The Ultimate Ranking of the 2025 Best Picture Nominees: From Must-See to Skip

With today being Oscar Sunday, I wanted to share my thoughts and ranking of this year's best picture nominees. This year's nominees went back to more the traditional Oscars of nominating pretty much all movies that people had never heard of. There were a couple of big-name films in Wicked and Dune but the rest were typical Oscar bait movies. This year I had managed to see five of the nominees before they were announced but was aware of all but one of them. I wasn't as big on the Oscar movies this year as in the past two years but still wanted to make sure I saw all of them. With that said, here are my thoughts and ranking of the ten Best Picture nominees. Below are my predictions of all of the categories for tonight's awards.

10. Emilia Perez

Emilia Perez was the worst of the Best Picture nominees and was not well-liked by other moviegoers. Emilia Perez tells the story of cartel leader Manitas who fakes their death and undergoes a sex change to become Emilia Perez. I just don't think that this movie was very well executed. There are a few shining moments to it. Zoe Saldana gives a great Oscar-worthy performance. She is most commonly seen in big blockbusters like in the MCU and Avatar so it is fun to see her in something less mainstream. She delivers a great performance in both English and Spanish and sings and dances on top of that. Stylistically, I thought the movie was very unique with much of the shooting style and colors used to make the scenes. I thought that the general premise of the movie had some potential to it. I just don't think it was executed properly. I did not like the musical aspect of it. None of the characters were great singers and all of the songs were pretty bad and forgettable. I also don't think Selena Gomez gave a good performance. This movie is also committing blatant category fraud at these awards shows. Zoe Saldana is clearly the lead in the story. She opens and closes the film, has the most screen time, and has top billing in the credits, yet they put her in the supporting actress category in favor of Carla Sofia Gascon (which I'm sure Netflix is regretting now considering all of the controversy with her). This movie is widely regarded as one of the worst Best Picture nominees with even Mexican and transgender communities (the two communities represented in the movie) not liking the movie. It is just bizarre that this movie is one of the most nominated Oscar films. It seems like The Academy went all in on this film because of the significance of its topic and messaging more so than the quality of the film. Overall, I can appreciate what the movie was going for, I just think it was executed the wrong way.

Score: 4.5/10 Grade: C-

9. Nickel Boys

Nickel Boys was the final Best Picture nominee I saw. Nickel Boys follows two African American young men who must navigate the halls of an abusive reformed school in 1960s Florida. This movie has the unique style of having the camera be the POV of one of the main characters. It brings a unique perspective to the storytelling making the audience feel like they are in the movie. Nickel Boys reminded me of The Shawshank Redemption in terms of the premise and storytelling. I also thought that the movie did a good job of keeping things moving. The movie is 2.5 hours but it does not feel that long. Nickel Boys also does a very good of creating a time capsule setting of life for African Americans in the south during the 1960s. I don’t have too many issues with this movie. I just didn’t engage or get invested in it like I did with the others. I'm not sure if it was because it was the last movie I saw or when I saw it but I just didn't really enjoy the movie. Overall, I can appreciate what this movie was going for but I did have a hard time being engaged in the movie. It was just not my kind of movie.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

8. Conclave

Conclave is the one of the most "Oscar-baity" movie that was nominated. This movie follows the Catholic Church as they undergo the intense process of electing a new Pope. Based on that description, the movie sounds very boring but it was actually a surprisingly somewhat exciting thriller. The movie features solid performances from Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow. The basic feel of this movie is that it is a soap opera within the Catholic Church. During the process, the different officials attempt to expose each other's pasts to make them ineligible to the Pope. The movie really dives deep into being a deconstruction of the Catholic Church. It emphasizes that even those high up in the religion are flawed people like everyone else. The movie also provides a lot of details about the Catholic Church. The whole process of electing the Pope was quite interesting and something I didn't know before. The movie also does a great job of bringing the audience into the intrigue. By the end of the movie, you are really invested in who becomes the new Pope. What holds this film back for me is that while it does add a bit of excitement to the process of electing a Pope, there is a cap to how exciting it can be. It did begin to feel a bit dull at times for me just due to the subject matter. In the end, while this is not the most exciting movie ever, it is still very well-made and offers a decent level of intrigue and suspense.

