Early contenders for the 2025 Oscars... some may surprise you!

There's still a long road until March 2, 2025, but the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on January 17, 2025, which is much sooner. And already in July, people are speculating on which films and actors could emerge as the big winners.

The campaign for the 2025 Oscars began as soon as the 2024 ceremony ended. It's a long and complex race, and now we're in the final sprint. Here are some of the top contenders for the 2025 Oscars.

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Whoa! Pamela Anderson is a big surprise here, but the buzz seems well-deserved for her role as a fifty-something dancer who, after 30 years in a Las Vegas show, finds herself out of work and must completely reconfigure her life. With Gia Coppola at the helm, those who have seen her performance have been amazed. Will she get a nomination?

Denis Villeneuve's majestic work and latest film is set to dominate with nominations for Best Picture, Director, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Music. More nominations could follow.

Photo: Warner Media

Rebecca Ferguson, Timothée Chalamet, or Austin Butler would typically have strong chances for nominations in a less competitive year. However, this edition is packed with sublime performances, making it very challenging for them.

Photo: Warner Media

Luckily for Zendaya, her role in 'Rivals' shines much more and could earn her a nomination. With a bit of luck, Luca Guadagnino could also secure nods in Direction, Picture, or Screenplay.

Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

'Civil War' generated a lot of hype when it premiered shortly after the 2024 Oscars, but the strong competition this year might leave it without any nominations. However, surprises from Alex Garland in Direction or Kirsten Dunst in Acting could definitely happen.

Photo: A24

Recent history shows that when Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos work together, Oscar nominations and even wins follow. With Jesse Plemmons and Margaret Qualley in the mix, the cast could see multiple representatives at the awards.

Photo: Searchlight Pictures

Lady Gaga's portrayal of Harley Quinn is said to overshadow Joaquin Phoenix's Joker on screen. If true, her second nomination seems guaranteed. With musical numbers included, it could also secure Best Song, Picture, Director, and Screenplay nominations.

Photo: Instagram - @toddphillips

Francis Ford Coppola's passion project may not have been the expected success, but it's still worthy of several nominations, according to some. Adam Driver for Best Actor seems likely, unless the intense competition in this category edges him out.

The Best Animated Feature nomination seems clear and it's already a favorite. Could it slip into the Best Picture category? It has the quality to do so. If it doesn’t, there might be some anxiety attacks.

Photo: Pixar/Disney

It's rare for a horror or vampire film to make it to the Oscars, but with Robert Eggers, multiple nominations in artistic categories and maybe even Cinematography are possible.

Photo: Focus Features

'Mad Max: Fury Road' won 6 Oscars and was the best film of the year. While this prequel might not sweep the awards, it could receive nominations for Cinematography, Screenplay, Visual Effects, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Costume Design. Acting nominations seem less likely.

Photo: Warner Bros

This film is poised to be the dark horse of the Oscars, potentially garnering more nominations than 'Dune.' Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson are strong contenders in the acting categories, along with Picture, Screenplay, and Director nominations for Steve McQueen. From there, it’s just a matter of seeing what else it can pick up.

Photo: Apple

Pablo Larraín is a master of the biopic, and for his portrayal of Maria Callas, he chose Angelina Jolie, who has everything in her favor for another nomination.

Photo: Fábula Films

Colman Domingo has had an Oscar-worthy face for years, and this year might finally be his year, thanks to this prison drama set in Sing Sing.

It looks like this film could easily garner 10 nominations if it performs as well as some critics are thinking. It's yet to be seen if Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington, or Joseph Quinn will manage to snag a nomination.

Edward Berger returns with an ecclesiastical drama featuring Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini. This film practically screams Oscar.

Luca Guadagnino could score a double nomination, with Daniel Craig's role in this 80s drama being exceptional.

Clint Eastwood’s latest film is a sure bet for the Oscars. The question is how many categories it will be nominated in, but it will definitely be there.

Jesse Eisenberg writes, directs, and stars in this drama about two cousins traveling to Poland after their grandmother's death. It swept Sundance, and the other cousin is played by Kieran Culkin, who could easily secure a Supporting Actor nomination.

Photo: Searchlight Pictures

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