--- description: From Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie missing Best Actress nominations to strong showings for The Substance and I'm Still Here. title: The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2025 Oscar Nominations image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91312b7b615ac427/6998b2afe1ba006c0098b55f/oscar-nominations-snubs-surprises-2025.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [awards](/tag/awards/) ## awards Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2025 Oscar Nominations by [Megan McCluskey](/author/megan-mccluskey/), [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/) and [Eliza Berman](/author/eliza-berman/) Jan 23, 2025 3:11 PM CUT  Mike Fiast, Zendaya, and Josh O'Connor in Challengers; Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing; Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in Babygirl; Monica Barbaro in A Complete Unknown Mike Fiast, Zendaya, and Josh O'Connor in Challengers; Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing; Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in Babygirl; Monica Barbaro in A Complete UnknownMetro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures; A24/Everett; A24; Searchlight Pictures by [Megan McCluskey](/author/megan-mccluskey/), [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/) and [Eliza Berman](/author/eliza-berman/) Jan 23, 2025 3:11 PM CUT Nominations for the 97th Academy Awards, scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 2, arrived on Jan. 23 after multiple delays owing to the[ Los Angeles wildfires](https://time.com/7205622/california-wildfires-climate-change-conditions/ "undefined"). The devastation is likely to cast a shadow over the remainder of this awards season, but in keeping with the spirit of Tinseltown, the show must, and will, go on. Following a[ largely predictable awards season](https://time.com/6899770/oscars-2024-oppenheimer-hollywood-future/ "undefined") dominated by[ _Oppenheimer_](https://time.com/6295742/oppenheimer-review/ "undefined"), 2025 is looking a lot more open. Though[ _Wicked_](https://time.com/7177832/wicked-movie-review/ "undefined"),[ _Emilia Pérez_](https://time.com/7175205/emilia-perez-review-netflix/ "undefined"), and[ _Conclave_](https://time.com/7098657/conclave-review/ "undefined")have been viewed as frontrunners, debates have surged around the Oscar-worthiness of a popcorn blockbuster like _Wicked_ and issues of trans and Mexican representation in _Emilia Pérez_. Would enough people sit through[ _The Brutalist_'s](https://time.com/7016712/the-brutalist-review/ "undefined") 3.5-hour-plus runtime to vote for it? Would Fernanda Torres and Demi Moore's momentum carry them from[ Golden Globes wins](https://time.com/7204400/golden-globes-2025-recap/ "undefined") to Oscar nods? (Spoiler: it did!) Now we have our answers, as delivered by[ Rachel Sennott](https://time.com/6308103/bottoms-review/ "undefined") and[ Bowen Yang](https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6095921/bowen-yang-artist/ "undefined") on Thursday: _Emilia Pérez_leads the way with 13 nominations, just one short of the all-time record of 14, followed by _Wicked_ and _The Brutalist_, each of which received 10 nods. As with any year, some names we'd expected to hear weren't uttered, though in some cases that opened the door for a pleasant surprise. Here are the biggest snubs and surprises of the 2025 Oscar nominations. ## **Surprise: Monica Barbaro for Best Supporting Actress**  Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez and Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures Was this one a shock? Absolutely not. Barbaro is radiant as a [young Joan Baez](https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19621123,00.html "undefined") opposite Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan in [_A Complete Unknown_](https://time.com/7202668/a-complete-unknown-true-story-bob-dylan/ "undefined"). But this was a competitive category, and Barbaro’s inclusion could only come at the expense of several other strong candidates: Selena Gomez in _Emilia Pérez_ (sparing us the escalating online stan wars between Selenators and Arianators); Danielle Deadwyler as the strongest feature of the otherwise underperforming [_The Piano Lesson_](https://time.com/7178712/the-piano-lesson-review/ "undefined"); Aunjanue Ellis-Tayloras the warm and loving grandmother in [_Nickel Boys_](https://time.com/7202140/nickel-boys-review/ "undefined"); Margaret Qualley as the perfect young clone to Demi Moore’s old crone in _The Substance_; and a late-surging Jamie Lee Curtis for [_The Last Showgirl_](https://time.com/7018820/the-last-showgirl-pamela-anderson/ "undefined"). **Read More:** [A Complete Unknown _Celebrates the Dazzling Unknowability of Bob Dylan: Man, Legend, Jerk_](https://time.com/7202876/a-complete-unknown-review-bob-dylan/ "undefined") ## **Surprise and Snub:** **_I’m Still Here_** **sneaks in for Best Picture…and** **_Sing Sing_** **misses**  Fernanda Torres, left, in I'm Still Here Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics Many of the films that ended up with a Best Picture nod felt like locks, but a handful were floating on the bubble until Thursday. [_I’m Still Here_](https://time.com/7204864/im-still-here-true-story-eunice-paiva/ "undefined"), Walter Salles’ based-on-a-true-story drama about a family during Brazil’s military dictatorship, was largely expected to score two nominations, for Best International Feature and Best Actress for Fernanda Torres, who won the Golden Globe earlier this month. But its presence among the top 10 was a surprise feather in the cap of the critically acclaimed film. Unfortunately, something else had to go, and [_Sing Sing_](https://time.com/6996475/sing-sing-review/ "undefined")_,_ despite its Best Actor nod for [Colman Domingo](https://time.com/6964710/colman-domingo-2/ "undefined"), ended up missing. ## **Snub: Denis Villeneuve for Best Director**  Villeneuve, left, and production designer Patrice Vermette on set. Niko Tavernise—Warner Bros. As expected, _Dune: Part II_ got nominated for Best Picture and picked up a slew of below-the-line awards, and yet the mastermind behind the visually stunning epic, Denis Villeneuve, was snubbed for Best Director. This is, in fact, the second time that Villeneuve has been passed over for awards directing the Dune series. Does the Academy think these movies direct themselves? Some prognosticators believe that _Dune_ will eventually get the _Lord of the Rings_ treatment, sweeping the awards when the third and final entry, _Dune Messiah_, comes out, just as _Return of the King_ did in its time. But book readers know that the third installment, unlike the last entry in the _Lord of the Rings_ trilogy, is deeply strange and not particularly uplifting. It’s possible that Villeneuve will never get acknowledged for achieving critical and commercial success adapting a book series that was considered impossible to bring to the big screen. **Read More:** [_Denis Villeneuve Refuses to Let Hollywood Shrink Him Down to Size_](https://time.com/6589871/denis-villeneuve-dune-part-two-interview/ "undefined") ## **Snub:** **_Challengers_** **gets completely blanked**  Mike Faist as Art, Zendaya as Tashi and Josh O'Connor as Patrick in Challengers Courtest of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures The delightful ménage à trois tennis film _Challengers_ should have been showered with awards based on director Luca Guadagnino’s creative use of phallic foods alone. But the Academy doesn’t always reward genius in its time. Perhaps Guadagnino’s decision to heavily campaign for his other 2024 film, [_Queer_](https://time.com/7199415/queer-daniel-craig-luca-guadagnino-interview/ "undefined"), undercut _Challengers’_ chances. Perhaps Zendaya’s starry turn in _Dune: Part II_ overshadowed her work in a smaller, less serious, but equally fun movie. Perhaps we, as a culture, will not fully appreciate Josh O’Connor’s smug grin until he fulfills his destiny to [play James Bond](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/predicting-hollywood-2025-james-bond-taylor-sheridan/the-next-james-bond-will-be/ "undefined"). But prognosticators expected _Challengers_ to at least snag a nomination for Justin Kuritzkes’ steamy screenplay or a nomination for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ addictive synth-heavy score, which won a Golden Globe just a few weeks ago. Turn on the soundtrack loud and rage against the injustice. **Read More:** [_Zendaya Is a Powerhouse, But_ Challengers _Belongs to Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist_](https://time.com/6971016/challengers-review/ "undefined") ## **Snub: A slew of luminaries in the Best Actress category**  Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths Courtesy of Simon Mein While it’s always nice to see a fresh batch of names get their chance to vie for one of the big-five Academy Awards, it’s certainly a surprise when beloved, uber-famous potential picks like Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, and Tilda Swinton get snubbed. Although _Wicked_’s Cynthia Erivo was previously nominated for Best Actress for 2019’s _Harriet_, this year’s other four nominees—_Anora_’s Mikey Madison, _I’m Still Here_’s Fernanda Torres, _The Substance_’s Demi Moore, and _Emilia Pérez_’s Karla Sofia Gascon (the first openly trans actor to ever be nominated)—are all Oscar nod first-timers. In addition to Kidman (perhaps shafted for _Babygirl_’s risqué subject matter), and Jolie and Swinton (both of whom lost momentum after missing nominations at other major ceremonies), Marianne Jean-Baptiste didn’t make the cut despite delivering what was touted by some as [“the performance of the year”](https://www.npr.org/2025/01/17/nx-s1-5247592/hard-truths-review#:~:text=Fresh%20Air-,'Hard%20Truths'%20review%3A%20Marianne%20Jean%2DBaptiste%20gives%20the,and%20detritus%20of%20daily%20life. "undefined") in [_Hard Truths_](https://time.com/7200430/hard-truths-review-mike-leigh/ "undefined"). **Read more:** [_The 10 Best Movie Performances of 2024_](https://time.com/7201920/best-movie-performances-2024/ "undefined") ## **Surprise:** **_The Apprentice_** **makes a** **Comeback**  Strong as Cohn and Stan as Trump, brokering power Courtesy of Briarcliff Entertainment and Rich Spirit Just a few months ago it was unclear whether the controversial Trump biopic _The Apprentice_ would even get distribution in the U.S. as the now-president railed against his portrayal in the film. Now, Sebastian Stan has earned a nomination for his depiction of Donald Trump, and Jeremy Strong has snagged his first ever nomination for [his portrayal of Trump’s real-life ruthless mentor, Roy Cohn](https://time.com/7064926/jeremy-strong-interview-the-apprentice/ "undefined"). Due credit to Sebastian Stan who ran a stunning awards campaign. He turned other actors’ [refusal to talk with him](https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniesoteriou/sebastian-stan-excluded-actors-on-actors-after-trump-movie "undefined") in Variety’s _Actors on Actors_ videos into a talking point, essentially accusing Academy voters of cowardice. He successfully positioned _The Apprentice_ as the resistance pick after Trump was elected president. **Read More:** [_Jeremy Strong on Taking a Risk With a New Film About Trump_](https://time.com/7064926/jeremy-strong-interview-the-apprentice/ "undefined") ## **Snub:** **Denzel Washington for Best Supporting Actor**  Denzel Washington's Macrinus is a little bit Shakespeare, a little bit vaudeville Courtesy of Paramount Pictures The actors in _Gladiator II_ don’t exactly gel. Paul Mescal seems to be in a small, emotionally-wrought film, Pedro Pascal in an episode of something aking to _The Mandalorian_, while Denzel Washington is the ringmaster at a deranged and bloody circus. Denzel’s movie is the most entertaining. He is the reason to see the film. The go-for-broke performance could only be conjured by a movie star: He warps the film around him with his swagger and transforms stuffy dialogue into snappy one-liners. Alas, it was not quite enough to save _Gladiator II_ from feeling like a retread—or to snag Denzel another Oscar nomination as the actor drops hints about retirement in the coming years. **Read More:** [Gladiator II _Belongs to Denzel_](https://time.com/7178473/gladiator-ii-denzel-washington/ "undefined") ## **Surprise:** **_The Substance_** **disrupts the balance**  The body horror in The Substance may go off the rails, but a handful of moments are chillingly effective Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival After winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy on Jan. 5, Demi Moore swiftly emerged as the Best Actress Oscar frontrunner for her arguably career-best turn as aging star Elisabeth Sparkle in French director Coralie Fargeat’s body-horror hit _The Substance_. Moore received her expected nod on Thursday