All the other Academy Award wannabes have wrapped up, and judging by the winners in their major categories, one thing is clear: this year’s Oscars will be a wild ride. While a few categories seem locked in, most are up for grabs, with tight races between two or more contenders. With so much uncertainty in the air, March 2 is bound to keep everyone on edge. It’s a welcome change from the usual predictability, but let’s be honest — our patience only stretches so far. Since we can’t speed up time, here are our 2025 Oscar winner predictions for the only categories that really matter.
Our Oscar Winner 2025 Predictions
Contents
1. Best Supporting Actor
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
PREDICTED WINNER: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin’s Best Supporting Actor win feels like a done deal, and if we’re wrong, feel free to vent in the comments down below. Our confidence comes from his clean sweep of every major award in the category — SAG, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice — just like Robert Downey Jr.’s last year for Oppenheimer. We’re big fans of Culkin and his performance in the comedy-drama A Real Pain, but if we’re being honest, writer-director and co-star Jesse Eisenberg’s performance lingered with us long after the credits rolled.
2. Best Supporting Actress
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Monica Barbero, A Complete Unknown
PREDICTED WINNER: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
It must have been an unspoken rule this year that supporting actresses had to sing, with Grande, Barbero, and Saldaña all delivering musical numbers. The latter has already swept the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, BAFTAs, and SAG, so it’s safe to say the Oscar is hers. Somehow, Saldaña has managed to sidestep both the lukewarm reception to Emilia Pérez (even if she was the best part of the film) and the controversy surrounding co-star Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweet fiasco. Honestly, just pulling off those miracles might be reason enough for her to win.
3. Best Actor
PREDICTED WINNER: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
CLOSEST CONTENDER: Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Now we’re moving into more exciting and unpredictable territory, with Best Actor shaping up to be one of the tightest races. It’s not every year that someone has a shot at breaking the record for the youngest Best Actor winner at the Oscars — especially with the current record holder also in the running. Personally, we don’t think Timothée Chalamet has a great chance of beating Adrien Brody, even after winning the SAG Award and becoming its youngest Best Actor winner. But who knows? Stranger things have happened!
4. Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
PREDICTED WINNER: Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
CLOSEST CONTENDER: Mikey Madison, Anora
The Best Actress race is just as intense, with standout performances across the board, from the Wicked Witch of the West to MonstroElisaSue. It’s undoubtedly a showdown between Moore and Madison, with Moore claiming the Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe, and SAG, while Madison took home the BAFTA. Given the accolades so far, this should be an easy call, but the Academy doesn’t have the best track record of recognising risky performances like Moore’s in the gory body horror The Substance. That could tip the win in Madison’s favour for her safer turn in Anora — but we’re holding out hope that won’t be the case.
5. Best Director
CLOSEST CONTENDER: Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
PREDICTED WINNER: Sean Baker, Anora
When it comes to Best Director and Best Picture, we’re betting one winner will take both. Unfortunately, the directing prize seems destined for either the second most cinematic film (since Denis Villeneuve was snubbed here for Dune: Part Two, a travesty) or the most digestible one. We’re not here to be pretentious or anti-intellectual, so either works for us — especially with Corbet and Baker leading the pack, the former with a Venice, Golden Globe, and BAFTA win, and the latter with a Palme d’Or and a sweep of the directors, writers, and producers guild awards. Our money’s on Baker!
6. Best Picture
PREDICTED WINNER: Anora
A Complete Unknown
CLOSEST CONTENDER: Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Brutalist
The Substance
Wicked
As mentioned, we believe that Sean Baker is most likely to take home both Best Director and Best Picture. But there’s an unexpected dark horse that could shake things up — Conclave. This Angels & Demons-meets-Mean Girls drama wasn’t an early favourite for the most coveted Oscar, yet after its Best Film win at the BAFTAs and multiple best ensemble awards, including at SAG and Critics’ Choice, it just might pull it off. And honestly, we wouldn’t be mad either way.
What do you think of our Oscar winner 2025 predictions? Let us know and make sure to follow Glitz on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on all things lifestyle.