Sc0re: 7.5/10 Grade: B

7. The Brutalist

The Brutalist is easily the longest Best Picture movie this year clocking in at over 3.5 hours. The Brutalist follows former architect Laszlo Toth as he flees post-war Europe to live in the USA. Being as long as it is, the movie does have this epic nature to it as you get to spend time with these characters and see their growth over a longer period. I found the architecture aspect interesting in the middle section of the film where we get to see Laszlo go through the process of designing this new building. When it focused on that aspect, I thought the movie was at its best. Adrian Brody was great in the lead as he gave such a ranged performance. He can go from being strong and confident to small and weak so well and conveys how vulnerable his character is. I also liked Guy Pierce as the main support to Laszlo. The way his character changes throughout the movie is done so well and conveys how selfish people can turn when things don't go the way they want. The biggest hang-up I had was that the movie was just too long. Several scenes could have been shortened or cut out entirely. I'm just not sure this movie needed to take 3.5 hours of my life. I also didn't like how the movie just kind of ended with no real resolution. Overall, this is a well-made epic with some very strong moments and characters but was just a bit too long for my taste.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

6. A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown is the final movie that I saw in 2024 and the last nominee I saw before the list came out. This movie is a musical biopic about Bob Dylan starring Timothee Chalamet. I don't know much about Bob Dylan but I still had a decent time with this movie. I thought Timothee Chalamet was great as Bob Dylan and has a decent shot at getting nominated for an Oscar. From my limited knowledge of Bob Dylan, it seemed like his portrayal of the musician was spot on. I also liked that this biopic didn't stick to the biopic formula that so many movies do, the storytelling and structure are much more unique. The movie also does a great job of creating a sort of time capsule of the 1960s as there are all sorts of nods and references to that era that make the movie's setting feel lived in. One of the things holding this film back is that they never really explore Bob Dylan as a character. He is a bit of a mystery when he comes to town, but he is still pretty much a mystery when the movie ends. There isn't any growth to him or any explanation as to what drives him to be a musician or to make himself different. In the end, I thought this was a very well-made movie with solid acting. It didn't do anything wrong but the movie as a whole just didn't resonate with me.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

5. I'm Still Here

I'm Still Here is the one Oscar movie I had not heard of before it was nominated. The movie follows a family in Brazil who must learn to cope with life after the disappearance of their father. This movie tells the real-life story of the Paiva family during the military dictatorship in Brazil. As most Oscar movies often are, this movie was very well made. The movie does an excellent job of holding this sense of intrigue and longing as Eunice Paiva and her children constantly wonder what happened to their father/husband. The entire movie, you have this hopeful feeling that he will eventually walk through the door which gives the movie a less bleak feel. The film does a great job of setting up the father character so that when he does disappear, you miss him. He is made to be so likable that it is sad once he is gone. I like how the movie conveys a sense of hopefulness even though everyone knows he is not coming back. Fernanda Torres gives a great performance as she allows her character to show strength while also permeating sadness. I felt that the last 30 minutes or so felt a little less organic and didn't fit with the rest of the story which is what keeps this movie out of the top of the list. Overall, I thought this was a very intriguing movie with an interesting story.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

4. Anora

Anora is a movie that I wasn't expecting to be as good as it was. Anora centers around "erotic dancer" Anora as she falls for and impulsively marries the son of a wealthy oligarch. Things soon get out of hand, when the parents hear of it and attempt to disband the marriage. This movie has a very good chance of being nominated for Best Picture which is the primary reason why I watched it. However, the movie ends up being a lot better than its premise would imply. The whole first half of the movie is what you would expect, two young adults doing drugs and each other, but then the second half is when the movie kicks into high gear and gets a lot more engaging. Mikey Madison is great in the lead role and is worthy of an Oscar nomination. The actor that plays the male lead is also great as this big man child. He is meant to be insufferable and the actor nails it. The whole whirlwind of a journey Anora goes on is so interesting and keeps you engaged until the very end as you hope something works out for her. There aren't too many issues with this movie. This just isn't a movie I get on board with. Overall, this is a very well-made movie and while it isn't the most uplifting thing in the world, I can see why it will probably get a best picture nomination.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

