and running (no thanks to Bill Murray), but it’s finally arriving this October. “Good Fortune“ stars Ansari, who also wrote the film, as a guy struggling to make ends meet. He does odd jobs for a wealthy socialite, Jeff (Seth Rogen), and wishes he was rich. A guardian angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) sets out to teach Ansari’s character a lesson by swapping his life with Jeff’s to show him that money doesn’t solve all your problems. The catch? It does. Ansari showcased an extended look at the film at last year’s CinemaCon, and the film seems to be a clever spin on classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life“ or “Heaven Can Wait.“ While it might be too comedic to be a true Oscar contender, the October release date could help it stay in the Original Screenplay conversation.Release Date: October 17th, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Original ScreenplayHAMNETChloe Zhao’s first true follow-up to her Best Picture-winning “Nomadland“ (“Eternals“ filmed prior to that film’s Best Picture win), “Hamnet“ is an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s fictional account of William and Agnes Shakespeare’s life following the death of their young son, Hamnet. Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley portray the Shakespeares, alongside Joe Alwyn and Emily Watson. Zhao and O’Farrell adapted the novel, while Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes served as producers. There are lots of awards for firepower behind “Hamnet.“ Will the Academy embrace it?Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design & Best Production DesignHEDDAAfter breaking out with “Little Woods“ and “Candyman,“ Nia DaCosta hit a bump in the road with “The Marvels.” Nevertheless, she’s back with “Hedda“ in 2025, starring Tessa Thompson, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nina Hoss, Kathryn Hunter, and more. This adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play “Hedda Gabler“ is “reimagined in an epic and emotional way,“ though little else is known about how DaCosta has approached the production. Hildur Guðnadóttir will score the film, which Amazon MGM Studios plans to distribute later this year.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay & Best Original ScoreHIGHEST 2 LOWESTSpike Lee hasn’t collaborated with Denzel Washington since 2006’s “Inside Man,“ but they’re reunited for an ambitious remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low.“ Retitled “Highest 2 Lowest,“ little else is known about how the original film has been changed in the modern adaptation. A$AP Rocky reportedly has the “main role,“ joined by Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Washington. A24 will be distributing the latest Spike Lee joint and could have the goods to deliver a big awards campaign this fall. The last remake of a Kurosawa film, Oliver Hermanus’s “Living“ scored Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay nominations. Perhaps “Highest 2 Lowest“ will fare even better.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography & Best Original ScoreTHE HISTORY OF SOUNDOliver Hermanus’s last film, “Living,“ an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru,“ garnered Bill Nighy his first Best Actor nomination, along with a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination. Now, he returns with Cannes-bound “The History of Sound.“ Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal star as two men who develop a relationship as they set out to record folk songs throughout New England during World War I. While debate has swirled about straight actors O’Connor and Mescal yet again portraying queer roles, both are stellar performers who could easily garner awards attention for the film. Mubi will distribute “The History of Sound“ in the States, fresh off of their successful campaign for Demi Moore and “The Substance,“ and could find themselves back at the Oscar next year.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score & Best Original SongJAY KELLYThough Noah Baumbach’s last directorial effort, “White Noise,” didn’t garner too much awards attention, his recent nominations for “Marriage Story“ and the screenplay for “Barbie“ prove he’s truly “in“ with the Academy. His latest film for Netflix, “Jay Kelly,“ is described as a “heartbreaking comedy,“ but little else is known about the plot. George Clooney stars as the titular character, joined by Adam Sandler, Greta Gerwig, Laura Dern, Riley Keogh, Billy Crudup, Jim Broadbent, Eve Hewson, Patrick Wilson, and many, many more. This appears to be Clooney’s first potential awards project, which he hasn’t directed since “Hail, Caesar“ in 2016. Could it also be the project that finally garners Sandler a nomination?Release Date: Fall 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress & Best Original ScreenplayKISS OF THE SPIDER WOMANOne of the few films on this list that we’ve gotten our eyes on, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” could be one of this year’s Sundance titles to break through in awards season. Based on the musical of the same name, which was based on both the book and the 1985 film adaptation, Diego Luna and Tonatiuh lead the cast, with Jennifer Lopez starring as the titular Spider Woman. Reviews from Sundance praise the escapist style of the musical elements and particularly highlight Lopez’s showstopping performance. Our own review sees lots of Oscar potential in the film. The movie has not been picked up by any studios as of yet, which does not inspire confidence, but Lopez is a big enough star that we expect this to change soon.Release Date: Fall 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design & Best SoundKLARA AND THE SUNThough public opinion has waned on Taika Waititi lately, it seems to be more of a product of over-saturation and a couple of bad projects than anything else. If it’s good, his newest project could turn that around. “Klara and the Sun,“ based on the latest novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, follows a robot, or “AF“ (artificial friend), named Klara (Jenna Ortega), chosen to be the companion of a young girl named Josie (Mia Tharia). Amy Adams and Natasha Lyonne also star in Waititi’s film, with Sony distributing. Waititi has shown the ability to balance comedy alongside serious subjects well with his Oscar-winning “Jojo Rabbit.