The 2025 Oscar nominations are here, and this year’s Academy Awards race is wide open. Leading the charge is Emilia Pérez, the musical crime drama about a Mexican cartel kingpin who transitions into a trans woman, with 13 nominations. Hot on its heels are Wicked and The Brutalist, both earning 10 nominations each, followed by Conclave and A Complete Unknown, which each received 8 nominations, and Anora, which garnered 6. Below, we take a closer look at the biggest surprises, snubs, and key takeaways from this year’s Oscars nominees list.
Remember Challengers? The Academy Doesn’t.
For months after its April 2024 release, Challengers seemed like the movie on everyone’s radar. Luca Guadagnino’s sultry love-triangle tennis film captivated audiences and sparked early Oscar buzz, thanks to strong performances from Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist, as well as its striking cinematography. Who could forget that unique POV shot of the tennis ball ricocheting across the court?
Apparently, the Academy forgot. Despite receiving four nominations at the Golden Globes—winning one for Best Original Score—Challengers was completely shut out from the 2025 Oscar nominations. Better luck next time, Guadagnino and team.
Zoe Saldaña and Ariana Grande Have a Lot to Celebrate.
Two Hollywood veterans are finally getting their due with their first-ever Oscar nominations. Harper’s Bazaar February 2025 cover star Zoe Saldaña, recognized for her role as attorney Rita Mora Castro in Emilia Pérez, earned a spot in the Best Supporting Actress category. Saldaña previously took home a Golden Globe in the same category. Joining her is Ariana Grande, who snagged a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of Glinda in Wicked. Grande’s co-star, Cynthia Erivo, received her third Oscar nomination, this time for Best Actress as Elphaba.
Zendaya, Angelina Jolie, and Selena Gomez Missed Out.
While some A-listers received their well-deserved nominations, others were notably absent. Zendaya (for Challengers and Dune: Part Two), Angelina Jolie (for Maria), and Selena Gomez (for Emilia Pérez) all missed out, despite receiving Golden Globe nominations. If nominated, these would have been first Oscar nods for Zendaya and Gomez.
Jon M. Chu and Denis Villeneuve Were Shut Out of the Best Director Club.
Directors of some of 2024’s biggest box-office hits, Wicked’s Jon M. Chu and Dune: Part Two’s Denis Villeneuve, were both excluded from the Best Director category, despite their films being nominated for Best Picture. Hopefully, both will have another shot in the future—installments of their respective films are scheduled for 2025 and 2026.
Karla Sofía Gascón Made History—Again.
Karla Sofía Gascón continues to break barriers. After becoming the first openly trans actress nominated for a Golden Globe, Gascón made history again with her Oscar nomination for her role as Emilia Pérez, a Mexican cartel kingpin who transitions after undergoing gender-affirming surgery. Gascón’s nomination makes her the first out trans actress to be nominated for an Oscar.
Gascón spoke about the Oscar buzz surrounding her performance in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar: “For me, the biggest recognition is being given the chance to participate in such a wonderful film and to have been able to pull off this character like I have. And with that, I can go to bed at night happy and say, ‘Hats off!’ Anything that comes from the work I’ve done is welcome, and it will be an honor to share it,” she said. “But personally, I think there’s something really beautiful that’s happened. There are a lot of people who wish for a part of the population [specifically trans people] to be recognized. And if I can make that happen in any way, I would feel very proud of having been able to contribute not just a grain of sand, but a whole mound of hope to this planet.”