Oscar Predictions 2025: From Zoe Saldaña to Kieran Culkin

The Nominees:

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

PureWow Predicts:

Talk about a stacked category! Will Demi Moore nab her first-ever Oscar? Will Cynthia Erivo's Wicked performance help her reach EGOT status after scoring her first Oscar? Was Mikey Madison’s stunning transformation in Anora enough to secure her the prize? Will dark horse Karla Sofía Gascón surpass all the others? 

While the Best Actress statuette could go to any of these stars, I think Fernanda Torres will reign supreme, thanks to her showstopping performance as Eunice Paiva in the drama film I'm Still Here. She already made history at the Golden Globes as the first Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking actor to win the Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. And now, she is the second Brazilian actress—after her mother—to be nominated for an Oscar in the same category. I'm pretty confident she’ll make history again.

The Nominees:

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

PureWow Predicts:

I'd say this one is a toss-up between Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody. It's incredible to see Chalamet embody the young Bob Dylan, all the way down to his mannerisms. And if history is any indication, we know the Oscars love awarding actors for playing historical icons (Jamie Foxx for Ray, Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody). Still, if I had to choose just one actor who has the edge, it would be Brody.

For one, he already won the 2025 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, and critics are already predicting an Oscar win for his unforgettable performance as a Holocaust survivor and architect in The Brutalist.

The Nominees:

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

PureWow Predicts:

As someone who grew up seeing Zoe Saldaña's incredible range, from Drumline and Colombiana to Guardians of the Galaxy, it's great to see that she's getting (well-deserved) recognition for Emilia Pérez. The movie revolves around a Mexican lawyer (played by Saldaña), who gets a unique request from a cartel leader, and thanks to Saldaña's emotional performance, she received her first Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. Although this is her first-ever Oscars nod, I predict she’ll take home the prize.

The Nominees:

Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

PureWow Predicts:

Again, this could be a draw between Succession alums Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong. According to PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey, Strong is the clear star in The Apprentice. In her rave review, she wrote, "The movie belongs to Strong, who as Cohn disappears into the infamous lawyer’s stiff walk, bullying manner, stilted speech and frankly creepy stare." But then there's Culkin, who was equally compelling as the carefree and impulsive Benji Kaplan in A Real Pain.

Culkin and his co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, totally nail the often complicated dynamic between relatives, and thanks to Culkin's performance, he earned the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Motion Picture—a strong indicator that he could take home the Academy Award as well. With critics praising his performance in the poignant film, it seems like a no-brainer for the Academy.

The Nominees:

Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked

PureWow Predicts:

There’s a case to be made for box office blockbusters like Dune: Part Two and Wicked. Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez scored the most Oscar nominations and critics adored Conclave and Anora. But, out of all these celebrated films, I'm predicting that The Brutalist will take the prize. The period drama features stunning performances, relatable characters and timely themes like the downsides of capitalism, the American Dream, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. Plus, the movie won three awards at the 2024 Golden Globes, including Best Drama, making it a worthy contender for Best Picture.