15 Academy Award Contenders for 2025 You Need to Watch

If you try hard enough, all seasons are awards season, and even though the 2024 Oscars were given out only two months ago, we're already thinking about 2025. While most of next year's Academy Awards nominees won't arrive in theaters until he fall, that doesn't mean that some 2025 hopefuls haven't already premiered. 

Every movie released theatrically between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024 is eligible for a little gold man. Plenty of contenders have already emerged and predictions are being made. Massive blockbusters are on the hunt for Sound and Visual Effects Oscars, indie documentaries are hoping to gain momentum and actors are already schmoozing voters and building Oscar buzz. Nominations morning (Jan. 17, 2025) will be here before you know it and the statuettes will be passed out on March 2, 2025.

Related: Everything You Need to Know about the 2024 Oscars, Including the Winners

To aid you in choosing which movies to watch and keep you up-to-date on the Oscar race, here's a list of all the films released to date (through May 2024) that have some Oscar buzz, and where you can stream them.

I'll be updating this post as we progress through the season. 

Related: The Best Movies of 2024 (So Far) 

2025 Oscar Movie Contenders

1. Challengers

What it's about: A horny trio of professional tennis players in a love triangle for a decade navigate their relationships on and off the court. 

Why it has buzz: Luca Guadagnino's last few movies haven't been Oscar favorites, Call Me By Your Name's success will make anything he directs seem like an Oscar contender. Plus all three actors have been in previous awards favorites. 

Potential nominations: With an April release date and Dune: Part Two already snatching up the spring Best Picture nominee slot, you wonder if Challengers will be able to hang on for nearly a year when it comes to buzz. That said, it's gotten rave reviews and will certainly remain in the zeitgeist, especially since Zendaya will also be on the awards circuit for Dune. Does the combination mean she could land a Best Actress nom for this? It's certainly possible, especially given how much awards bodies love the two-time Emmy winner. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross also certainly deserve an Original Score nomination and Justin Kuritzkes could follow up wife Celine Song with an Original Screenplay nomination. If Challengers holds on, it could also snag Best Picture, Cinematography and Editing noms. While both Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor are superb in the movie, I think they'll have a hard time both getting in for equally strong work. 

How to watch: Video on demand

2. Drive-Away Dolls

What it's about: A pair of lesbians decide to go on a roadtrip to escape their problems only to realize the car they rented contains a package belonging to the mob. The mob of course decides to track them down. 

Why it has buzz: The movie is directed by Ethan Coen, who currently has 15 Oscar nominations and four wins, so there is plenty of Oscar pedigree here. 

Potential nominations: Since comedies don't tend to get nominated, it may be a bit of a stretch, but Beanie Feldstein's supporting performance is certainly worthy of some awards attention. 

How to watch: Streaming on Peacock

3. Dune: Part Two

What it's about: An intergalactic lord becomes the messiah to a bunch of sand people on a desert planet. He rides worms, kills bald Austin Butler and cheats on blue-eyed Zendaya. 

Why it has buzz: Dune: Part One received 10 Oscar nominations and won six of those. With strong reviews, Part Two is likely to be a heavy hitter at this year's Oscars as well. 

Potential nominations: Basically copy and paste the lineup from 2022. Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design, Sound, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Cinematography, Production Design and Visual Effects. Part Two should also get Denis Villeneuve a Best Director nomination. While Austin Butler seems like a potential Best Supporting Actor contender, I think the massive ensemble will probably mean none of the actors get in. 

How to watch: Streaming on Max

4. Evil Does Not Exist

What it's about: Rural Japanese people wage a very slow, very beautiful battle against real-estate developers who want to ruin their pristine natural landscape.

Why it has buzz: Ryusuke Hamaguchi's most recent movie Drive My Car earned four Oscar nominations and won Best International Feature. 

Potential nominations: A much quieter movie than Drive My Car, Evil Does Not Exist seems unlikely to break through in a massive way. However, if Japan submits it for Best International Feature, it could snag a nomination. 

How to watch: Currently in theaters

5. The Fall Guy

What it's about: A stunt double and a camerawoman fall in love, but when her directorial debut's star goes missing, he's in charge of getting the film back on track. 

Why it has buzz: It is a tribute to the Hollywood stunt community that stars recent Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt and LOT of special effects. 

Potential nominations: As the movie itself laments, there is no stunt category at the Oscars. That means that stunt-heavy movies are usually only honored in Visual Effects. We could also see a Sound nomination thrown in too depending on how strong the field is. 

How to watch: Video on demand

6. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

What it's about: A prequel to Oscar juggernaut, Mad Max: Fury Road, in which we learn how the Imperator Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron originally) grew up to be the bad ass driver she is.

Why it has buzz: It's the big budget prequel to a movie that scooped up a ton of below the line Oscars AND came THIS CLOSE to winning Best Picture. 

Potential nominations: Unfortunately for Furiosa, the critical reception and box office numbers have been a bit lackluster, but the crafts are undeniable. Best Sound, Visual Effects, Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design, Production Design and Original Score are all in play even if Director and Picture aren't this year. 

How to watch: Currently in theaters

7. Girls State

What it's about: Teenage girls attend government camp in this documentary.

Why it has buzz: It received rave reviews coming out of Sundance and is the companion to 2020's Boys State which was overlooked by the Oscars. This could be a chance to rectify that oversight. 

Potential nominations: It's very rare for American documentaries to earn nominations beyond Best Documentary Feature, so that's its best shot. 

How to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+

8. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

What it's about: Godzilla and Kong fighting other monsters.

Why it has buzz: Never forget that Kong: Skull Island nabbed a Best Visual Effect nomination. 

Potential nominations: While this seems to be a fairly competitive year for Best Visual Effects given Dune: Part Two and Furiosa in the lineup, The New Empire could snag a slot especially if Marvel continues its underperforming streak. 

How to watch: Video on demand

9. Love Lies Bleeding

What it's about: A lesbian who works at a gym and a lesbian body builder go on a homicidal spree.