15 Best Movies With No Oscars 2025 Nominations

Now that the 2025 Oscars lineup is confirmed, it’s clearer than ever that this year’s critics have sadly overlooked plenty of amazing and deserving movies. The 2025 Oscars nominations bring shocking surprises, with The Apprentice, September 5, and I’m Still Here taking the spots of what had been thought as the strongest contenders for the race. Notably, Angelina Jolie’s attempt at making Oscars history with her role as Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s Maria proved futile, and her chances of ever repeating her 2000s wins decreased exponentially.

Additionally, Zendaya’s hopes for her first Oscar nomination have been crushed, with one of her greatest performances yet failing to garner the critics’ favor. From gripping dramas and visually stunning blockbusters to heartfelt indie darlings, many of 2024’s snubbed films also feature powerhouse performances from actors in career-defining roles, while others push the very boundaries of filmmaking. Whether it was due to fierce competition, genre bias, or just bad luck, these movies deserved a shot at Oscar glory but were sadly left out.

15

Nightbitch (2024)

Directed By Marielle Heller

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Nightbitch

R
ComedyDramaHorror

Release Date

December 6, 2024

Runtime

98 Minutes

Director

Marielle Heller

Writers

Marielle Heller, Rachel Yoder

Cast

  • Headshot Of Amy Adams In The BAFTA British Academy Film Awards 2019

    Amy Adams

  • Headshot Of Scoot McNairy In The 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards

    Scoot McNairy

  • Headshot of Zoe Chao

    Zoe Chao

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Amy Adam’s raw and transformative performance as a suburban mother embracing her animalistic instincts received quite some buzz this awards season, garnering a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress and two Independent Spirit Award nominations. Despite the six-time Oscar nominee’s commitment to the role, Nightbitch‘s black comedy and horror elements proved a stumbling block to further recognition. Even if Amy Adams won’t win an Oscar for Nightbitch, the body horror movie on the brutality of motherhood is a bold and unexplored take on the topic, and deserves more recognition.

14

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)

Directed By Barry Jenkins

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Mufasa: The Lion King

PG
AdventureFamilyAnimation

Release Date

December 18, 2024

Runtime

118 minutes

Director

Barry Jenkins

Writers

Jeff Nathanson

Producers

Peter M. Tobyansen, Adele Romanski

Cast

  • Headshot Of Aaron Pierre

    Aaron Pierre

    Mufasa (voice)

  • headshot Of Kelvin Harrison Jr.

    Kelvin Harrison Jr.

    Taka (voice)

  • Headshot Of Tiffany Boone

    Tiffany Boone

    Sarabi (voice)

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Despite The Lion King‘s Oscar history, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King fell short of securing a spot among this year’s contenders. The prequel was shortlisted for Best Song with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Tell Me It’s You” and Best Visual Effects. Perhaps the movie could have changed its fate if Mufasa‘s Best Song selection had been different. Still, Mufasa offers a captivating experience, blending Miranda’s emotional soundtrack, stunning visuals that improve on the 2019 remake, and Barry Jenkins’ visionary storytelling. The film elevates beloved characters, delivering a prequel full of heart and depth, even if it missed awards recognition.

13

The Outrun (2024)

Directed By Nora Fingscheidt

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The Outrun

Drama

Release Date

October 4, 2024

Runtime

118 Minutes

Director

Nora Fingscheidt

Writers

Nora Fingscheidt, Amy Liptrot, Daisy Lewis

Cast

  • Headshot Of Saoirse Ronan In The  27th Palm Springs International Awards

    Saoirse Ronan

  • Headshot Of Paapa Essiedu In The 2024 BAFTA Television Awards

    Paapa Essiedu

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    Stephen Dillane

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After receiving promising nominations from BAFTA and the British Independent Film Awards, The Outrun failed to receive proper recognition at the Oscars. Four-time nominee Saoirse Ronan delivers a poignant portrait of an alcoholic on the path to recovery, while Nora Fingscheidt’s impressive directorial debut demonstrates intuitive and poetic storytelling instincts. The Outrun‘s focus on the landscape as a key character influencing Rona’s emotional journey is one of its greatest achievements, making it best suited for a big-screen watch. Fingscheidt offers new nuance to an extensively explored genre, speaking for The Outrun‘s great reviews.