“ Could he do it again this year?Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design & Best Visual EffectsTHE LOST BUSNever one to shy away from a topical thriller, Paul Greengrass next approaches a challenging story about California wildfires. “The Lost Bus“ is set during the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, following a bus driver navigating getting children and their teacher home safely as the fire begins to rage. Matthew McConaughey portrays Kevin McKay, the bus driver, with America Ferrera as Mary Ludwig, the schoolteacher. As poignant as the film would be regardless, in light of the recent wildfires throughout Los Angeles, this will hit close to home for the industry – perhaps even too close. Produced by Jamie Lee Curtis and Jason Blum, Apple TV+ will release this film this year.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score & Best SoundMARTY SUPREMETimothée Chalamet wasn’t able to win on his second Oscar nomination this past year, but he’s got another strong chance coming up. “Marty Supreme“ is the first solo directorial effort from Josh Safdie and his first feature since “Uncut Gems.” That film came close to scoring an unlikely nomination for Adam Sandler, and the Academy is much more primed to pay attention to the Safdies at this point. Chalamet stars as Marty, a professional table tennis player inspired by Marty Reisman. The cutthroat world of table tennis sounds like the perfect, absurd playground for Safdie. Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler The Creator, Abel Ferrara, and more join the film, which is reportedly A24’s most expensive to date.Release Date: December 25th, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay & Best Film EditingMATERIALISTSFresh off an absurdly successful debut feature, “Past Lives,“ writer-director Celine Song didn’t waste any time setting up her next film. Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal star in “Materialists,” “a unique glimpse into the lives of New York City’s elite.“ Lucy (Johnson) is a highly sought-after matchmaker, but complications arise, leading to a love triangle. Nothing else needs to be said about the film besides that Song is involved for this to be a legitimate awards contender. A24 will distribute the picture this fall.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay & Best Supporting ActorMICHAEL“Michael,“ a biopic covering the controversial King of Pop, lands on this list for obvious reasons, though reported reshoots will almost certainly push the film to 2026. Antoine Fuqua directs this officially sanctioned film covering the life of Michael Jackson, starring the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Lionsgate showcased an extended look at the film at CinemaCon 2024, which appeared to cover his life from childhood to his final years, with hints that it might not shy away from his alleged child molestation, though that seems hard to believe. The popularity of Michael Jackson is sure to propel this to an enormous haul at the box office, but will awards attention come along? With Colman Domingo playing the singer’s father, it’s possible.Release Date: October 3rd, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Makeup & Hairstyling & Best SoundMICKEY 17Even with rave reviews out of Berlinale, Bong Joon-ho’s next picture, a follow-up to “Parasite,“ one of the most acclaimed Best Picture winners of all time, “Mickey 17“ still isn’t a shoo-in for Oscar nominations. Based on the book “Mickey 17,“ the film follows an “expendable“ employee who is sent to colonize an ice planet. When one iteration dies, a replacement is filled with his memories and sent to continue the operation. Robert Pattinson stars in the project alongside Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. Joon-ho’s films prior to “Parasite” weren’t exactly Oscar bait. This genre piece normally wouldn’t attract much attention from the Academy, raves or not, outside of the craft categories. Our Berlinale review still sees Oscar potential in Picture and Director. Is Director Bong a big enough name with the Academy to overcome genre bias? Can the film sustain buzz for most of the year? That’s a tough ask, but it’s possible.Release Date: March 7, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound & Best Visual EffectsMOTHER MARYDavid Lowery has one of the most interesting, or at least the most pragmatic, filmographies in Hollywood right now. He’s operating on a “one for you, one for me“ sort of policy. He’ll direct a wildly unique and risky picture like “The Green Knight“ for A24 but follow it up with a bankable Disney movie like “Peter Pan & Wendy.” Now, it’s time for “one for him.” “Mother Mary“ is described as an “epic melodrama that follows the relationship between a musician and a fashion designer. Michaela Coel, Anne Hathaway, and Hunter Schafer star in the film, which will also feature original songs from composer Daniel Hart and writers Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX. It’s hard to imagine the film misses an Original Song nomination, at the very least. None of Lowery’s films have broken through with the Academy, but perhaps “Mother Mary” will change that.