2024 was a major year for cinema, a triumphant recovery from the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes that left a mark on last year’s awards season. Blockbusters such as Dune: Two and Wicked dominated the box office, along with more deep-cut indie gems like I’m Still Here or Nickel Boys. With the Oscars coming up this Sunday, March 2nd, only one of the ten films nominated this year for Best Picture will take home the award. And with such a wide, diverse range of extraordinary films nominated, alongside more controversial picks like Emilia Perez, this years race for Best Picture will undoubtedly be an interesting one.
Honorable mentions for snubs this year were Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, and Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu. How do the nominees stack up? The ten nominees are considered to be the best of this year’s rotation, how do they compare to one another? Here are all ten 2025 Best Picture nominees ranked, from worst to best.
10. Emilia Perez
This year’s Oscars villain, Emilia Perez, was a rightfully controversial pick to be nominated for Best Picture. While the film is intended to be “ambitious,” it certainly was, and that ambition did not land. The film is a musical about a transgender woman, a former cartel leader, and her transition. Emilia Perez is intended to be a story about rebirth, but the handling of that story, and the film production of the movie in general, was a trainwreck.
The terrible screenplay completely undermines any greater messaging. Some criticise the handling of Emilia Perez’s transgender identity as a tone deaf and nearly offensive portrayal of the transgender experience. However, the biggest crime of this film may be that it was a musical with a completely underwhelming and hard to listen to soundtrack. Emilia Perez’s nomination for Best Picture is a testament to the films that were snubbed this awards season.
9. A Complete Unknown
Timothée Chalamet delivers an extraordinary performance in his portrayal of Bob Dylan, potentially making him a favorite for the Best Actor award. The casting was spot on, with Chalamet portraying a convincing Bob Dylan by capturing his personality, mannerisms, way of speech, and even his singing ability. Chalamet’s performance, along with its soundtrack that remains faithful to Dylan’s sound, are what give the movie its depth, where the plot itself does not quite deliver.
While A Complete Unknown may resonate with Bob Dylan fans who are familiar with his career and story, it feels almost out of place as a nominee for Best Picture. There is not much depth to the characters, the focus is primarily on Dylan’s career and does not delve into his personal motivations. Though the movie is about Dylan’s switch from folk to rock music, there is a noticeable lack of context. Viewers of A Complete Unknown who are not familiar with Bob Dylan may leave it feeling that same way.
8. The Substance
The Substance opens immediately with striking visuals that are the hallmark of the movie. It also features stellar performances from Margaret Qualley and Demi Moore (nominated for Best Actress), as well as masterful sound and visual design. The movie excels as a body horror through its grotesque visuals. It makes you want to look away, yet also demands your attention.
The Substance follows Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former Hollywood celebrity whose career seems to be fading due to her age. She injects herself with a substance that creates a younger and “better” version of herself. It is a satirical commentary on the unrealistic standards of beauty women face in the entertainment industry, especially as they age. Seeing the women of this movie become unsightly monsters is the perfect metaphor for how women who do not conform to those standards are viewed, and sometimes how they view themselves. In this regard, the writing of The Substance certainly has its strengths, though it is poorly paced and confusing at times, leaving it lower on this list.
7. Wicked
If nothing else, Wicked made its mark this year as one of the highest grossing blockbusters of 2024. The Wizard of Oz prequel boasts a star studded cast, with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, two vocal powerhouses, in the leading roles of this musical, Glinda and Elphaba respectively. Their vocal performances, done live during filming, as well as the outstanding set design, makes Wicked stand out from other musical film adaptations.
Wicked follows the blooming friendship between Glinda the Good Witch, and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West prior to the events of the Wizard of Oz. In this regard, Wicked portrays heartwarming themes of friendship and self-identity. But also delves into political themes of systemic oppression and prejudice that feel especially relevant today. Wicked is a wizard of a film, and one of the hallmark blockbuster movies of 2024.
6. Conclave
Set during a conclave, a secretive event at the Vatican to elect a new pope, this film really takes place within its dialogue. Conclave is also nominated for Best Screenplay, and deservingly so. The dialogue feels natural, and the pacing and suspense surrounding the circumstances never allow for a dull moment. The movie takes you through the grand and intricate design of the Vatican, as well as its darker corners, and the human flaws and desires inside of it.