12

The Room Next Door (2024)

Directed By Pablo Almodóvar

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The Room Next Door

Drama

Release Date

December 20, 2024

Runtime

106 Minutes

Director

Pedro Almodovar

Writers

Pedro Almodovar, Sigrid Nunez

Cast

  • Headshot Of Julianne Moore In The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival

    Julianne Moore

    Ingrid

  • Headshot Of Tilda Swinton In The 20th Marrakech International Film Festival: 'Memory' Premiere

    Tilda Swinton

    Martha

  • Headshot Of John Turturro In The Arrivals for 'The Batman' World Premiere

    John Turturro

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Pablo Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and has received an extensive list of nominations, including Best Actress at the Golden Globes. Known for films like The Skin I Live In, the award-winning director’s English feature debut was predicted to make Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore repeat Oscars history, as the seasoned stars elevate this story on the difficult subject of death. Based on Sigrid Nunez’s What Are You Going Through, The Room Next Door features Almodovar’s striking and colorful visual style and rises as a notable addition to his extensive filmography.

11

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Directed By George Miller

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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

R
Adventure Sci-FiAction

Release Date

May 24, 2024

Runtime

148 Minutes

Director

George Miller

Writers

George Miller, Nick Lathouris

Sequel(s)

Mad Max: Fury Road

Cast

  • Anya Taylor-Joy Profile Picture

    Anya Taylor-Joy

    Furiosa

  • Chris Hemsworth Profile Picture

    Chris Hemsworth

    Dementus

  • Tom Burke

    Tom Burke

    Praetorian Jack

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While George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road won six Oscars, the director’s prequel was strikingly overlooked. With an amazing critical response, winning it a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s impressive that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga wasn’t shortlisted in any category for this year’s ceremony. Predictions had placed it as a strong contender in categories like Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, Visual Effects, and Original Score. However, its absence seems to stem from its perceived similarity to its predecessor rather than any lack of quality, as Furiosa remains a visually stunning and masterfully crafted film.

10

Babygirl (2024)

Directed By Halina Reijn

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Babygirl

CrimeMysteryThriller

Release Date

December 25, 2024

Runtime

114 Minutes

Director

Halina Reijn

Writers

Halina Reijn

Cast

  • Headshot Of Nicole Kidman In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix's 'A Family Affair'

    Nicole Kidman

    Romy

  • Headshot Of Harris Dickinson

    Harris Dickinson

    Samuel

  • Headshot Of Antonio Banderas

    Antonio Banderas

    Jacob

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A rising director, Halina Reijn has been breaking the mold of genre conventions of femininity and sexuality with pictures such as Bodies Bodies Bodies and Instinct. In her latest feature, Reijn reaches new heights, as Babygirl is so much more than an erotic thriller. The film is anchored by Nicole Kidman, whose powerful performance earned her the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe nomination. With such acclaim, Babygirl should have gotten some nominations in the 2025 Oscars race, acknowledging Reijn’s status as a visionary filmmaker.

9

Queer (2024)

Directed By Luca Guadagnino

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Queer (2024)

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Queer

DramaBiographyHistory

Release Date

November 27, 2024

Runtime

135 Minutes

Director

Luca Guadagnino

Writers

William S. Burroughs, Justin Kuritzkes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Daniel Craig

    Daniel Craig

    William Lee

  • Headshot Of Drew Starkey

    Drew Starkey

    Eugene Allerton

  • Headshot Of Jason Schwartzman

    Jason Schwartzman

    Joe

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Though Queer was predicted to win Daniel Craig an Oscar, it was shockingly left out of the Oscars altogether. In the movie, the Bond actor embodies an American expat living in 1940s Mexico City who becomes intoxicatingly infatuated with a younger man, offering an alluring and defiant portrait of love. The acclaimed director, Luca Guadagnino, paints the narrative with a surreal edge, culminating in an unexpected third act. Despite its lack of award recognition, Queer‘s bold approach and melancholic cinematography make it a worthwhile watch and goes among Craig’s best and finest performances.

