Oscars 2025: Winner predictions for the 97th Academy Awards

Oscars 2025 will air anytime now, and the excitement among fans has reached the brim. With contenders like Adrien Brody and Timothee Chalamet leading the best actor race, speculations have been building up - not to mention the streak of The Brutalist and A Complete Unknown at this year's Golden Globes.

However, other names are also emerging, and the contest will be no less thrilling, with recent hits like Emilia Perez, Wicked, The Substance, Anora, and Conclave joining in the battle. The Brutalist stands a huge chance with Adrien Brody's unparalleled performance in the latest period drama. Moreover, A Complete Unknown (Bob Dylan biopic) starring Timothee Chalamet also joins in the race for the Best Picture category.

But Sean Baker's rom-com drama Anora is getting a lot of buzz owing to Mikey Madison's on-screen presence and might end up at the top spot. Follow this article to learn more about the probable contenders.

Disclaimer: This article contains some opinions from the author. Please be advised.

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Who will win the 97th Academy Awards? Winner prediction list explored

The Brutalist is currently the top contender in the Best Picture category, while other films, namely Anora, The Substance, Nickel Boys, A Complete Unknown, Wicked, Emilia Perez, and Dune: Part Two, also leave some fair competition.

In the Leading Role category, Adrien Brody is so far the favorite pick among the audience, and following the movie's Golden Globe-winning streak, we definitely look forward to The Pianist star to bag the award at Oscars 2025. Adrien also outshined his fellow nominees at the 2025 BAFTA Awards.

Demi Moore's unfiltered and unparalleled portrayal of Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance is worth the mention, and she is also the top contender in the Best Leading Actress category alongside Karla Sofia Gascon and Cynthia Erivo. Mikey Madison and Fernanda Torres are also among the favorites.

Anora is the leading film in the Best Original Screenplay category. The Sean Baker drama will be joined by September 5, The Brutalist, A Real Pain, and The Substance.

Not to mention, Sean Baker from Anora is turning heads in the Best Director category among other contenders such as Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Perez), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance), and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown).

In the Best Supporting Role (Male) Category, Kieran Culkin from A Real Pain stands to supposedly take the top spot. He, however, has some good competition from fellow nominees, namely Guy Pearce from The Brutalist, Edward Norton from A Complete Unknown, Yura Borisov from Anora, Ralph Fiennes from Conclave and Sebastian Stan from The Apprentice.

Zoe Saldana from the musical crime drama Emilia Perez is the favorite pick so far in the Best Supporting Role (Female) category among other stars such as Monica Barbaro from A Complete Unknown, Felicity Jones from The Brutalist, Ariana Grande from Wicked and Isabella Rossellini from Conclave.

Among other categories, here's a look at the top contenders for Oscars 2025:

• Best Adapted Screenplay - Conclave
• Best Animated Feature Film - Inside Out 2
• Best Live Action Short Film - Anuja
• Best Cinematography - Nosferatu
• Best International Feature Film - Emilia Perez
• Best Documentary Short - Incident
• Best Documentary Feature Film - No Other Land
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Nosferatu
• Best Original Score - The Brutalist
• Best Original Song - "Mi Camino" from the movie Emilia Pérez
• Best Costume Design - Wicked
• Best Sound - Dune: Part Two
• Best Visual Effects - Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Best Production Design - Wicked

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Stay tuned to Soap Central for upcoming updates on Oscars 2025!