Oscars 2025: Nominations, Controversies and Best Picture Free Picks

The most controversial film of 2024, Emilia Perez, is leading the Oscars’ Nominations this year with 13 mentions. Meanwhile, critic and audience favourites like Conclave and A Complete Unknown are bringing up the rear with only 8 nominations each, asking the question, is The Academy completely out of touch?

The biggest night in Hollywood is almost upon us. On March 2nd, 2025 the biggest names in film will gather for the 97th Academy Awards. But like each year these awards have become the subject of controversy, snubs and celebration.

The highest honour of the evening is the award for Best Picture. This year the academy has selected eight films from 2024 to go head-to-head for the title. Check out our odds for Best Picture below along with our breakdowns of the films, their controversies and our pick for Best Picture.

Emilia Perez and Controversies

The controversy started the night before the nominations. On January 22nd, 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that this year’s ceremony would cut the live performances of the Original Song nominees. A letter from the Academy states that they are moving away from these performances to focus on the songwriters behind the artists. While this reasoning makes sense to some, many have been quick to point out that this decision stems from the controversy around the film Emilia Perez.

Emilia Perez is a Spanish musical about four remarkable women in Mexico who pursue their own happiness. The film currently has a 76% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 33% Audience Score. It has been criticized for its characterization of a transgender protagonist, cheesy, lacklustre production, and lack of Mexican representation. Many critics were shocked when the film was nominated for the Golden Globes in 2024, and even further shocked when it won Best Picture – Musical/Comedy at the ceremony.

Emilia Perez’s controversy has followed it to the Academy Awards as it has received two Original Song nominations and leads overall nominations with 13 total mentions, including Best Picture. With this in mind let’s break down Emilia Perez’s competition and who is most likely to win when it comes to the 97th Academy Awards.

Best Picture Nominees

Anora

From Sean Baker (The Florida Project) comes the tale of a Brooklyn woman who gets a chance at a Cinderella story when she marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The film opened at the Toronto International Film Festival this year to critical acclaim and quickly became an obvious front-runner for Best Picture. It sits on Rotten Tomatoes with a 93% critic score and a 90% audience score.

The Brutalist

Starring Adrien Brody in one of the most critically acclaimed performances of his career, The Brutalist follows an architect escaping post-war Europe in an attempt to rebuild his life, career and marriage in New York City. While one of the longest films of the year (3 hours 35 Minutes) the film won Best Picture at the Golden Globes and sits at 93% critically on Rotten Tomatoes.

A Complete Unknown

Timothée Chalamet transformed himself into Bob Dylan for this biopic from director James Mangold. A Complete Unknown explores Dylan’s origins in 1960s New York City, how he rose to fame, and how he forever changed the music scene. While the film only has an 80% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it has been loved by audiences, earning it a 96%.

Conclave

Ralph Fiennes stars in this fictional tale based on the 2016 political thriller novel of the same name. When the Pope dies, Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) gathers the most powerful political leaders in the halls of the Vatican to elect the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, a decision that could change the organization’s direction forever. Conclave currently has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes critically and an 86% audience rating.

Dune: Part Two

Following the critical success of 2021’s Dune: Part One, Denis Villeneuve returns with his adaptation of the back half of Frank Herbert’s critically acclaimed sci-fi novel. Forced to choose between the love of his life, his family’s legacy and the future of the universe, Paul Atreides must lead the Fremen into a war only he can see the outcome of. Dune: Part Two has a 92% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 95% audience rating.

I’m Still Here

Fernanda Torres earned herself a Best Actress nomination and Golden Globe win for her portrayal of Eunice Paiva, a mother who is forced to re-invent herself after her family’s life is struck by tragedy. This Portuguese film received a small release but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a hot topic of conversation this award season. The film has a 95% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 98% audience score.

Nickel Boys

This December release follows Elwood Curtis, an African American teenager who is sentenced to a brutal reformatory where he befriends a fellow teen who teaches him how to survive in this new world. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, Nickel Boys has been met with critical acclaim earning it a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Substance

Originally sparking conversation for its style and body horror, The Substance follows aerobics performer Elisabeth Sparkle who is fired on her 50th birthday and recruited by a lab to create an “enhanced” version of herself through a simple substance. While horror or “gore” films rarely make award season for their subject matter, The Substance is a welcomed exception for its intelligent writing and high-calibre performances. The film currently sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes critically.

Wicked

Perhaps the most well-known nominated film this year, Wicked took the Box Office and internet culture by storm with its adaptation of the first half of the Broadway musical by the same name. While many might be shocked to see Ariana Grande at the Oscars this year with a Best Supporting Actress nomination, her performance alongside Cynthia Erivo was one of the unexpected pleasures of this film. The film has earned an 88% critically on Rotten Tomatoes and a 95% audience score.

Who Will Win Best Picture?

When it comes to the 97th Academy Awards the competition is close. While Wicked, The Substance and Dune: Part Two were welcomed nominations their win seems unlikely due to the nature, subject matter and themes compared to the other nominees.

With that being said the remaining films all offer their share of award-winning performances, directing, cinematography and writing. While Emilia Perez has received a lot of award buzz, with the controversy and misrepresentation the Academy is most likely to not give it a win and avoid a similar situation to 2019 when they awarded The Green Book Best Picture.

A Complete Unknown was possibly Chalamet’s best performance of his career so far and a captivating story, it does pale in comparison to the stories of the remaining three. Putting our top three picks as Anora, Conclave and The Brutalist. With its intense subject matter, Adrien Brody’s performance and Golden Globe win, we believe that The Brutalist has the best chance of taking home the award for Best Picture.

Conan O’Brien will take the stage on Sunday, March 2nd at 4:00 pm PST to kick-off the Oscars. Best Picture isn’t the only award on the line. The awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song and more will be announced and most likely subject to controversy by viewers all over the world.

You can place your wagers on more odds, awards, and possible controversies by heading to the Gambyl Exchange and creating a free account today.