8

Civil War (2024)

Directed By Alex Garland

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26

7/10

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Civil War

R
ActionDrama

Release Date

April 12, 2024

Runtime

109 Minutes

Director

Alex Garland

Writers

Alex Garland

Cast

  • Headshot Of Kirsten Dunst

    Kirsten Dunst

    Lee

  • Headshot Of Wagner Moura

    Wagner Moura

    Joel

  • Headshot Of Cailee Spaeny In The Los Angeles Special Screening Of A24's 'Civil War'

    Cailee Spaeny

    Jessie

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Ex Machina writer and director delivered another compelling feature film, and it doesn’t disappoint. Civil War‘s reviews dissect its narrative lens, as the complicated and resonant topic is told from the perspective of a group of photojournalists who try their hardest to remain objective when perhaps they shouldn’t. War photographer, Lee Smith, documents a country at war against itself with powerful strength, remaining stoic in hopes that her actions serve a wider purpose. Kirsten Dunst shines in a career-defining performance, bringing depth to Smith’s vulnerable interior and reminding us why she remains one of the industry’s finest talents.

7

All We Imagine As Light (2024)

Directed By Payal Kapadia

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All We Imagine as Light

Drama

Release Date

November 15, 2024

Runtime

118 Minutes

Director

Payal Kapadia

Writers

Payal Kapadia

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Kani Kusruti

    Prabha

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Divya Prabha

    Anu

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Chhaya Kadam

    Parvaty

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In her 100% Rotten Tomatoes film, director Payal Kapadia showcases an intuitive vision. Winner of Cannes’s Grand Prize, and nominated at the Critics’ Choice Awards and BAFTA, All We Imagine as Light was predicted as a certain contender for the international feature category and Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars — however, the movie wasn’t chosen as India’s official selection. Though reviews for All We Imagine As Light note its slow pacing, the film achieves more with less. Against the backdrop of Mumbai, it explores the intertwined lives of three women trapped in a limbo state, whose unexpected connections inspire change.

6

The Piano Lesson (2024)

Directed By Malcolm Washington

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The Piano Lesson

PG-13
Drama

Release Date

November 8, 2024

Runtime

125 Minutes

Director

Malcolm Washington

Writers

Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington

Cast

  • Samuel L. Jackson headshot

    Samuel L. Jackson

    Doaker

  • Headshot Of John David Washington in The World premiere of 'Amsterdam' at Alice Tully Hall

    John David Washington

    Boy Willie

  • Headshot Of Danielle Deadwyler

    Danielle Deadwyler

    Berniece

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Denzel Washington’s son writes and directs a movie on family legacy and intergenerational trauma unlike any other. Actress Danielle Deadwyler garnered nominations at the Critics’ Choice Awards and SAG Awards for her haunting performance, which likens the movie’s feel to that of Jordan Peele’s Get Out. While The Piano Lesson could have broken an Oscar streak, it seems critics may have been deterred from recognizing the movie’s great screenplay, directing, and cast because of its horror elements. Despite its felt absence from the ceremony’s lineup, The Piano Lesson remains a touching and ferocious accomplishment.

5

The Last Showgirl (2024)

Directed By Gia Coppola

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7.3/10

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The Last Showgirl

Not Rated
Drama

Release Date

January 10, 2025

Runtime

89 Minutes

Director

Gia Coppola

Writers

Kate Gersten

Producers

Alex Orlovsky, Natalie Farrey, Robert Schwartzman, Josh Peters, Nick Darmstaedter, Kara Durrett

Cast

  • Headshot Of Pamela Anderson In The 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

    Pamela Anderson

    Shelly

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Brenda Song

    Mary-Anne

  • Headshot Of Kiernan Shipka

    Kiernan Shipka

    Jodie

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Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl is a beautiful narrative about a veteran showgirl forced to retire, despite having the brightest light to give. Pamela Anderson’s performance guaranteed her an Oscar nomination, however, perhaps the material’s thematic closeness to The Substance may have overshadowed it. An underrated gem, The Last Showgirl got nominations at the SAG Awards, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice Awards, having Jamie Lee Curtis for Best Supporting Actress and Best Song for Miley Cyrus’ “Beautiful That Way.” As graceful as ever, when asked about her absence from the Oscars, Anderson said: “Doing the work is the win” (via ELLE).

