Oscars 2025 predictions: Who will win and who should win?

Awards season is often predictable. Last year, our crystal ball reading ahead of Oscars night was pretty much perfect - Oppenheimer cleaned up at every ceremony going, and it all started to get a bit Groundhog Day. While it's true some Oscars this year are all but dead certs, for others - and most excitingly, it's the big ones - there are fairly large question marks. Which is much more fun.

Here's the verdict from Sky News entertainment team journalists Katie Spencer, Claire Gregory, Bethany Minelle and Gemma Peplow - who will win, and who they think should win. Inspired by Conclave, we've held a secret(ish) ballot. BEST FILM. The nomineesAnora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, Wicked.

Who will win: Conclave - II; Anora - IIWho should win: The Brutalist - I; Anora - III. "The best picture is a battle of head v heart for me. Conclave is great, but Anora is so fresh, exciting and unexpected as a best picture nominee I would love to see it take the top prize. I just don't think it will beat those scheming priests."Arts and entertainment editor Claire Gregory.

"Conclave is solid, compelling and classy, with a great ensemble cast. I think the Academy may secretly have resented being made to sit through three-and-a-half hours of anything, even if The Brutalist is a cinematic masterpiece. But if it was me voting, The Brutalist should win - a masterful lesson in storytelling."Arts and entertainment correspondent Katie Spencer.

"Anora is a rags-to-riches indie story with a twist and is worthy of all the plaudits it is getting. I think it will win and should win - it has a cracking cast, skilled direction, a propulsive storyline, and humour to boot. Even excessive Take That playtime didn't take off the shine."Arts and entertainment reporter Bethany Minelle.

"A few years ago, Conclave, a thriller about the election of a new pope, would have had this in the bag over screwball anti-fairytale Anora, which follows a young sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. But, the Academy embraced the madcap Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2023 and after the seriousness of Oppenheimer last year, plus the momentum Anora has gained, I reckon voters could be in the mood for something a little less traditional again."Culture and entertainment reporter, Gemma Peplow.

BEST ACTOR. The nomineesAdrien Brody - The BrutalistTimothee Chalamet - A Complete UnknownColman Domingo - Sing SingRalph Fiennes - ConclaveSebastian Stan - The Apprentice. Who will win: Adrien Brody - II; Timothee Chalamet - IIWho should win: Colman Domingo - III; Adrien Brody - I.

"Adrien Brody has put in the work here for his role in The Brutalist, and the fact that after three-and-a-half hours of screentime you are not sick of his face is down to his skill alone. He will win and should win - give the man his second Oscar already."BM.

"I've a hunch Timothee Chalamet's SAG win reflects who the wider Academy has voted for. If you think back to previous winners it tends to be those who have acted AND done something extra, such as play the piano, endured hours of prosthetics, learned to dance etc. I reckon Timmy's five years spent mastering the guitar, harmonica and sounding like Bob Dylan for his performance in A Complete Unknown will get him across the line."KS.

"I'm bored of the Adrien/Timmy debate and would frankly rather see Colman Domingo beat them both. For me, he's one of the most consistently brilliant actors working today and Sing Sing deserves more attention than it's got this awards season."CG. "I also think Chalamet's SAG win could be the indicator here. The Academy loves a transformation - see consecutive 'real-life' wins for Gary Oldman (Winston Churchill) in 2018, Rami Malek (Freddie Mercury) in 2019, and Renee Zellweger (Judy Garland) in 2020. However, I vote Domingo; not least because his co-star Clarence Maclin, who plays himself in the prison drama Sing Sing, should also have been nominated in the supporting category. Sing Sing is a beautiful story of hope and redemption and Domingo's is an understated but brilliant performance. He's also always the best-dressed man at any ceremony, so his outfit will no doubt deserve its moment, too."GP.

BEST ACTRESS. The nomineesCynthia Erivo - WickedKarla Sofía Gascon - Emilia PerezMikey Madison - AnoraDemi Moore - The SubstanceFernanda Torres - I'm Still Here. Who will win: Demi Moore - IIIIWho should win: Demi Moore - I; Mikey Madison - III. "This one is too close to call. The Academy has traditionally loved a female ingenue - although Sky News research revealed last year that the age gap between male and female acting winners is definitely closing - which would favour Mikey Madison; and yet, Demi Moore's real-life story arc has also won her a legion of supporters this year. Those arguments are a little reductive and should not take away from the real reasons why both would be worthy winners - for two very different but equally excellent performances - but it would be wrong to say performance is the only thing taken into account when it comes to voting."GP.