2025 Oscars: Everything you need to know

THIS year’s awards season is in full swing, with the biggest names in Hollywood getting glammed up to grace the red carpets, and decorated concert halls hosting the likes of the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, SAG Awards and, of course, the most prestigious Academy Awards.

The Academy Awards — or Oscars, as they’re colloquially known – celebrate the creme de la creme of the film industry, dishing out trophies to the makers and stars of the year’s best films, as voted on by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

With 23 categories for this year’s awards, which honour films released in 2024, there’s certainly a lot going on on the night — and a lot of movies to watch if you want to share your most discerning opinion on the Academy’s votes.

Never fear: from must-watch films to the best of the British nominees, snubs and surprises to prize-winning predictions, we’re here to help. Let’s dive into the biggest talking points ahead of the 97th Academy Awards taking place today (Sunday, March 2), at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.

The breadth of films being celebrated at the Oscars is astounding. From dramas like Conclave and Anora, to epics such as The Brutalist and Dune: Part Two, and musicals Emilia Pérez and Wicked, there’s a lot for film fanatics to sink their teeth into.

If you’re keen to get a grasp on the films most likely to take home a gong this year, heading to Netflix for Emilia Pérez is a good place to start.

The Spanish-language musical crime film, starring Karla Sofia Gascon as a Mexican cartel leader who enlists a lawyer, played by Zoe Saldana, to help transition into a woman, has already won a slew of awards and is up for an incredible 13 Oscars, which is the most ever for a non-English language film. Among the nominees are star Gascon, 52, who could take home the Best Actress gong, for which she is the first openly trans nominee.

Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce, is up for 10 awards, as is stage musical adaptation Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown makes 29-year-old star Timothee Chalamet the youngest actor to be nominated twice for Best Actor since James Dean in 1957, while Coralie Fargeat’s nomination for Best Director for body horror The Substance makes her the ninth female director nominee in history.

The Substance star Demi Moore is nominated for Best Actress for her portrayal of Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity who uses a black market drug to create a younger version of herself, which, if she wins, will be her first Oscar in a near 50-year career.

There’s also Anora, Sean Baker’s film about the dramatic marriage between a sex worker and the son of a Russian oligarch. The movie is up for several awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for 25-year-old star Mikey Madison, who made headlines for beating the likes of Demi Moore, Saoirse Ronan and Cynthia Erivo to secure the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at this year’s awards.

While the BAFTAs are the main awards honouring the British contributions to film, British cinema is going from strength to strength — and 2024’s offering is no exception.

There are a handful of British Oscar nominees this year across a range of categories.

38-year-old Cynthia Erivo, from Stockwell in South London, is nominated for Best Actress for Wicked, while Suffolk native Ralph Fiennes could take home the Best Actor award for starring in papal political thriller Conclave.

Birmingham-born Felicity Jones, 41, is up for the Best Supporting Actress gong for her role in epic period drama The Brutalist, and Elton John is nominated for Best Original Song in documentary Elton John: Never Too Late.

Rounding off the British nominees is Wallace & Gromit, up for Best Animated Film for Vengeance Most Fowl, and Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, in which the former Take That star is portrayed as a CGI chimpanzee, for the Visual Effects award.

As ever, there are some films and actors who have been neglected in this year’s nominee lists.

Fans of Luca Guadagnino’s sports romance film Challengers were surprised that the tennis-based love triangle film starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist didn’t receive any nominations, despite the fact that its techno-inspired score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won a Golden Globe Award in January.

While Dune: Part Two, the second of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert, is up for the award for Best Picture, its director Denis Villeneuve is notably absent from the Best Director nominations. Film fans were also disappointed that Angelina Jolie missed out on a nomination for her portrayal of opera singer Maria Callas in Maria, as did Daniel Craig for his leading role in Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novella Queer.

Of course, all will be revealed on the night, but film critics and bookies alike have been taking guesses at who they think is most likely to be awarded an Oscar this year.

Demi Moore is a heavy favourite for taking home the Best Actress gong, and while Mikey Madison’s success at the BAFTAs threw Moore’s crown into contention, The Substance actress’s win at the SAG Awards on Sunday, February 23, keeps her firmly in the running for an Oscar.

Sean Baker’s Anora is still looking set to win big, and could clinch the Best Picture prize and Best Director, but The Brutalist is hot on its heels.

Adrien Brody is a favourite for Best Actor for his starring role in The Brutalist following a season-long sweep of the award, but if anyone can shake up the race, it’s Timothee Chalamet for his portrayal of Bob Dylan — particularly after his win at the SAG Awards.

Succession star Kieran Culkin’s touching performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain has been a favourite throughout the awards season, winning a BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Movie Award, a Golden Globe and a SAG Award, so it seems the Best Supporting Actor Oscar is his to lose.

Similarly, Emilia Perez’s Zoe Saldana looks likely to win Best Supporting Actress after her success at the BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice Awards, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and her joint Best Actress win at Cannes.

But it’s not over until it’s over. To see the prestigious awards handed out on the night, watch coverage on RTÉ1 with live coverage from 12am, Monday, March 3.