Movies Update: The Oscar nominations are finally here

Plus, academy snubs and surprises.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 24, 2025 By Stephanie Goodman Hi, movie fans! The academy has finally spoken, and we now know what is officially in the running for the Oscars. "Emilia Pérez" landed a whopping 13 nominations, followed by "The Brutalist" and "Wicked" with 10 apiece, and "A Complete Unknown" and "Conclave" tied with eight each. (Here is the complete list.) Our awards season expert, Kyle Buchanan, pointed out a number of snubs, starting with the omissions of Daniel Craig for "Queer" and Marianne Jean-Baptiste for "Hard Truths." Though neither film was widely seen by regular moviegoers, the performances were nominated for critics' prizes and other precursor awards, so their shutout wasn't expected. Conversely, there were several surprise nominations, starting with Sebastian Stan for "The Apprentice," about President Trump in his younger years. That biopic had trouble getting distribution after premiering at Cannes and faced legal threats from its subject, so academy consideration wasn't a given. Around the office, we were struck by how performances we had been talking about at the beginning of the season — like Angelina Jolie in "Maria" and Nicole Kidman in "Babygirl" — didn't go the distance. And we'll have more to say about "Emilia Pérez" in the coming weeks. It's an unusual year, to say the least. I haven't yet had time to pore over the list in depth, but my social media feeds are filled with wonderful reaction videos, like Brazilians cheering the nomination of their countrywoman, Fernanda Torres, the star of "I'm Still Here." My personal favorite is a video of the director of "Flow," Gints Zilbalodis, watching the academy announcement with his dog. His movie is a double nominee, for best animated feature and international feature. That dog understands the meaning of perspective. Speaking of perspective, it's a slow week for new movies (though the new Steven Soderbergh ghost story "Presence" is a critic's pick). It might be a good time to check out newly minted Oscar contenders you missed. Here's a look at what's available to watch at home. Whatever you end up seeing, enjoy the movies! Shanna Besson/Netflix, via Associated Press 2025 Oscar Nominations: 'Emilia Pérez' Leads the Way With 13 "The Brutalist" and "Wicked" secured 10 nominations apiece in a year with a wide-open best picture race. Acting nominees include Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo, Adrien Brody and Timothée Chalamet. By Brooks Barnes and Nicole Sperling Clockwise from top left: MGM; Yannis Drakoulidis/A24; Bleecker Street; Sony Pictures Classics The Projectionist Oscar Snubs and Surprises: Daniel Craig Misses; Fernanda Torres Scores Sebastian Stan's Trump portrayal is also rewarded after the film had a hard time getting distribution, while Marianne Jean-Baptiste was overlooked. By Kyle Buchanan Lol Crawley/A24, via Associated Press 2025 Oscar Nominations: See the Full List The movies competing for the 97th Academy Awards. The ceremony will air on March 2. By Shivani Gonzalez Pathé Films Karla Sofía Gascón Makes Oscar History as First Openly Trans Actress to Be Nominated The "Emilia Pérez" star isn't the first trans Oscar nominee. Anohni was up for best song, and Elliot Page was a contender before coming out publicly as trans. By Kyle Buchanan CRITICS' PICKS Peter Andrews/Neon Critic's Pick 'Presence' Review: Paranormal Friend or Foe? Steven Soderbergh's new chiller takes place in one of the most troubled of all movie locations: an outwardly normal family home. By Manohla Dargis Alile Onawale/Sony Pictures Classics Critic's Pick 'I'm Still Here' Review: When Politics Invades a Happy Home The award-winning Brazilian film has been a major hit in its home country — and it's easy to see why. By Alissa Wilkinson MOVIE REVIEWS Atlas Media Corp 'Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story' Review: Her Life as a Cabaret The fizzy, determinedly upbeat documentary charts how Liza Minnelli survived Hollywood. It's inspiring, jaw-dropping and conspicuously incomplete. By Manohla Dargis Lionsgate 'Flight Risk' Review: A Rather Bumpy Landing Mel Gibson directs an uneven action film with Mark Wahlberg that feels pulled out of an earlier era. By Alissa Wilkinson Cohen Media Group 'Rose' Review: After Loss, a New Lease on Life The French New Wave veteran Françoise Fabian plays a widow who discovers that it's not too late to be delighted. By Ben Kenigsberg Jan Thijs/Paramount+ 'Star Trek: Section 31' Review: Set the Phasers to Shun This made-for-streaming Star Trek adventure starring Michelle Yeoh is an exhausting gallop of nonstop chatter and nonhuman abilities. By Jeannette Catsoulis IFC Films 'Inheritance' Review: A Thriller Without Thrills Shot on an iPhone, this globe-trotting drama fails to deliver on its promises. By Alissa Wilkinson Gkids 'The Colors Within' Review: Shades of Teenage Friendship This anime, directed by Naoko Yamada, pales in comparison to the vivid vision of Totsuko, who experiences the spirits of her bandmates as colors. By Maya Phillips ANATOMY OF A SCENE Orion Pictures Anatomy of a Scene Get a Hug From Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in 'Nickel Boys' The director RaMell Ross narrates a sequence from his film, which is shot from the point of view of its characters. The movie is nominated for best picture. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Christine Tamalet/Mubi, via Associated Press Demi Moore Caps a Career Comeback With an Oscar Nomination She starred in "The Substance," a body horror-satire that isn't normally academy fare. But it earned her some of the best reviews of her career. By Melena Ryzik Mario Anzuoni/Reuters A New Thriller Is Coy About Its Director. (It's Mel Gibson.) For "Flight Risk," his first outing as a director in nearly a decade, the Oscar winner isn't quite taking center stage. By Marc Tracy Fred Dufour/Agence France-Presse, via Getty Images David Lynch's Enchanting Sound Worlds Music played a huge role in defining the filmmaker's distinctive atmosphere on the big and small screens. Hear 13 examples. By David Renard Neon; A24; MGM Critic's Notebook Sex Scenes in Movies Are Back, but They Aren't Exactly Sexy Instead, these moments in "Anora," "Babygirl," "Challengers" and more involve complex power dynamics that speak volumes about their characters. By Esther Zuckerman STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures Where to Stream the 2025 Oscar Nominees Many of the top contenders can be watched at home. Here's a guide to help you get a jump on the field. By Scott Tobias Jon Pack/A24 Films Beyond the Algorithm 'Problemista,' 'Stress Positions' and More Streaming Gems A pair of inventive comedies lead off this month's exploration of the hidden discoveries on your subscription streaming services. By Jason Bailey Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Amazon Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include craven rich kids, retired assassins and a cat cult. By Robert Daniels How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. To stop receiving Movies Update, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. 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