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay & Best Original SongNO OTHER CHOICEBong Joon-ho’s “Parasite“ remains the only Korean feature nominated for an Academy Award. Bizarrely, not a singleother Korean film has even scored a nomination for Best International Feature. Legendary filmmaker Park Chan-wook landed on the shortlist for his last film, “Decision to Leave,“ but didn’t make the cut. Perhaps his next picture, “No Other Choice,“ can break through. Based on the novel “The Ax,“ this dark comedy-thriller follows a man laid off after 25 years at a company and his choice to hunt down the other contenders for a new position he’s interviewing for. This sounds like a perfect fit for the director and a potentially powerful commentary. This should be a shoo-in for a Best International Feature nomination if not for the Academy’s apparent (and confounding) bias. Let’s see if this film can change that.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography & Best Film EditingNOUVELLE VAGUERichard Linklater’s second potential awards contender this year, “Nouvelle Vague,“ is also his second film of the year depicting a legendary artist. This French film depicts the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless,“ with Guillaume Marbeck starring as the director and Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg. This black and white, 4:3 film shot entirely in French is certainly a departure for Linklater. Deutch aside, without major Hollywood stars, it’s possible this slides under the radar. While the Academy loves stories about filmmaking, they love stars even more. Which of the Linklater biopics will stand out? Presumably, “Nouvelle Vague“ has the better shot, simply by way of coming later in the year, but “Blue Moon“ will have more commercial appeal.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design & Best Makeup & HairstylingONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHERPencil this one in for a Best Picture nomination now. It’s Paul Thomas Anderson. Do I need to say more? Jokes aside, while this seems like a safe bet for a handful of nominations, PTA isn’t entirely infallible with the Oscars. His last two films received Picture, Director, and Screenplay nominations. Only two of his nine films have failed to receive a single Oscar nomination (“Hard Eight“ and “Punch-Drunk Love”). Little is known about his latest film, “One Battle After Another,“ other than it’s his biggest budget yet (reportedly between $115-140 million) and is described as an “event film.“With Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor, and Benicio del Toro in the cast, there’s nothing to bet against here. Expect this to be one of the biggest contenders of the year, and perhaps PTA will finally win his Oscar.Release Date: August 8th, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design & Best Original ScoreROOFMANDerek Cianfrance’s first directorial feature in nine years will finally arrive in 2025. “Roofman“ tells the true story of Jeffrey Manchester, the thief who became known for entering McDonalds restaurants through the roof to rob them. The story sounds like a Coen Brothers-esque caper, but Cianfrance is known for grounded dramas and thrillers. Channing Tatum stars as Manchester, with Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, Peter Dinklage, and more joining the cast. Cianfrance scored his first Oscar nomination for his story credit on “Sound of Metal“ but has yet to receive a nomination for films he’s directed. This thriller debuts in October from Miramax and Paramount and could make a stop at Telluride or TIFF if it’s an awards play.Release Date: October 3, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor & Best Original ScreenplaySENTIMENTAL VALUEAfter breaking through on the global stage with “The Worst Person in the World,“ director Joachim Trier returns with his first English-language film. Reuniting with co-writer Eskil Vogt and star Renate Reinsve, Trier brings along Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, and Cory Michael Smith for “Sentimental Value.“ This comedy-drama follows Nora (Reinsve) and her sister Agnes as they mourn for their mother and reunite with their filmmaker father (Skarsgård), who has offered Nora a role she doesn’t want. This sounds like a meaty script with potential for both comedy and drama, much like “The Worst Person in the World.“ Can Trier strike with the Academy yet again?Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor & Best Original ScreenplayTHE SMASHING MACHINEWhile Josh Safdie marks his solo debut this year with “Marty Supreme,“ Benny Safdie does the same with “The Smashing Machine.“ Like the HBO documentary of the same name, the film chronicles the life of wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, portrayed by Dwayne Johnson, and his wife Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt. This could be Johnson’s most awards-friendly performance yet and a solid follow-up after Blunt’s first nomination in 2023. While it could be strange for Johnson to portray Kerr, who is only four years older than Johnson, Safdie has earned the benefit of the doubt in the six-year wait for his next film. Does Johnson have the chops to pull it off? Will the Academy take him seriously? Adam Sandler came close, so I see no reason to doubt it.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing & Best Makeup & HairstylingSORRY, BABYEva Victor’s directorial debut “Sorry, Baby“ premiered at Sundance to rave reviews, harking back to other landmark debuts, like Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird“ or Celine Song’s “Past Lives.