4

Heretic (2024)

Directed By Scott Beck & Bryan Woods

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7.7/10

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Heretic

R
HorrorThriller

Release Date

November 8, 2024

Runtime

110 Minutes

Director

Scott Beck, Bryan Woods

Writers

Scott Beck, Bryan Woods

Cast

  • Headshot Of Hugh Grant iN The Premiere of 'Wonka' at the Regency Village Theater.

    Hugh Grant

    Mr. Reed

  • Headshot Of Sophie Thatcher In The Astra TV Awards

    Sophie Thatcher

    Sister Barnes

  • Headshot Of Chloe East

    Chloe East

    Sister Paxton

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Both a homage to horror’s unique abilities and a subversion of the genre, Heretic masters the one-location thriller and gives it an edge. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods write a compelling and rich screenplay that explores religious doctrine with wit and intense focus. Additionally, stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East deliver magnificent performances that sustain and build the movie’s terrifying tone from beginning to end. Despite Grant receiving various major nominations, the Oscars’ bias against horror films is still gradually fading and gives no recognition to Heretic‘s amazingly reviewed efforts.

3

Kneecap (2024)

Directed By Rich Peppiatt

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Kneecap

Not Rated
ComedyDrama

Release Date

January 18, 2024

Director

Rich Peppiatt

Writers

Rich Peppiatt

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Mo Chara

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Móglaí Bap

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    DJ Próvaí

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With six BAFTA nominations, three wins at the British Independent Film Awards, and a Best Foreign Language Film nomination at the Critics’ Choice Awards, Kneecap‘s Oscar snub hits especially hard. Rich Peppiatt’s movie has risen as both a critic and fan favorite, claiming a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and 95% audience score. Kneecap stars Michael Fassbender in one of his best roles, but the true talents are the popular Irish hip-hop group themselves, as they carry a global war cry to retrieve a long-lost language and bring pride to their nation.

2

Hard Truths (2024)

Directed By Mike Leigh

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Hard Truths

Drama

Release Date

January 10, 2025

Runtime

97 minutes

Director

Mike Leigh

Writers

Mike Leigh

Producers

Georgina Lowe, Javier Méndez, Gail Egan, Mark Gooder, Richard Kondal, Jennifer Eriksson, Kent Sanderson

Cast

  • Headshot Of Marianne Jean-Baptiste

    Marianne Jean-Baptiste

    Pansy

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    Michele Austin

    Chantelle

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    David Webber

    Curtley

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Hard Truths warns its audiences with its title, but those brave and willing to venture into its story will be, yes, disturbed, but also deeply touched and held. One of the most tragic award snubs of this year goes to Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s Oscar-worthy performance falling to the sidelines. Nominated for the BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Awards, and British Independent Film Awards, the seasoned actress goes out of her way to embody an abusive character that, despite her worst deeds, manages to make you feel for her inability to love herself and accept the understanding of those around her.

1

Challengers (2024)

Directed By Luca Guadagnino

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8.8/10

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Challengers

R
ComedyDramaRomanceSports

Release Date

April 26, 2024

Runtime

131 Minutes

Director

Luca Guadagnino

Writers

Justin Kuritzkes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Zendaya In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios' 'Challengers'

    Zendaya

    Tashi Donaldson

  • Headshot Of Mike Faist

    Mike Faist

    Art Donaldson

  • Headshot Of Josh O'Connor

    Josh O’Connor

    Patrick Zweig

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The director of Call Me By Your Name released two critically acclaimed hits in 2024, his best being Challengers. Receiving nominations for Best Musical or Comedy, Best Performance (Zendaya), Best Original Song, and the win for Best Original Score, the movie was a stand-out during the Golden Globes ceremony and has obtained four nominations at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Challengers not receiving any Oscar nominations is striking, considering the movie’s large audience and critical approval. At this point, Guadagnino’s chances of repeating his 2018 Oscars feat seem less likely, but that’s not to say his movies aren’t outstanding.

Sources: ELLE, Rotten Tomatoes

The Oscars Poster Featuring an Oscars Statue Standing in front of a curtain

Oscars

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The Oscars, also known as The Academy Awards, is an annual awards show celebrating workers in the film industry for their artistic and technical abilities. The Oscars are often considered the most prestigious awards show in the industry and date back to 1929. The 96th Academy Awards will be held on March 10, 2024, and be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC.

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Dates

March 2, 2025

Network

ABC

Website

https://www.oscars.org/