Emilia Pérez’ Leads Oscars with Record 13 Nominations for Non-English Film/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Netflix’s Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez” leads the 2025 Oscar nominations with 13 nods, setting a record for non-English language films. The movie, starring Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar, is up for Best Picture. Other top contenders include “Wicked” and “The Brutalist,” each earning 10 nominations. The ceremony comes amid devastating California wildfires that have left Hollywood reeling.
Oscar Nominations 2025: Quick Looks
- Record-Breaking ‘Emilia Pérez’: The trans-led Netflix musical earned 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress.
- Other Top Contenders: “Wicked” and “The Brutalist” secured 10 nominations each.
- Best Picture Nominees: Includes “Anora,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Nickel Boys,” and more.
- Historic Firsts: Karla Sofía Gascón is the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar.
- Impact of Wildfires: The nominations were delayed, and the ceremony aims to highlight resilience amid Los Angeles’ devastating fires.
Emilia Pérez’ Leads Oscars with Record 13 Nominations for Non-English Film
Deep Look
The 2025 Academy Awards nominations spotlight Netflix’s Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez,” which has made history as the most-nominated non-English language film with a stunning 13 nods. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film is not only Netflix’s strongest contender yet for Best Picture but also a landmark for trans representation in Hollywood.
Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the titular character, became the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar, earning recognition in the Best Actress category. “I’m still trying to process this moment,” Gascón shared after the announcement.
The nominations arrived during a turbulent time for Hollywood, with massive wildfires devastating Los Angeles and disrupting the industry. Despite the chaos, the Oscars are moving forward as a celebration of resilience and the global film community.
Key Contenders
“Emilia Pérez” Leads the Pack
Set against a backdrop of trans identity and narco culture, “Emilia Pérez” landed nominations across major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), and Best Original Screenplay. Two of its songs are up for Best Original Song, and Zoe Saldaña earned a Supporting Actress nod.
The film surpassed the previous record for non-English language films set by Netflix’s own “Roma,” which had 10 nominations in 2019.
“Wicked” and “The Brutalist” Shine
Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the Broadway hit “Wicked” earned 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo, and Best Supporting Actress for Ariana Grande. The lavish production joins a competitive race alongside “The Brutalist,” Brady Corbet’s postwar epic, which also garnered 10 nominations.
“The Brutalist” is recognized for Best Picture, Best Director, and acting nominations for Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, and Felicity Jones.
Best Picture Race
The 10 Best Picture nominees reflect a mix of big-budget blockbusters and auteur-driven films:
- “Emilia Pérez”
- “Wicked”
- “The Brutalist”
- “Anora” (6 nominations)
- “Conclave” (8 nominations)
- “A Complete Unknown” (8 nominations)
- “Dune: Part Two”
- “Nickel Boys”
- “The Substance”
- “I’m Still Here”
Notable surprises include “I’m Still Here,” a Brazilian film about political resistance, and “Nickel Boys,” a daring first-person POV-shot drama that had been overlooked in earlier guild voting.
Acting Highlights
Best Actress
Notable omissions include Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”), Nicole Kidman (“Babygirl”), and Angelina Jolie (“Maria”).
Best Actor
Challenges Amid Wildfires
The devastating wildfires in California cast a shadow over the Oscars, leading to delays in the nominations announcement and adjustments to the ceremony. Academy leaders emphasized the event’s importance as a symbol of unity and resilience.
With fires displacing thousands and damaging key areas around Los Angeles, including Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the film industry has come together to support affected communities. The Academy has pledged to reflect on these events during the March 2 ceremony, which will be hosted by Conan O’Brien.
Animation and Other Categories
The Best Animated Feature category includes strong contenders like “Inside Out 2,” “The Wild Robot,” and “Memoir of a Snail.” Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” stands out as the only Disney feature to receive a nomination this year.
Meanwhile, supporting actor and actress nominations highlighted standout performances by Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”) and Ariana Grande (“Wicked”), respectively.
Industry Reflections
The nominations come at a time of change and recovery for Hollywood. While the superhero genre continues to face challenges, films like “Wicked” and “Inside Out 2” delivered billion-dollar box office successes. However, the industry also grappled with post-strike delays and a slowdown in production.
Despite these obstacles, this year’s nominations showcase a wide range of voices, including international stories and underrepresented perspectives. With “Emilia Pérez” leading the charge, the 2025 Oscars may mark a turning point in Hollywood’s embrace of diversity and inclusion.
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