2025 Oscars Best Actor Predictions
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
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Best Actor Commentary (Updated Dec. 5, 2024): Timothée Chalamet performs all of his own singing in “A Complete Unknown” — a bold choice in any musical biopic, but especially when portraying an artist with a voice as iconic and distinct as Bob Dylan’s.
Yet, like Diana Ross embodying Billie Holiday in “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972), Sissy Spacek channeling Loretta Lynn in “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (1980), and Renée Zellweger stepping into Judy Garland’s shoes for “Judy” (2019), Chalamet rises to the occasion. He doesn’t attempt a note-for-note imitation of Dylan. Instead, he captures the essence of his vocal style and emotional intensity, delivering a performance that feels authentic rather than imitative. It may be something Academy voters won’t be able to resist.
Chalamet, who previously made history as the third-youngest best actor nominee for “Call Me by Your Name” (2017) at just 22, could set another record this year. If he wins, he will become the youngest winner in the category, surpassing Adrien Brody, who won at 29 for “The Pianist.” Chalamet turns 29 in December, making him 279 days younger than Brody was at the time of his win.
Still, he’ll need to fend off Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”), and Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), who will be vying for their chance at Oscar victory.
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The 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2. All movie listings, titles, distributors, and credited artisans are not final and are subject to change.
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About the Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners have been selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Nineteen branches are represented within the nearly 11,000-person membership. The branches are actors, animators, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists’ representatives), music, producers, production design, short films, sound, visual effects and writers.
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