morning, but it was the one-two punch of Fargeat and _The Substance_ sliding into the Academy’s Best Director and Best Picture categories that earned some fanfare from horror enthusiasts. Not only is Fargeat this year’s sole female director nominee (and only the ninth in Oscars history), but a win would make her just the second director to ever achieve the feat with a horror film (the first being Jonathan Demme for 1991’s _The Silence of the Lambs_). Likewise, _The Substance_ winning for Best Picture, while a longshot, would make it second to only _Silence_ in the category. **Read More:** [The Substance _Viscerally Captures the Frustration of Being an Aging Woman—Until It Spins Out of Control_](https://time.com/6980524/the-substance-review/ "undefined") ## **Odds and Ends**  Kani Kusruti (center) in All We Imagine as Light Courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films Clarence Maclin, who participated in the real-life [Rehabilitation Through the Arts](https://time.com/7085875/j-j-velazquez-sing-sing-exoneration/ "undefined") program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility before portraying a character with that same life experience in _Sing Sing_, didn’t make the cut for Supporting Actor, though he did get a nod as part of the writing team for Adapted Screenplay. Indian drama [_All We Imagine as Light_](https://time.com/7173857/payal-kapadia-interview-all-we-imagine-as-light/ "undefined") and filmmaker [Payal Kapadia](https://time.com/7023640/payal-kapadia/ "undefined"), which had been favored in the Best International Feature category and on the cusp of Best Director, respectively, did not receive nominations. Hugh Grant, who won a Golden Globe for [_Heretic_](https://time.com/7172218/heretic-ending-explained-chloe-east/ "undefined"), and Daniel Craig, who gave an [all-time performance](https://time.com/7017230/queer-review-daniel-craig/ "undefined") in _Queer_, were not among the Best Actor picks. Edward Berger was not included among the Best Director noms despite 10 nominations for his film, [_Conclave_](https://time.com/7098657/conclave-review/ "undefined"). And while _The Wild Robot_ received three nominations, some hoped it would squeeze its way in for a Best Picture nomination, or a nod for its song “Kiss the Sky” performed by Maren Morris. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7209102/oscar-nominations-2025-snubs-surprises/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7209102/oscar-nominations-2025-snubs-surprises/"},"headline":"The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2025 Oscar Nominations","datePublished":"2025-01-23T15:11:06.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:49:53.362Z","description":"From Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie missing Best Actress nominations to strong showings for The Substance and I'm Still Here.","url":"https://time.com/7209102/oscar-nominations-2025-snubs-surprises/","keywords":["awards","Second click","culturepod"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91312b7b615ac427/6998b2afe1ba006c0098b55f/oscar-nominations-snubs-surprises-2025.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Megan McCluskey","jobTitle":"Staff Writer","url":"https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Eliana Dockterman","jobTitle":"Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Eliza Berman","jobTitle":"Berman is a senior editor at TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/eliza-berman/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91312b7b615ac427/6998b2afe1ba006c0098b55f/oscar-nominations-snubs-surprises-2025.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"oscar-nominations-snubs-surprises-2025","caption":"Mike Fiast, Zendaya, and Josh O'Connor in Challengers; Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing; Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in Babygirl; Monica Barbaro in A Complete Unknown","creditText":"Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures; A24/Everett; A24; Searchlight Pictures","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/awards/","name":"awards"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7209102/oscar-nominations-2025-snubs-surprises/","name":"The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2025 Oscar Nominations"}}]}] ```