3. The Substance

The Substance is probably the most unexpected Oscar nominee in the past few years as it is a horror film, a genre The Academy typically doesn't show much love towards. The Substance follows fading celebrity, Elisabeth as she opts to try an experimental substance that creates a younger better version of herself. I thought that this movie was very well made and one of the best movies to come out of 2024. The Substance tackles the topic of body image and societal expectations for women's looks and tells it through a horror movie lens. The movie does a very good job of keeping you engaged from beginning to end. The movie introduces this idea of The Substance and slowly reveals the rules and consequences that come with it. I also thought the body horror aspect was very well done. Pretty much all of it was just so unsettling but yet so intriguing. The body horror elements kind of gave me the heebie jeebies but that is exactly what it was going for. Demi Moore and Margaret Quayle do a fantastic job of playing two versions of the same character and excellently the effects and pressures of the body standards that Elisabeth is putting on herself. I like how The Substance slowly builds in tension and horror until reaching the big climax that somewhat pays homage to classic monster horror. In the end, this movie was a big surprise for me and would have been in my top 10 of the year, had I watched it last year.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

2. Wicked

Wicked was very close to being the best movie on this list. For someone who has never seen the musical or read the book, I was a bit skeptical. However, this movie won me over. This is just a fantastic adaptation of a beloved musical. The story here is just so immersive with all of the world-building and huge-scale set pieces. It reminded me a lot of the first couple of Harry Potter films. I also thought the production design was amazing. All of the sets and colors looked so good like these characters were in Oz. Of course, being based on a top-tier musical, the songs were just amazing. I liked all of the big musical sequences and dance numbers and thought they were all done very well. The characters were all fantastically cast. Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum were both great as Madam Morrible and The Wizard but the stars of the show were Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Cynthia Erivo is great as the shy Elphaba and is an amazing singer. Ariana Grande is also a fantastic actress and I feel like may earn herself an Oscar nomination. Both of these actress were great together and pulled off their respective roles perfectly. Overall, this is a very well-done and very fun musical that exceeded my expectations.

Score: 9/10 Grade: A

1. Dune: Part Two

Dune Part 2 is the best Oscar film I saw this year. This is the best-made film I've seen in a while. It is a fantastic Sci-fi epic with compelling characters and huge stakes. The visuals just look so amazing. The CGI is so well done that it actually feels like the characters on a desert planet riding sandworms. This movie is a prime example of how to make a movie look great for under $200 million. The movie also provides a great journey for the main character, Paul as he grows into this new culture that takes him in. The movie also does a great job of balancing numerous side characters while also not making any of them feel unnecessary. The cast is also so stacked in this movie with actors such as Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Austin Butler, Josh Brolin, Christopher Walken, Rebecca Ferguson, and many others. They all manage to have a good presence in the film and it felt like there was adequate screen time for all. I also liked how the movie made Chani more of a dominant character. In the book, she is more pushed to the side of the story once she gets pregnant but in the movie, she is front and center with Paul without jeopardizing the integrity of the story. Finally, I felt that the movie was paced very well. It is almost 3 hours long but doesn't feel anywhere near that length. Overall, this is a fantastic sequel and a great movie. This is by far my favorite movie of the year.

Score: 9/10 Grade: A

Oscar Predictions

Best Picture: Anora

Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet - A Complete Unknown

Best Actress: Demi Moore - The Substance

Best Supporting: Actor: Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain

Best Supporting: Actress: Zoe Saldana - Emilia Perez

Best Original Screenplay: A Real Pain

Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave

Best Director: Brady Corbet - The Brutalist

Best Sound: A Complete Unknown

Best Production Design: Wicked

Best Costume Design: Wicked

Best Cinematography: The Brutalist

Best Film Editing: The Brutalist

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance

Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two

Best Animated Feature: The Wild Robot

Best Original Song: El Mal - Emilia Perez

Best Original Score: The Brutalist

Best International Feature Film: I'm Still Here

Best Documentary: Porcelain War

Best Documentary Short: I am Ready, Warden

Best Live Action Short: The Last Ranger

Best Animated Short: Wander to Wonder