The Oscars are just a few days away, and this awards season has been full of twists and turns. This Best Picture race, and the awards season in general, will certainly go down as one of the most chaotic in recent memory. 

The Oscars are a culmination of world cinema throughout the year, and this year we notably have two international nominees in the big ten, which includes films ranging from drama, sci-fi, and even horror.

Without further ado, here is my ranking of the 2025 Best Picture nominees.

#10. Emilia Pérez

Image Courtesy of Shanna Besson via Variety

Many people have placed Emilia Pérez at the bottom of their rankings, and mine is no different. Even before the controversy surrounding star Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweets, this film did not work on many levels. It is a big swing and a miss by French auteur director Jacques Audiard, and it is messy at its core. 

There are some high points — such as the performances by the three lead actresses, Zoe Saldaña, Gascón, and Selena Gomez — but they don’t rise to the level of greatness one would expect from a Best Picture nominee. The technical work, such as the dynamic cinematography and flashy editing, is quite impressive but ultimately bogged down by a weak, underdeveloped screenplay.  Additionally, the musical numbers are very hit-or-miss and fail to drive the narrative forward. While the film is not detestable in my opinion, it’s certainly the weakest of the bunch. 

#9. A Complete Unknown

Image Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures via Forbes

Despite being placed ninth on this list, I enjoyed James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, which just shows the strength of the 2025 Best Picture nominees. Still, it failed to completely enamor me, resulting in an average music biopic highlighting the life of Bob Dylan and his rise in the 1960s. 

The film falls into some of the typical standard biopic tropes, similar to those of Elvis (2022) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), and never truly lets the audience know Bob Dylan. The performances, though, are what stand out. Timothée Chalamet gives an electric performance as a young Dylan, and he continues to prove he is one of the best young actors working today. The supporting performances by Edward Norton and Monica Barbaro are strong and play off of Chalamet well, too. You fall in love with the cast, making this biopic a positive experience and offering a small glimpse into Dylan’s life. 

#8. Wicked

Image Courtesy of Universal via The Hollywood Reporter

Each year—at least recently—the Academy has rewarded more big blockbuster films in their Best Picture lineups. This year, we had two, one of them being the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked. I was unfamiliar with the musical, but afterward, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the stage-to-screen return to Oz. 

The production of the film alone is beyond magnificent. The gorgeous production design and the detailed costumes help create a unique and magical experience. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande fall seamlessly into their roles as if they were born to play these characters. They both command the screen and deliver spirited, emotional performances. 

Wicked does, however, feel bloated at times, with a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. The cinematography and lighting border on atrocious during some scenes. But despite its flaws, Wicked is certainly a good film elevated to a very good film due to Erivo and Grande’s performances. 

#7. I’m Still Here

Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics via Variety

I’m Still Here sort of came out of nowhere on people’s radars (at least mine), but I’m glad it showed up and surprised on Oscar nomination morning with a Best Picture nomination. I was curious going into my screening of the Brazilian based-on-a-true-story tale, and after watching the film, I can confidently say that it deserves a nomination. 

I’m Still Here is about a family living under the Brazilian military dictatorship in the 1970s. The story is emotional, powerful, and deeply grounded in its portrayal of this family navigating the regime. Fernanda Torres delivers a fantastic and reserved performance as she holds back pain and tries to hold her family together. 

The film speaks to the importance of love within a family and the strength needed in times of hardship. While the film is straightforward in its approach and has some pacing issues in the second half, Walter Salles directs the film confidently. While this ranks seventh in terms of my ranking, I’m Still Here is one of the more underrated films of this awards season and merits the distinction of a 2025 Best Picture nominee.

#6. Conclave

Image Courtesy of Focus Features via Vulture

Edward Berger — director of All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), a film that won four Oscars at the 2023 Academy Awards — is back! This time, it’s for his film adaptation of the page-turning thriller book “Conclave.” The story showcases politics and religion clashing as cardinals try to elect a new Pope. This behind-closed-doors story is everything you would want from a thriller of this nature, full of backstabbing, secrets, and power struggles. 

The entire ensemble delivers powerful performances, but Ralph Fiennes shines in the leading role, delivering a commanding and rather nuanced performance. Similar to All Quiet on the Western Front, the film is remarkable on a technical level, with its contemporary costume and production design, striking cinematography, and effective musical score. Given its release right before the United States Presidential election, the relevance of the film to modern-day politics is fascinating. While the storytelling is relatively straightforward, the film is thoroughly entertaining, delivers a timely message, and, in the end, will leave most people satisfied.

#5. Nickel Boys

Image Courtesy of Orion Pictures via Deadline

Nickel Boys is unlike any film I have ever seen, in the best way possible. The story documents the experiences of two young Black boys who meet each other at an abusive reform school in Florida. 

It is a shame RaMell Ross missed out on a Best Director nomination because his direction is poetic and bold. He deserved more praise this awards season. The performances by the two leads, Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson, are gut-wrenching, but the supporting performance by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor really shines throughout the film. The cinematography is outstanding, with a majority of the shots being in the first-person perspective and complemented by experimental editing. Ross and his team truly transcend the medium of narrative storytelling, making the nomination more than deserved.

#4. The Substance

Image Courtesy of MUBI via The Cut

The Substance joins the short list of horror films that have been nominated for Best Picture, joining the likes of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Get Out (2017). Never in a million years would I have thought a horror film would win a Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival and a Best Picture nomination on top of nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress for Demi Moore, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. 

The body horror film, directed by Coralie Fargeat, is wildly ambitious. Fargeat’s bold swings had me on the edge of my seat and my jaw on the floor. It’s humorous and full of insightful points about aging and beauty, particularly among women. The performances by Moore and Margaret Qualley are exceptional, both operating at the top of their game. Fargeat and her crew operate at a high-class level, from the makeup work to the cinematography, pulsating score, and flashy editing. The Substance is one of the highlights of the year from both a story and technical perspective, and it will leave you stunned once the credits begin rolling.

#3. Anora

Image Courtesy of Everett Collection via IndieWire

Anora is one of the frontrunners to win Best Picture after its wins at the Producers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and the Writers Guild of America. Expertly directed by Sean Baker, Anora follows Ani, a young Brooklyn-based sex worker played by Mikey Madison who gets a chance at a Cinderella-like story when she meets the young son of a Russian oligarch, played by Mark Eydelshteyn. 

This screwball comedy is insanely funny but also wears its heart on its sleeve with a gut-punch ending. The entire cast is amazing with electric chemistry. There are great supporting performances, my favorites being Yura Borisov and Karren Karagulian’s. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention that Madison cements herself as a true leading force. 

Baker is known for more niche, sometimes experimental, films, but I am happy to see him finally resonate with more mainstream audiences and the Academy in particular. He is quickly turning into one of my favorite working directors, and Anora is one of many great films I am sure he will continue to make.

#2. The Brutalist

Image Courtesy of A24 via Vanity Fair

If there is anyone more deserving of a Best Director win at this year’s Oscars ceremony, it is Brady Corbet. The Brutalist is a monumental American epic like no other. Set in post-WWII New York, the film follows an immigrant pursuing the American Dream and the realities of the immigrant experience in the United States. It is so riveting that you forget it’s three-and-a-half hours long. 

Adrien Brody’s performance as Hungarian architect László Tóth is one of the best performances of the year. Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones give excellent supporting performances as well, each worthy of the nominations they received. The technical work in the film is epic in every sense of the word. Whether it’s the striking cinematography by Lol Crawley or the dazzling score composed by Daniel Blumberg, the technical elements help immerse you in the film throughout the entirety of the runtime. The fact that The Brutalist was made for under $10 million baffles me, and if I were to vote in the Academy, I would choose Brady Corbet to win for Best Director.

#1. Dune: Part Two 

Image Courtesy of Warner Brothers via Forbes

Dune: Part Two was, without a doubt, my favorite film of 2024 and is my top choice of the Best Picture nominees. The fact that Denis Villeneuve was snubbed not once but twice for Best Director is a travesty. This sci-fi epic is a continuation of Dune: Part One (2021) and somehow Denis and his team surpass the previous installment in every way. The emotional storytelling, exhilarating action, and gorgeous visuals help further the audience’s immersion. 

Certain shots and sequences in this film will stay with me for a very long time. The cinematography by Greig Fraser and production design by Patrice Vermette are on another level, easily at the top of their respective crafts. The whole ensemble is astounding, with Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya shining brightly. There is something about the scope and scale and how the characters develop throughout that makes the film so immersive to watch. Dune: Part Two, and the Dune franchise in general, is a career-defining achievement for Villeneuve. It is a shame that, like most sequels, the Academy will likely gloss over it, but it has my vote for the best film of 2024. 

List Courtesy of Owen Wilczek 

Image Courtesy of Neon/A24/Searchlight Pictures/Focus Features/Warner Bros. Pictures/Netflix/Sony Pictures Classics/Amazon-MGM/Mubi/Universal Pictures via ABC7