Awards Season is upon us, and the Oscar nominations are a little over a week away. The date of the announcements for who and which films receive noms has been pushed back due to the Los Angeles Wildfires to Jan. 19, the Sunday before MLK Day.
Several celebrities and a director have multiple films vying for the top spots at the 2025 Academy Awards, like Dune: Part Two stars Timothée Chalamet, who also stars as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, and Zendaya, who centered Luca Guadagnino‘s tennis film Challengers. Guadagnino himself also has Queer to contend with his other film. Sebastian Stan also starred in two films on the fringes of the conversation — A Different Man and The Apprentice. A24, Searchlight Pictures and Netflix also have quite a few films in the mix .
‘A Complete Unknown’ – Theaters
Searchlight’s Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown from director James Mangold, based on the book Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties By Elijah Wald, is currently only in theaters. The film stars Timothée Chalamet in the role of Bob Dylan, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woodie Guthrie among others with a soundtrack from all of those artists.
RELATED: ‘A Complete Unknown’: Read The Screenplay That Plugs Into The Moment Bob Dylan Became An Icon
‘A Different Man’ – For Rent on Apple TV, Fandango At Home
The Sebastian Stan-starring A Different Man from A24 watches Stan embody Edward Lemuel, an actor with neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes facial disfigurement and tumors. Lemuel elects to undergo an experimental medical procedure to transform his appearance and then takes on a new identity as Guy Moratz. He claims the old version of him died. Stan won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. The movie is still available in select cinemas and for rent on several services like Apple TV, Plex, Fandango At Home and more.
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‘Anora’ – Theaters, For Rent on Apple TV, Fandango At Home
Anora isn’t streaming quite yet, but it is available for rent on services like Apple TV, Plex, Fandango At Home and more. The Sean Baker film starring Mikey Madison earned a ten-minute ovation at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival where Baker returned three years following Red Rocket (2021) starring Simon Rex. Madison plays a sex worker who gets the chance of a lifetime, or so it seems, when the son (Mark Eydelshteyn) of a Russian oligarch proposes marriage to her.
RELATED: ‘Anora’: Read The Screenplay For Sean Baker’s Cannes Palme d’Or Winner That Paints Outside The Margins
‘A Real Pain’ – Streaming On Hulu Jan. 16
Jessie Eisenberg wrote the script for A Real Pain, in which he stars alongside Kieran Culkin (Succession). Eisenberg also directed the film, which tells a very personal story for him as the two characters David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Culkin) go on a Holocaust tour after the death of their beloved grandmother. Eisenberg won the screenwriting award at Sundance in 2024 where the film premiered, and Searchlight’s purchase of the movie marked the first big deal out of the festival. Culkin won the Golden Globe for Best Actor In a Supporting Role For a Motion Picture. Will Sharpe (The White Lotus), Jennifer Grey and more appear in the film as well. A Real Pain was nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor for Jesse Eisenberg, Best Screenplay as well as male supporting actor for Culkin. The film comes to Hulu Jan. 16.
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‘Babygirl’ – Theaters
From writer-director Halina Reijn, A24’s Babygirl stars Nicole Kidman as CEO Romy, who becomes enthralled with intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson), as he fulfills sexual needs that have been left unsatisfied in her 19-year marriage to Jacob (Antonio Banderas). Kidman won the Best Actress prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, but she was absent in receiving the award due to the recent death of her mother.
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‘Better Man’ – Theaters
Robbie Williams’ story takes center stage in Better Man, though he is portrayed as a CGI chimpanzee voiced by Jonno Davies. The music biopic was directed by Michael Gracey. Williams’ song “Forbidden Road” was pulled from the Oscar original song shortlist of 15 finalists, but he is past that now.
RELATED: ‘Better Man’: Read The Screenplay For The Robbie Williams Musical Biopic With A Chimp As Its Frontman
‘The Brutalist’ – Theaters
Brady Corbet’s three-plus hour long film The Brutalist won the Golden Globes Best Motion Picture — Drama Award early in January, and its star Adrien Brody also won the trophy for Best Actor in a Drama. Brody portrays a Hungarian architect fleeing World War II in the United States, where he is recruited by Guy Pearce’s real estate tycoon to build a structure that encourages community. A24 purchased the movie out of the 2024 Venice Film Festival, where it premiered to a 13-minute standing ovation. Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and Joe Alwyn also star.
RELATED: ‘The Brutalist’: Read The Screenplay For Brady Corbet’s Epic That Just Won A Best Picture Golden Globe
‘Challengers’ – Prime Video
One of Zendaya’s Oscar contenders, Challengers, follows a competively heated love triangle between the actress’ Tashi Duncan and two tennis players — Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor) — who both mean a lot to her in different ways. She met the pair back when she was about to go pro herself, but a tragic injury during her time at Stanford changed that for her. She is now married to Art, who wants to retire, but when she signs him up for a low stakes Challenger tennis tournament, and Patrick pops out of the woodwork, things go sideways. Luca Guadagnino directed the film, and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ score won a Golden Globe.
