The Culture

The Culture

February 28, 2025

Who's Winning an Oscar?

Listen, I'm not a betting person, but I do have a pretty good track record when it comes to the Academy Awards. Considering this year's Oscars season has been particularly dramatic (hi Karla Sofía Gascón from Emilia Pérez), I think we all could use some certainty in our lives, you know what I mean?

Below are my predictions for who will win in the major categories this Sunday.

Best Picture

Who Will Win: Considering Anora's win at the Producer's Guild and Director's Guild Awards, I think it's a safe bet at this point.

Who Should Win: I wasn't exactly Wicked's biggest fan, but I can admit it was the movie of the year.

Best Director

Who Will Win: After Sean Baker's win for Anora at the DGA's, it's pretty clear he's the one to beat.

Who Should Win: Coralie Fargeat's The Substance was one of the most original films of the year and she deserves to be recognized for it.

Best Actor

Who Will Win: After Timothée Chalamet's win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for A Complete Unknown, my gut tells me he's going to be the one to take home the gold.

Who Should Win: Colman Domingo for Sing Sing. Domingo has delivered back-to-back Oscar-nominated performances (he was nominated for Rustin last year), and his performance in Sing Sing is amazing. A win for Domingo would get more eyes on this important film.

Best Actress

Who Will and Should Win: If Demi Moore doesn't win for The Substance, I'm going to be furious. This is her year, and she deserves it. (Honorable mention to Anora's Mikey Madison and I'm Still Here's Fernanda Torres for also delivering incredible performances. And you know what? I'm still angry Marianne Jean-Baptiste wasn't nominated for Hard Truths.)

Best Supporting Actor

Who Will Win: There's no stopping A Real Pain's Kieran Culkin.

Who Should Win: Culkin's Succession brother, Jeremy Strong, deserves the Oscar for his performance as Roy Cohn in The Apprentice.

Best Supporting Actress

Who Will Win: Like Culkin, there's no stopping Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez.

Who Should Win: When I watched Wicked, I kept thinking how surprised I was at how good Ariana Grande was in it. In many ways, she was my favorite part of the movie. It's also a real feat to stand out next to the powerhouse that is Cynthia Erivo.

Who do you think will win? Let me know, I'm @HAlanScott on everything. And make sure you stick around early here on Monday a special Oscars edition of For The Culture. Keep scrolling for more entertainment news.

 

Listed
Three Things People are Watching on TV

Reality Star Claims Katy Perry Is Denying Her Father-in-Law's Dying Wish

This Real Housewife says the beloved family patriarch is in his "last days," but Perry isn't swayed. Learn more.

Survivor 48's Stephanie Berger on Being First Voted Out

Survivor 48's Stephanie Berger talks to Newsweek about being the first voted out, the tension at tribal council, and how she planned out her colorful nails.

Gene Hackman's Cause of Death: Latest Police Findings and Updates

Authorities are calling the deaths of the late actor and his wife suspicious. Here's what we know.

Michelle Trachtenberg's Cause of Death Ruled After Parents Object to Autopsy

Trachtenberg was found dead at her New York City apartment on Wednesday, February 26. Here's the latest.

Prince Harry Visa Lawsuit to Hang Over Meghan's Big Moment

Secret documents describing Harry's visa records will be given to a D.C. court at a date close to Markle's Netflix launch. Check it out.

Travis Kelce Unveils Unexpected New Look

Kelce is a little less hairy. See the new look.

Tim Allen Shares Rare Emotional Post About His 'Profound Sense of Sadness'

The Home Improvement star is serving as an example that even the biggest stars can have their down days. Here's what he said.

Culture Spotlight
Kavin Becon

Woody Harrelson In at Deep End for New Movie Last Breath

By Janee Bolden

Some stories seem too impossible to be true, and Last Breath is one of them.

The film, based on real events, follows commercial diver Chris Lemons, who was stranded deep underwater with no oxygen, no light and no way to escape. What should have been a routine job turned into a race against time, technology and human endurance.

With Finn Cole, Simu Liu and Woody Harrelson leading the cast, Last Breath delivers a high-stakes, pulse-pounding thriller that takes audiences into the dangerous, isolated world of deep-sea saturation diving.

Listen to the latest episode of The Parting Shot HERE

Newsweek Site     |     See All Newsletters

Get More Culture

Contact Us

Please send your feedback and ideas to e.montgomery@newsweek.com

Digital Subscription

  • Unlimited access to Newsweek.com
  • Ad free Newsweek.com experience
  • iOS and Android app access
  • All newsletters + podcasts

Yearly $49