Conclave does not shy away from portraying the divisiveness of the Catholic church and organized religion more broadly. The main contenders for the papacy seem motivated by their own ambition, convictions, or politics. This conflict in contrast to the film’s main character, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) who throughout remains a symbol of true Christian values of radical acceptance, and devotion to faith. The set design, writing, and thoughtful commentary on the Catholic church make Conclave one of the stronger Best Picture contenders.
5. Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two is yet another one of 2024’s blockbusters to receive a nomination for Best Picture, just like its predecessor. The second of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptations, the main storyline of the series begins to really take motion. Supported by its stunning visuals and sound design, as well as a screenplay that builds suspense and high stakes, Dune is shaping up to be on par with other action movie giants. Villeneuve has once again proved his prowess as a director by not only successfully adapting a series that others have struggled to, but living up the promise of the first film.
However, as it stands for Best Picture, though Dune: Part Two is a strong candidate for a number of reasons, its story is incomplete. However, if Villeneuve continues on this trend of remarkable adaptations, the third installment, Dune: Messiah, may end up being more deserving.
4. Nickel Boys
Nickel Boys stands out from the other nominees due to its unique approach to its POV-style cinematography and non-linear storyline. It tells the story of two black teenagers in segregated Florida who meet at a reformatory school. While the beginning is slow-paced, and requires some adjustment to the POV camerawork, it comes together beautifully throughout.
The cinematography forces you into the perspective of the boys as they experience the harsh realities of the injustices they faced at the time. Nickel Boys is a movie that feels personal, by putting you in the shoes of these two young black men, it is a painfully honest portrayal of their history. It’s flash forward moments into the future that are a relief from the oppressiveness of the past, but it is clear that the fight for liberation is still ongoing. Nickel Boys is a beautiful example of poeticism in its cinematography, which makes for a truly outstanding and important film.
3. The Brutalist
The Brutalist, true to the architectural design that is its namesake, is a hauntingly poignant epic period drama. It follows Jewish-Hungarian immigrant, László Tóth (Adrien Brody) in post-war America after surviving the holocaust. A former esteemed architect in Europe, László is given a new opportunity from capitalist Harrison Van Buren. Adrien Brody, nominated for best actor, delivers a raw and emotional performance of the forlorn László.
The film is a candid take on the immigrant experience in America, and tells a story of endurance, brutality, and the promises and costs of the American dream. The outstanding cinematography and meticulous screenplay make The Brutalist a strong contender to take home Best Picture.
2. Anora
Anora, winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, is a favorite to win Best Picture this year. A modern day Cinderella story, sex worker Ani (Mikey Madison) begins a whirlwind relationship with the son of a Russian oligarch (Mark Eydelshteyn) that leads to their marriage. Anora is a dark comedy that will make you laugh, and break your heart with its very realistic and honest portrayal of sex work and the humanity of the women who partake. The story of Ani, who seems to stumble upon a financially secure fairy tale life, only for it to be turned on its head, makes it feel so relevant to the current moment and political climate.
The explosiveness and fast pacing of the movie never leave a dull moment, and the comedic dynamics of the Russian henchmen make Anora just as entertaining as it is impactful. The high speed of the film comes to a halt towards its end, culminating to its heartrending ending that perfectly ties the film together. This tied with its cultural relevance makes Anora one of the most impressive pieces of filmmaking this year.
1. I’m Still Here
I’m Still Here is the first Brazilian film to be nominated for Best Picture. Based on a true story, the movie follows Eunice Paiva, portrayed by Fernanda Torres, as she attempts to keep her family together after the disappearance of her husband under the Brazilian military dictatorship in the 1970s. It is a highly emotional and profound film that is elevated especially by lead actress Fernanda Torres, who is nominated for Best Actress, and may be the strongest contender.
I’m Still Here feels like an emotional gut punch through its exploration of family bonds and the overwhelming importance of memory. It takes its time with its vibrant and lively exposition of the Paiva’s family life. This coupled with the chemistry of the cast makes the love of the family tangible through the screen. So when their father goes missing, it is impactful all the more. I’m Still Here is an unrelenting story of the unseen victims of fascist regimes, the families who have experienced loss that will echo through the rest of their lives. The remarkable delivery of the cast, beautiful cinematography, and thoughtful curation of the soundtrack uplift an already evocative story to a film worthy of the award for Best Picture.