RELATED: ‘Challengers’: Read The Screenplay That Takes Big Swings With Its Tennis Love Triangle
‘Conclave’ – Peacock
The religious drama Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, landed on Peacock for streaming Dec. 13. The film, directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), also stars John Lithgow, Sergio Castellito, Isabella Rossellini and more. Peter Straughan adapted the screenplay, which won a Golden Globe, from the book of the same name by Robert Harris. The story follows Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence, who discovers secrets within the halls of the Vatican, reflecting obstacles to faith, personal doubts and power struggles of the Church.
RELATED: ‘Conclave’: Read The Screenplay That Turns An Ancient Vatican Ritual Into A Modern, High-Stakes Drama
‘Dune: Part Two’ – Max
The second half of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation could get some noms after its delay from 2023 to March 2024 due to the dual strikes in Hollywood. The second film, which Villeneuve wrote with Jon Spaihts, saw the return of Timothée Chalamet, who will undoubtedly get nominated for his work portraying Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, as main character Paul Atreides as well as Zendaya, whose Challengers was also delayed to April 2024, as Chani. Florence Pugh entered the desert dust as Princess Irulan, as did Austin Butler, who played antagonist Feyd-Rautha. The film, along with its 2021 counterpart, is streaming on Max.
RELATED: Denis Villeneuve Calls Out Oscars For Disqualifying “Genius” Hans Zimmer’s ‘Dune: Part Two’ Score
‘Emilia Pérez’ – Netflix
Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language movie musical is available to stream on Netflix. The film stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña and more. It won four Golden Globes at the 2025 ceremony, including Best Picture, which signals that it has a strong chance of competing at the Oscars.
RELATED: ‘Emilia Pérez’: Read The Screenplay (In Spanish And English) For Jacques Audiard’s Audacious Musical Melodrama
‘Gladiator II’ – For Rent on Apple TV, Fandango At Home
Gladiator II is available to rent on Apple TV+ and several other sites before it heads to streaming, likely first on Paramount+. The sequel film, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Commodus, as he rises in the gladiator ranks to face off against General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) in the Coliseum.
RELATED: ‘Gladiator II’: Read The Screenplay For The Epic That Makes It A Threequel For Ridley Scott And David Scarpa
‘Hard Truths’ – Theaters
Hard Truths comes from a script by Mike Leigh, seven-time Oscar-nominated writer and director. The project also reunited him with Secrets & Lies star Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who won Best Lead Performance for her role at the British Independent Film Awards. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, and it follows the story of Pansy (Jean-Baptiste), whose fear, afflictions and outbursts against her family differentiate her from them as well as her younger sister (Michele Austin who worked with Leigh on Another Year). The film delves into the themes of family love and how hard it can be at times.
RELATED: ‘Hard Truths’: Read The Screenplay That Returns Seven-Time Oscar Nominee Mike Leigh To Modern London
‘I’m Still Here’ – Theaters (Atom Cinema)
Fernanda Torres won a Golden Globe for her role in Walter Salles’ Oscar-shortlisted film I’m Still Here, which is not yet currently streaming anywhere. She dedicated her win to her mother, who was on the same stage 25 years ago. In the film, she stars as mother Eunice Paiva, who is left to raise five children alone after her activist husband Rubens (Selton Mello) disappears during the height of Brazil’s dictatorship. The film is still in theaters (Atom Cinema).
RELATED: ‘I’m Still Here’: Read The Screenplay For Walter Salles’ Personal Political Drama That Warns To Never Forget The Disappeared
‘Inside Out 2’ – Disney+
Pixar’s Inside Out 2, which broke box office records over the summer of 2024, is available to stream on Disney+, but it only landed there September after it arrived in theaters in June. Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser and more joined the voice cast, which also shifted for certain characters from the first film, in the sequel.
RELATED: ‘Inside Out 2’: Read The Screenplay For The Highest-Grossing Animated Film Of All Time
‘Kneecap’ – Netflix
British Independent Film Kneecap was directed by Rich Peppiatt. The film led the British Independent Film Award nominations with 14 noms, including Best Director and Best Screenplay, and it took Best Film home. It is streaming on Netflix.
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‘Maria’ – Netflix
Angelina Jolie portrays opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s biopic, now streaming on Netflix. With a script from Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) and Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Stephen Ashfield, Valeria Golino, Caspar Phillipson and more starring alongside Jolie, Callas’ story comes to life in the span of a week.
RELATED: ‘Maria’: Read The Screenplay By Steven Knight That Became The Libretto For Angelina Jolie’s Opera Icon
‘Moana 2’ – Coming To Disney+
The sequel to Disney’s Moana (2016) arrived in theaters Nov. 27 ahead of Thanksgiving 2024, and it has yet to surf on over to Disney+, but that’s where the sequel will land alongside its predecessor. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned to reprise their voice roles in the next adventure for the titular character, whose wayfinding skills are put to the test as she is tasked with finding a central island to connect all the Oceanic communities.
