What Film is Likely to Win Best Picture at the Oscars 2025?

2024 has been full of fantastic movies worthy of your time and attention. On 17^th January 2025, the best of the best movies of the year may receive a nomination for Best Picture at the 97^th Academy Awards.

While there have been many superb movies throughout the year, some are strong contenders to receive a nomination and potentially win the sought-after statuette at the ceremony on 3^rd March 2025.

Here are the top predictions for the films most likely to win Best Picture at the Oscars 2025.

The 2025 Oscar Predictions

The Brutalist – Most Likely to Win

The Brutalist is a strong contender to receive a Best Picture nomination and potentially take home the prestigious award.

The flick stars Adrien Brody (The Pianist), who plays a Holocaust survivor who travels to the United States to rebuild his life, marriage, and architectural career.

It is scheduled for release in December 2024 and has already earned many positive reviews from top film critics.

If The Brutalist doesn’t receive a Best Picture nomination in January, it would be a shock if Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce (LA Confidential) don’t appear in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories.

Anora – A Strong Contender

Oscar buzz has grown louder for Anora since its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.

The hype started when the film won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the iconic festival, which is often a major indicator of who will receive the Best Picture nomination at the least.

Critics’ reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, too, causing the flick to earn a score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.

If you have yet to watch Anora, it tells the unique story of a young stripper called Anora who meets a wealthy oligarch’s son at her upscale Manhattan strip club, resulting in an unexpected romance.

The exceptional direction and storytelling are complemented by Mikey Madison’s unforgettable performance as Anora.

Emilia Perez

Emilia Perez is another film that enjoyed much success at Cannes, as it was nominated for the Palme d’Or and took home the industry-respected Jury Prize.

Also, the flick won the Soundtrack Award and Best Actress for its four leading ladies: Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Salanda, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz.

It tells the story of a drug lord undergoing gender reassignment surgery who soon becomes eager to reunite with her children.

Thanks to its unique plot, stellar performances, smart direction, and a superb soundtrack, Emilia Perez checks every box for a Best Picture win.

Wicked: Part One

Before its release, many questioned if Wicked: Part One would be a box office success or failure, and it appears to be the former.

In addition to receiving glowing reviews from top film critics, the movie adaptation earned an incredible $165 million worldwide during its opening weekend, clawing back its eye-watering $145 million budget and then some.

Its success at the international box office will likely make Wicked: Part One a real contender for Best Picture, but it will need to tick other boxes to compete with other films.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are likely candidates for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, placing the film in a stronger position in the race for Best Picture.

However, musicals have struggled in the award category, as the last one to win was Chicago in 2003, meaning it could be overlooked, but it could earn a nomination.

Also, there is a chance Wicked: Part One’s commercial success could be its downfall, as the Academy has tended to present the award to more international, artsy films in recent years.

Blitz

Blitz is another World War II-inspired movies with a good chance of earning a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars 2025.

Directed by Steve McQueen, critics worldwide have heaped praise on the large-scale historical war drama starring Saoirse Ronan and Elliot Heffernan.

Due to the film’s exceptional performances, brilliant cinematography, and gripping story, Oscar buzz is spreading online.

The movie will pull at heartstrings worldwide, as it follows the story of a mother attempting to find her son after he goes on an adventure following his evacuation during World War II.

Blitz has won a handful of small awards already and it could be a strong contender for the Academy Awards in 2025.

Sing Sing

The exceptional performances in Sing Sing alone could help the movie win Best Picture, and there would surely be uproar if Colman Domingo failed to receive a nod for Best Actor.

If you have yet to watch the flick, it tells the story of an innocent man incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility but finds purpose in the real-life Rehabilitation Through Arts Program.

Critics have praised its powerful, multi-layered performances, with many predicting it will win big during award season.

What’s more, Sing Sing scooped many awards during the festival circuit, winning the Golden Space Needle: Best Film award at the Seattle International Film Festival and Audience Award: Festival Favorite at the Southwest Film & TV Festival, to name a few.

However, it’s likely to go up against other critically-acclaimed movies in the category, which could prevent it from experiencing Oscar glory in 2025.

Conclave

Conclave’s cast alone is enough to make film lovers rush out to buy cinema tickets, as it stars the phenomenal Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow.

It follows the story of a cardinal faced with the task of selecting the new pope, but he soon uncovers a dark secret that could destroy the Catholic church.

As expected, the ensemble delivered exceptional performances that have helped the flick receive many positive critic reviews and audience awards during the festival circuit.

Conclave might not have the marketing power of Wicked: Part One, but it has the story, acting, and direction to make it a worthy contender for the sought-after Best Picture award at the 2025 Oscars.

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