The Oscars are by no means predictable, however there are specific motion pictures that match the Academy’s archetype so neatly that it is simple to imagine they will make it into the lineup earlier than anyone has even watched them. This yr’s Oscar race is shaping up properly, with some very sturdy contenders for Greatest Image rising already – however there’s nonetheless room for extra.
This yr’s pageant circuit is coming to an in depth with the continued London Movie Competition, which implies that most of this yr’s massive Oscar contenders have already been screened to critics, even when they have not been broadly launched but. This has allowed consultants to forge a fairly safe picture of what the Greatest Image lineup may seem like.
Nonetheless, the race is much from over. There are a number of motion pictures nonetheless to return in 2025 that will not be having a pageant debut in any respect. This implies audiences (and critics) should wait till the huge launch to discern whether or not they pose a viable risk at Greatest Image. Yr after yr, this shakes up the lineup very drastically.
8
Eternity
Eternity may not appear to be a serious Oscars participant from a distance, however there’s each risk that this upcoming rom-com exceeds expectations and sparks a late marketing campaign for the Academy Awards. The movie stars Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner, and facilities round an uncommon love triangle within the afterlife.
The Oscars sometimes have not been form in the direction of comedies, however that is been altering quite a bit over the previous years. The historic victory of Every part In every single place All At As soon as could be very latest proof of this. There might be obstacles that Eternity wants to beat, however David Freyne’s screenplay is exceptionally sturdy, and A24 runs a stable marketing campaign, something is feasible.
7
The Housemaid
The Housemaid is one other film that does not innately really feel like a Greatest Image candidate, nevertheless it finally comes right down to the standard of Paul Feig’s writing and the power of Amanda Seyfriend & Sydney Sweeney’s lead performances. In the event that they’re as spectacular as each actresses have confirmed they are often prior to now, the film might be a success.
It additionally helps that The Housemaid has a main Christmas launch date. This makes it much more probably that common audiences will see the film in theaters, and if it is good, probably get a word-of-mouth marketing campaign began. December is the perfect time for this — it is sufficient away from the pageant circuit however shut sufficient to the Oscars ceremony to depend.
6
Tune Sung Blue
It is no secret that the Oscars love a biopic, and there is no scarcity this yr. Whether or not it is Dwayne Johnson’s transformative position as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine or Jeremy Allen White’s daring interpretation of Bruce Springsteen in Ship Me From Nowhere, the biopic roles this yr have been in abundance.
It will be robust to interrupt by way of the competitors, however Tune Sung Blue has an outdoor shot at being an actual crowd-pleasing success over the vacation interval. The movie stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as two novice musicians who rise to prominence all through the ’80s after beginning a Neil Diamond tribute band.
Tune Sung Blue positively looks like a extra lighthearted and audience-friendly biopic, which may assist its probabilities on the Oscars. It might not have the audacious, transformative performances that different biopics might be utilizing to their benefit, however the pure appeal of this late-year launch might be sufficient to propel it to the Oscars.
5
The Working Man
Picture by way of Paramount Footage
The Working Man looks like it has all of the components to be an enormous success. It is directed by Edgar Wright, it stars Glen Powell because the lead, and it is based mostly on an acclaimed novel by Stephen King. Nonetheless, the movie’s lack of pageant presence and Wright’s poor Oscars observe document have many followers anxious about its probabilities with the Academy.
It is admittedly laborious to say whether or not The Working Man might be an Oscars participant or not, however the movie’s preliminary trailer looks like precisely the type of energetic, energetic motion film that common audiences will get pleasure from. And if viewers champion the movie sufficient, the Academy could have no selection however to present it some illustration on the awards.
4
Keeper
The Academy sometimes has a bias in opposition to horror, however 2025 may lastly be the yr to alter that. We have seen such an abundance of good, unique horror motion pictures this yr, from Sinners to Weapons, that the Oscars haven’t any selection however to acknowledge the style finally. And if Keeper seems to be nice, that might be added.
Oz Perkins’ horror profession has been considerably hit-or-miss. 2024’s Longlegs was a right away success, and there was even some Oscar buzz for Nicolas Cage when the film initially got here out. The Monkey was far much less beloved, however Perkins’ technical prowess nonetheless shines by way of an in any other case uncared for plot.
Keeper may land on both facet of this spectrum, however it is finally unwise to guess in opposition to Perkins at this stage of his profession. He is an extremely versatile expertise whose voice could be very distinctive inside the horror style, and Keeper looks like a terrific catalyst for that.
3
Ella McCay
Yearly, consultants are positive they have the Greatest Image lineup nailed down – and yearly, one thing comes alongside in November or December to fully shake up their predictions. These are usually quieter, extra nuanced dramas that fly below the radar initially however get championed by critics upon their launch.
Ella McCay positively feels prefer it may play that position this yr. The movie stars Emma Mackay as a younger politician who finds herself elected because the governor of her hometown, who then struggles to steadiness her political profession with the relationships in her private life. It looks like a really candy and uplifting comedy that would actually play properly.
2
Depraved: For Good
Ever since Depraved took the world by storm final yr and landed a number of Oscar nominations because of this, most consultants have merely taken it without any consideration that Depraved: For Good will replicate that success.
Cynthia Erivo has planted herself firmly within the Greatest Actress race, whereas Ariana Grande looks like a lock for Greatest Supporting Actress – and no one has even seen the movie but.
That is each a testomony to the standard of 2024’s Depraved and an illustration of the religion that your complete business has in Jon M. Chu to convey this story to a satisfying conclusion with Depraved: For Good. There is no cause to consider this might be any much less profitable than the unique, and the sequel’s trailers look very promising.
1
Avatar: Hearth & Ash
If there’s one film for which it is sensible to go all-in with out seeing the completed product, it is Avatar: Hearth & Ash. James Cameron has a superb observe document on the Oscars with this franchise – each earlier motion pictures had been nominated for Greatest Image – and there is no cause to consider Hearth & Ash will break that pattern.
Even when it by some means misses Greatest Image, Hearth & Ash is nearly assured to search out itself nominated in a number of below-the-line classes, comparable to Greatest Sound or Greatest Visible Results. The quantity of technical development that Cameron has facilitated by way of the Avatar movies is staggering, and it is solely proper that he continues to obtain acknowledgment on the Oscars for this.
8/10
- Location
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Los Angeles, CA
- Dates
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March 15, 2026
- Web site
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https://www.oscars.org/