READ: ‘Moana 2’: Read The Screenplay For Disney’s Record-Breaking Animated Sequel
‘Nickel Boys’ – Theaters
Ramell Ross’ Nickel Boys, adapted from Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name, stars Aunjaneu Ellis Taylor, Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson. Luke Tennie (Shrinking) also appears in the film. The movie opened in theaters mid-December, and it is not yet available for streaming.
RELATED: ‘Nickel Boys’: Read The Screenplay By RaMell Ross And Joslyn Barnes That Reimagined A Pulitzer-Winning Novel For The Big Screen
‘Queer’ – Theaters
Luca Guadagnino’s other film in contention this awards season, Queer, stars Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey. The film arrived in theaters nationwide Dec. 13, but it has yet to start streaming anywhere.
RELATED: ‘Queer’: Read The Screenplay By Justin Kuritzkes That Turns William S. Burroughs’ Love Story Into One For All Of Us
‘September 5’ – Theaters
September 5 stars Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin and Leonie Benesch. The film follows the events of the Munic massacre of 1972 from the point of view of the ABC Sports crew who were covering the Munich Olympics and how they pivoted their coverage. The film is still only in theaters.
RELATED: ‘September 5’: Read The Screenplay That Depicts The Munich Olympics Massacre From The POV Of Those Who Covered It Live
‘Sing Sing’ – Back In Theaters Starting Jan. 17
A24’s ‘Sing Sing’ stars Colman Domingo. The film, directed by Greg Kwedar, is based on the true story of John “Divine G” Whitfield, who is portrayed by Domingo in the film. Whitfield was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, but he takes up acting in a theater group with other incarcerated men such as Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin (who plays himself). Sean San José, Sean “Dino” Johnson, Jon Adrian “JJ” Velazquez and Paul Raci also star. The film will be back in theaters starting Friday, Jan. 17.
RELATED: ‘Sing Sing’: Read The Screenplay Based On A Real-Life Theater Program For Incarcerated Men
‘The Apprentice’ – For Rent On Apple TV+, Fandango At Home
Starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as lawyer Roy Cohn, The Apprentice was directed by Ali Abbasi. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 to an 11-minute standing ovation. Gabriel Sherman wrote the script. The Donald Trump origin story had Golden Globe nominations for Stan and Strong in the lead and supporting male actor categories.
RELATED: ‘The Apprentice’: Read The Screenplay That Takes On The Origin Story Of Donald Trump
‘The Last Showgirl’ – Theaters
Pamela Anderson leads the cast of Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, which also stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Dave Bautista, Billie Lourd and more. The film, which follows Anderson’s seasoned showgirl whose show abruptly closes after running for 30 years, was written by Kate Gersten.
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‘The Room Next Door’ – Theaters
Pedro Almovadar’s The Room Next Door, which stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, premiered at Venice Film Festival. The film is still only available to see in theaters.
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‘The Substance’ – Mubi
Demi Moore’s body horror story The Substance, for which she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress, is now streaming on Mubi. The film also stars Margaret Qualley as Sue, a younger version of Moore’s character Elizabeth Sparkle as well as Dennis Quaid. The actresses performed a bit from the film when they presented at the Golden Globes. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film hails from Working Title Films, A Good Story, Blacksmith, AdAstra and more.
RELATED: ‘The Substance’: Read The Screenplay By Coralie Fargeat That Injects A Fresh Dose Of Body Horror Brilliance
‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ – Netflix
, a long-awaited newest installment to Aardman Animation’s Wallace & Gromit series, is now streaming on Netflix. The film will likely compete in the category for Best Animated Feature alongside the likes of Moana 2, The Wild Robot, Flow and more.
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‘The Wild Robot’ – Peacock
Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot stole hearts with its story and animation style as well as its star-studded voice cast. Lupita Nyong’o voices Roz the robot, who becomes tasked with caring for a young orphaned gosling, Brightbill (Kit Connor) and raising him to learn to care for himself as a functioning adult. The steps are broken down between eating, swimming and flight. The Universal Pictures film is now streaming on Peacock.
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‘Wicked: Part One’ – VOD, At Home
The first half of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked is available to watch at home for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home and more. It is not yet streaming anywhere. Since the film hails from Universal, it will likely head to Peacock soon. Wicked stars Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz, Ethan Slater as Boq, Marissa Bode as Nessarose and more. There will be a second part to the movie musical as well, titled Wicked: For Good. The first part broke several records for a movie musical adaptation, and it won the Cinematic Achievement Golden Globe.
RELATED: ‘Wicked’: Read The Screenplay For The Highest-Grossing Broadway Musical Movie In U.S. History