If you’ve been refreshing your feed wondering why the typical January movie buzz felt a little... off this year, you’re not alone. Usually, by the time we’re halfway through the month, the industry is already deep into its annual "campaign or die" frenzy. But 2025 threw a massive curveball at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
When is Oscar nominations 2025? Well, the wait is almost over. Put it in your calendar: Thursday, January 23, 2025.
The announcement is happening at 5:30 a.m. PT / 8:30 a.m. ET. Yeah, it's early. It’s always early. There’s something kinda masochistic about thousands of people in Hollywood waking up before dawn to see if their year of hard work resulted in a golden statue nod, but that’s the tradition. This year, though, the date isn't what we originally expected.
The Drama Behind the Date Change
Honestly, the calendar for the 97th Academy Awards was a bit of a moving target. If you’re looking at older press releases, you might see January 17 or January 19 listed as the nomination day. That was the plan.
Then, the Los Angeles wildfires hit.
The Academy had to pivot. Hard. Because of the climate emergency in Southern California, they pushed the voting deadline for members to January 17. Naturally, that bumped the big announcement to the 23rd. It wasn't just about the logistics of counting votes; it was about the reality of a city in crisis. Even the Academy Nominees Luncheon, usually a staple of the season, got axed for the 2025 cycle.
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Who’s Delivering the News?
This is the fun part. The Academy finally realized they need to speak to people who aren’t just industry veterans with lifetime memberships. To do that, they tapped two of the funniest, most "of-the-moment" actors to announce the noms: Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.
If you haven't seen Sennott in Shiva Baby or Bottoms, you're missing out. And Bowen Yang? The man is basically the heartbeat of Saturday Night Live right now. Having them host the global livestream from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills brings a specific kind of energy that we haven't seen in a while. It’s less "stuffy gala" and more "let's see who actually made the cut."
Where to Watch the 2025 Nominations
You don't need a fancy cable package to catch this. In fact, the Academy is making it easier than ever to stream the 2025 Oscar nominations.
- YouTube: The official Oscars channel is usually the most stable bet.
- Hulu & Disney+: For the first time, they’re leaning heavily into their streaming partners for the live broadcast.
- Social Media: They’ll be live-streaming on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
- ABC: If you still have a TV antenna, Good Morning America will be carrying the highlights live.
What Films are we Actually Talking About?
Now that we know when is Oscar nominations 2025, we should probably talk about what’s actually going to be in the envelope. This year feels like a wild mix of massive blockbusters and those "I've never heard of that but I'll watch it now" indies.
The buzz around Emilia Pérez is deafening. Jacques Audiard’s musical crime drama led the pack with 13 nominations—a historic feat for a non-English language film. Then you have The Brutalist and Wicked breathing down its neck with 10 nominations each.
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It’s a weird year. We have Timothée Chalamet doing the Bob Dylan thing in A Complete Unknown, which seems like total Oscar bait but is actually pulling solid reviews. Then there’s Anora, which took home the Palme d'Or and has Mikey Madison pegged as a frontrunner for Best Actress. Honestly, if she doesn't get a nod, the internet might actually riot.
The Full 2025 Oscars Timeline
Since everything shifted, it helps to see the bird's eye view of the season.
December 17, 2024: Shortlists were announced (this is when we found out which songs and documentaries survived the first cut).
January 8, 2025: Nominations voting began.
January 17, 2025: Nominations voting ended (extended because of the fires).
January 23, 2025: The big reveal.
February 11, 2025: Final voting begins for the winners.
March 2, 2025: The 97th Academy Awards ceremony.
Why This Year Feels Different
There’s a shift happening. Conan O’Brien is hosting the actual ceremony in March, which is a massive departure from the Jimmy Kimmel/Chris Rock era. The Academy is clearly trying to find a balance between prestige and, well, being watchable.
One thing to note: they’ve decided to cut the live performances of the Best Original Song nominees during the telecast this year. That’s been a controversial move. Instead of the big musical numbers we usually get, they're going to focus more on the songwriters' stories. It might make for a faster show, but fans of the spectacle (especially with Wicked in the mix) aren't exactly thrilled.
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What You Should Do Now
If you want to be the "movie person" in your friend group, there are a few things you can do before the 23rd rolls around.
First, catch up on the shortlists. If a movie like The Wild Robot or Dune: Part Two is on your "to-watch" list, do it now. Once those nominations drop, the tickets for the remaining theatrical runs will disappear, and the streaming prices might jump.
Second, set an alarm for 5:25 a.m. PT on January 23. Watching the chaos of the live-stream is half the fun. You get to see the snubs in real-time before the think-pieces hit the web.
Lastly, prepare for a long night on March 2. The 97th Oscars is moving to an earlier start time—7:00 p.m. ET. This "early bird" special worked well last year, and they're sticking with it.
Actionable Insights for Oscar Season:
- Bookmark the Academy's YouTube page now so you aren't scrambling for a link at 5 a.m.
- Check your local listings for any "Best Picture" marathons; many theaters start these the weekend after nominations are announced.
- Track the snubs. Keep a list of movies that missed out on the 23rd—these often become the cult classics that people talk about more than the winners themselves.
The 2025 Oscar season is a marathon, not a sprint. And with the nominations finally landing on January 23, the real race is just beginning.