“ Victor directed, wrote, and stars in the film about a college professor recovering from a traumatic incident. Balancing dark themes with a remarkable control of tone, Victor’s script is already one of the best of the year. Naomi Ackie and Lucas Hedges join the cast alongside Victor, but she’s the star of the show. A24 picked up the film out of Sundance, a perfect fit. “Sorry, Baby“ is likely too small of a film to truly contend above the line, but as our Sundance review notes, a screenplay nomination is conceivable.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Original ScreenplayTRAIN DREAMSFresh off their Oscar-nominated collaboration, “Sing Sing,“ Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar return this year with “Train Dreams.“ Bentley is in the director’s chair this time, with Joel Egerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy in the cast. Set in the early 1900s, Egerton plays a logger working to develop the railroad across America and struggling to maintain his family while away for extended periods. Its premiere at Sundance was met with strong reviews, though perhaps less rapturous than “Sing Sing.“ Still, our own review notes Oscar potential for Egerton and the film’s stunning cinematography. Netflix picked up the film and will likely make a festival run this fall.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Actor & Best CinematographyUNTITLED WHITE HOUSE THRILLERKathryn Bigelow directed back-to-back Best Picture nominees with “The Hurt Locker“ and “Zero Dark Thirty,“ becoming the first woman to direct two nominees in the category. Her last film, “Detroit,” didn’t fare as well, failing to score any nominations. Her latest film could bring her back to the Oscars stage. This untitled White House thriller supposedly unfolds in real-time as staffers grapple with a missile crisis. A large ensemble has joined the Netflix picture, including Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Greta Lee, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, and more. The film is penned by former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim in his feature screenwriting debut, echoing Bigelow’s collaborations with former journalist Mark Boal. Oppenheim’s involvement is likely to cause controversy; however, he reportedly attempted to stop Ronan Farrow’s reporting on Harvey Weinstein, though Oppenheim denies these claims. Will this be a top priority for Netflix, or will it be buried? Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing & Best SoundWAKE UP DEAD MANShould we go ahead and pencil this in for a screenplay nomination? The latest of Rian Johnson’s Benoit Blanc mystery flicks, “Wake Up Dead Man,“ has enlisted another packed ensemble to join Daniel Craig: Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. As expected, little else is known about this new mystery. The first two films received lone screenplay nominations. It seems only right that this completes the trifecta. Or can Netflix snag even more nominations this time around? Given the reported fights that Johnson and Craig have had with Netflix over their lack of theatrical support, it’s unlikely.Release Date: TBDOscar Prospects: Best Actor & Best Adapted ScreenplayWICKED: FOR GOODThis is one of the safest early bets you can make this far out. Following the massive box office and awards success of “Wicked,” there’s no reason to doubt that “Wicked: For Good“ will stick the landing, reaping plenty of awards along the way. Follow-up nominations for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are all but assured, as they are all in the same craft categories. Erivo also wrote an original song for this second film, which is almost guaranteed in Best Original Song. Jon M. Chu arguably came close to a nomination and even won the Critics’ Choice Award. If he sticks the landing particularly well, Chu could be in for his first nomination. Could Erivo win? There’s a believable world where that’s possible, though unlikely. Still, you can’t go wrong predicting this for several nominations.Release Date: November 21st, 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song & Best SoundWILDWOODThough we’re still years away from another animated Best Picture nominee, perhaps “Wildwood“ is the most likely candidate for 2025. Hailing from Laika and director Travis Knight, it’s the studio’s first feature in six years. “Wildwood” adapts the novel of the same name, an epic fantasy about two seventh-graders, Prue and Curtis, who are drawn into a hidden magical forest to save Prue’s infant brother. Jacob Tremblay and Peyton Elizabeth Lee star as Curtis and Prue, with an all-star voice cast alongside them: Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Angela Bassett, Jemaine Clement, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, and more. Caleb Deschanel serves as cinematographer, which is perhaps a sign of the level of craft on “Wildwood.“ Laika has yet to win Best Animated Feature, but Disney and Pixar’s losing streak could help bring them the gold. Could it contend in other categories as well?Release Date: 2025Oscar Prospects: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score & Best Visual EffectsThat’s a massive list of movies, and we know that so many more contenders will show up when the festivals get started. Which of these films do you think could be our next Best Picture? Do you have any gut feelings about any of these movies? Which ones do you think we’re underestimating? Let us know in the comments below or over on our X account.Log in to leave a commentNext Best Picture is one of the newest leading voices on the film awards season race while also providing commentary for the Tony and Emmy awards. We are on a year long search to find the next Best Picture Oscar winner. 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