The 2025 Academy Awards race will be the most wide-open movie season in years.
Keeping pace with Hollywoods perpetual awards horserace.
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Last year, Hollywood shut down for months during the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guildstrikes.
At least 30 films were paused in the middle of production, while dozens more never got started.
Now the industry is reaping the consequences.
In 2024, there are simplyfewer moviesin theaters than there used to be.
Fewer summer blockbusters, fewer indie sensations, and, soon, fewer fall awards movies.
I dont know what that means for the future of the industry.
In the past two seasons, wed already seen the eventual Best Picture winner by Labor Day.
This year, theres noEverything Everywhere All at OnceorOppenheimerwaiting in the wings.
Which means that, once again, the Oscars will feel like a proper race.
Well begin our coverage with an extremely early, highly speculative overview of the six biggest races.
For the real freaks, Oscar season starts in May, when the cream of international cinema debuts atCannes.
DoubtfireandSicarioreimagined as a musical.
He is currently living in Germany, which has selectedSacred Figas its official Oscar entry.
With fewer sure bets, unconventional picks could slip in.
You may have noticed a conspicuous lack of womens names in the paragraphs above.
Will A24 Dominate the Best Actor Race?
At a certain point, will the indie distributor have to concentrate its resources?
(At the moment, Craig appears the weakest horse after a mixed festival reception forQueer.)
WouldEthan Herissecount as a lead actor inNickel Boys, even if his face is rarely seen onscreen?
InGladiator 2,Paul Mescalwill step into the award-winning sandals of Russell Crowe.
InA Complete Unknown,Timothee Chalamethas the even harder task of inhabiting Bob Dylan.
(I told you it was a polarizing movie.)
She could make Oscar history as the first openly trans actress to receive a nomination.
Aiming to disrupt these two newcomers are a handful of past winners.
(Ronan also hasBlitzcoming, where shell be placed in Supporting.)
Then theresDemi MooreofThe Substance, a body-horror flick about aging that makesBabygirllook likeOut of Africa.
Lets not forgetChallengersZendayaorThelmasJune Squibb, who could parlay her inevitable AARP Movies for Grownups win to Oscar glory.
Will There Be Another Double-Up in Best Supporting Actor?
Last season was the first in a while that didnt feature two supporting-actor nominees from the same film.
(Even then, we came close, asPoor Things Willem Dafoe was probably sixth place.)
Another new face,Brandon Turner, is incredibly affecting inNickel Boys.
Still, as Jamie Lee Curtis proved, we shouldnt underestimate a never-nominated scion of Old Hollywood.
Well have to wait forBlitzto see howSaoirse Ronangets on.
Same goes forToni Colletteand Clint EastwoodsJuror No.
Lest you pooh-pooh Clints recent work, remember he got Kathy Bates nominated forRichard Jewell.
