The 97th Academy Awards nominations have been unveiled, marking the beginning of the most anticipated season in Hollywood. After multiple delays caused by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, the nominations were announced on January 23 during a live-streamed event hosted by actor-writer-comedians Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang.
Originally scheduled for January 17, the announcement was postponed out of respect for those affected, including the Oscars’ host for the evening, Conan O’Brien, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades during the fires. The Oscars ceremony, set to take place on March 2 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, promises to be a star-studded affair. Conan O’Brien’s presence as the host, despite his personal losses, has added a layer of resilience and solidarity to this year’s awards.
The Top Contenders
Among the nominees, Emilia Pérez emerged as the leading contender with 13 nominations, dominating categories like Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. The Broadway hit-turned-film Wicked followed closely with 10 nominations, including nods for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Original Song.
Other notable films in the race for Best Picture include Dune: Part Two, Anora, The Brutalist, and A Complete Unknown. This diverse slate reflects a mix of blockbuster franchises, intimate dramas, and innovative storytelling.
Key Categories and Nominees
In the Best Director category, Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) stands as a favorite, facing competition from Sean Baker (Anora), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance).
The acting categories feature a range of seasoned stars and rising talents. Best Actor nominees include Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Adrian Brody (The Brutalist), and Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), while Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez) and Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) lead the race for Best Actress.
The Full List
Here’s a glance at some of the top categories:
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
Mikey Madison (Anora)
Demi Moore (The Substance)
Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
Best Original Song
“El Mal” (Emilia Pérez)
“The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight)
“Like a Bird” (Sing Sing)
“Mi Camino” (Emilia Pérez)
“Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late)
Best Director
Sean Baker (Anora)
Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
Best Actor
Adrian Brody (The Brutalist)
Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Short Film (Live Action)
Alien
Anuja
I’m Not a Robot
The Last Ranger
A Man Who Would Not Remain Silent
Best Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov (Anora)
Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
Best Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
Ariana Grande (Wicked)
Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
Technical and Artistic Excellence
Best Cinematography nominees include Dune: Part Two, The Brutalist, and Nosferatu. Meanwhile, Wicked and Emilia Pérez dominate design categories like Costume Design and Production Design. The Animated Feature Film category is packed with favorites like Inside Out 2 and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. In documentaries, titles like Porcelain War and Sugarcane lead the charge.
The technical awards spotlight films like Dune: Part Two, Nosferatu, and The Substance for their contributions to cinematography, production design, and visual effects. Best Original Song contenders include “El Mal” and “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez, “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight, and Elton John’s “Never Too Late.”