Oscar nominations 2025: Wicked, Emilia Perez, and Trump pic soar in fire-ravaged Hollywood

Los Angeles, California - Transgender cartel musical Emilia Perez topped this year's Oscar nominations, earning 13 nods in an announcement on Thursday postponed by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

(L-R) Actors Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana, and Selena Gomez attend the screening of their film Emilia Perez on the opening night of The American French Film Festival (TAFFF) at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles, October 29, 2024.
(L-R) Actors Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana, and Selena Gomez attend the screening of their film Emilia Perez on the opening night of The American French Film Festival (TAFFF) at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles, October 29, 2024.  © ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP

French director Jacques Audiard's Mexico-set musical, released by Netflix, shattered the record for the most Academy Award nominations for a non-English-language movie.

It was followed by the epic immigrant saga The Brutalist, and the show-stopping musical adaptation Wicked, which each picked up 10 nominations.

The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown and Vatican thriller Conclave bagged eight nods apiece.

Millie Bobby Brown flaunts chic looks and cuddles up with Jake Bongiovi in new post
Millie Bobby Brown Millie Bobby Brown flaunts chic looks and cuddles up with Jake Bongiovi in new post

Voting deadlines had to be extended this month, as Los Angeles – the entertainment capital and home city of the Academy Awards – was devastated by multiple blazes that have killed more than two dozen people and forced tens of thousands to flee.

Nominees were unveiled in subdued circumstances, as a town that typically fixates on the Oscars race was instead fixated on yet more new fires burning north of the city.

Even so, the glitzy Oscars ceremony itself is still set for March 2, and the stars and studios who have spent months and millions of dollars campaigning learned if they have made the coveted final shortlists.

Emilia Perez, in which a narco boss transitions to live as a woman and turns her back on crime, picked up nods for best picture, best director, and best international film, as well as multiple song, score, and sound nods.

Its star Karla Sofia Gascon became the first openly trans acting nominee for Best Actress, and Zoe Saldana was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Their more famous co-star, Selena Gomez, who has been criticized for her Spanish-language dialogue, missed out.

Even so, the Netflix film easily surpassed the most nominated non-English-language movie ever – a record previously held by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Roma, each with 10.

Controversial Donald Trump biopic spotlighted in Oscar noms

Sebastian Stan attends The Apprentice New York premiere at the DGA Theater on October 08, 2024 in New York City.
Sebastian Stan attends The Apprentice New York premiere at the DGA Theater on October 08, 2024 in New York City.  © John Nacion/Getty Images/AFP John Nacion / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

In best actor, firm favorite Adrien Brody was nominated for (The Brutalist) along with Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown,) Ralph Fiennes (Conclave,) and Colman Domingo (Sing Sing.)

But in an unexpected pick sure to ruffle a few feathers in the new White House, the fifth and final spot went to Sebastian Stan, for his unsettling transformation into a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice.

The movie drew threats of lawsuits from Trump's attorneys, particularly for a scene in which the new US president is shown raping his wife.

Ariana Grande sends strong message to Trump over anti-trans attacks
Ariana Grande Ariana Grande sends strong message to Trump over anti-trans attacks

In arguably the morning's biggest surprise, Jeremy Strong, who plays the youthful Trump's sinister mentor Roy Cohn, was also nominated in his supporting role.

He edged out the likes of Denzel Washington (Gladiator II.)

Meanwhile, in an intense race for best actress, A-listers Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman – who went all-out with their performances in Maria and Babygirl, respectively – missed out entirely.

Instead, comeback queen Demi Moore, who charmed the industry with her Golden Globes acceptance speech for body horror satire The Substance, was nominated and is seen as the favorite.

Her rivals include Gascon, Anora star Mikey Madison, Wicked lead Cynthia Erivo, and Brazil's Fernanda Torres for I'm Still Here.

Cover photo: ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP

More on Movies: