Yes, they're still a while away but the Oscars are never far from the front of our minds. We're obviously always interested in what's happening on the red carpet, but most importantly, we want to know who the winners are.
Yes, there are plenty of arguments for and against the validity of the Oscars in regards to its true merit in addressing which films have made the biggest cultural or technical splashes each year, but either way, they're still heralded as the epitome of critical success in the film world, and that won't stop us from speculating on our 2025 winners. Read on for our best Oscars predictions for the year.
1. Challengers
Perhaps the film that made the biggest impact on the internet and our culture this year, Luca Guadagnino's latest film starring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist in a steamy tennis player love triangle was the talk of the town for most of the first half of this year. Guadagnino has been making films since the late 90s, but it wasn't until 2017's Call Me By Your Name that the filmmaker's name became a household one. And with Challengers,
2. Bird
The British auteur Andrea Arnold (who directed the second season of Big Little Lies) debuted her latest film, Bird, on the bill at Cannes this year. Starring Saltburn lead and actor-of-the-moment Barry Keoghan (all tatted up I might add), the film has few plot details leaked, or a trailer, as of yet. But if Arnold's past work is anything to go off of – American Honey, Fish Tank, Wasp – we're certain it will be worth a watch. Bird also had one of the longest reported standing ovations of any film at Cannes this year.
3. I Saw the TV Glow
The A24 American horror drama film written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun is about to be released in Australia, but has been touted already as a contender for the Oscars given its through lines to the struggle of confronting identity as we age. Starring Justice Owens and Brigette Lundy-Paine alongside Phoebe Bridgers in her acting debut, the film also has a killer soundtrack backed up by Bridgers, Caroline Polachek and Snail Mail.
4. Inside Out 2
A sure-fire winner in our Oscars predictions book for this year's Best Animated Feature Film is Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2. Already climbing up the network's ranks to be one of their highest-grossing films of all time, the much beloved animated sequel to 2015's Inside Out is well on its way to an Oscar in February.
5. Dune: Part 2
The second instalment of Denis Villneuve's epic sci-fi fantasy starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya will be in with a great chance at some of the evening's top awards, but especially for its effects, costumes, soundtracking and foley. It's the only movie I bothered to see TWICE in cinemas this year, and for good reason – you really need to take your time with it to appreciate all its wonderful special details.
6. Anora
Cannes 2024's Palme d'Or prize winner Anora is another film we can't overlook in the potential Best Picture category. Directed by Sean Baker, the story of a sex worker who marries into wealth a la Russian Oligarch had captivated judges like Greta Gerwig, and is set to have its theatrical release in Australia in November.
7. How to Have Sex
The film might have been released long enough ago now that it's dropped off your radar, but the Cannes prizewinner from British filmmaker Molly Manning Walker made waves when it was released. Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce, Lara Peake and Enva Lewis as three sixteen-year-old best friends on a rites-of-passage holiday, it's been touted as a blisteringly raw take on female coming of age.
8. Emilia Pérez
Another Cannes frontrunner added to our Oscars predictions, this French musical crime comedy film written and directed by Jacques Audiard has been heralded as a masterpiece. Starring Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, it centres on the story of a cartel boss who enlists an unappreciated lawyer to help fake her own death and embrace her true gender identity.
9. Gladiator II
It's difficult to speculate whether the Gladiator sequel will be included in the upcoming Oscars, as their premiere date is right on the precipice of the nominations close-off date. But we think it's in with a very good shot (despite being unreleased), if the trailer is anything to go by. With Oscar nominee Paul Mescal at the fore of the film too, there's plenty of opportunity here for some wins.
