Hollywood loves a good drama, but usually, that drama stays on the screen. Not this time. If you were scratching your head wondering about the oscar nominations 2025 when details back in January, you weren't alone. The schedule was a total mess for a minute there.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences usually runs like a Swiss watch. They pick a Tuesday in January, everyone wakes up at the crack of dawn, and we get the list. But the 97th Academy Awards hit a massive snag. Wildfires in the Los Angeles area basically threw the entire "awards season" calendar into a blender. It wasn't just the Oscars, either—several industry events had to scramble.
The Big Reschedule: What Actually Happened
Originally, everyone had January 17, 2025, circled in red on their calendars. That was supposed to be the day. Then, things got pushed to the 19th. Finally, the Academy landed on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
It was a weird vibe. Usually, there’s a swarm of media at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Because of the fires and the logistical nightmares they caused, the Academy opted for a virtual-only announcement. No rows of reporters. Just a global livestream that started at 5:30 a.m. PT (8:30 a.m. ET).
Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott were the ones who actually had to deliver the news. Honestly, they were a great choice. They brought a bit of much-needed energy to a presentation that felt a little disconnected because of the lack of a live audience.
Who Came Out on Top?
If you missed the actual announcement or just want the highlights of who dominated, the "Emilia Pérez" camp was probably throwing the biggest party. They pulled in 13 nominations. That is a massive number for a Spanish-language musical.
Here is how the big categories shook out:
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- Best Picture: The list included heavy hitters like Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.
- Best Actor: We saw Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).
- Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here).
It’s worth noting that Anora eventually went on to be the big winner of the night when the ceremony actually happened on March 2, but on nomination morning, the conversation was all about the "Emilia Pérez" sweep and the fact that Wicked actually pulled in some serious technical nods.
Why the Nominations Date Matters So Much
You might think, "Who cares if it’s a week late?" In Hollywood, a week is an eternity.
The moment those nominations are announced, the "Phase Two" of campaigning starts. This is when the studios start buying massive billboards on Sunset Blvd and flying actors to every brunch in town. When the date for oscar nominations 2025 when shifted, it shortened that window.
The Academy even had to cancel the traditional Nominees Luncheon—the one where everyone takes that big "class photo." There just wasn't enough time or stability with the fires to make it happen.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Voting
People think the nominations are just a popularity contest. Kinda, but not really.
The voting is actually super specific. Actors vote for actors. Directors vote for directors. Everyone votes for Best Picture. For the 2025 cycle, the voting period was actually extended to January 17 because of the fires.
This extension was a bit of a lifeline for smaller films like The Substance or A Real Pain. It gave voters a few extra days to actually sit down and watch the screeners. In a year where the frontrunners were so varied, those extra 48 hours likely changed at least a few names on that final list.
Looking Ahead to the Next Cycle
If you’re already looking past the 97th Oscars and wondering about the 98th Academy Awards, the Academy has already put out the 2026 roadmap to avoid this kind of chaos again.
The 98th Oscar nominations are currently scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026. Voting for those will open on January 12 and close on January 16. Hopefully, the weather stays clear this time around.
Actionable Steps for Film Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the next awards season, don't just wait for the big morning.
- Watch the Shortlists: These usually drop in mid-December (for the 2026 awards, it's December 16, 2025). This is where you see the top 15 contenders for categories like Original Song, Visual Effects, and International Feature.
- Track the Guilds: The SAG (Actors), DGA (Directors), and PGA (Producers) awards are the best predictors. If a movie wins the PGA, it has an 80% chance of winning the Best Picture Oscar.
- Check the Official Press Room: The Academy's official press site is where they post the actual PDF ballots and schedule changes first. It's way more reliable than Twitter rumors.
The 2025 season was a wild ride of "will they, won't they" regarding the schedule. But at the end of the day, the movies stayed the focus. Whether it was Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan or Mikey Madison's breakout in Anora, the talent eventually cut through the smoke.