5 Movies from 2025 that can go all the way to Oscars

The 2026 Oscar race is wide open, and a few films are already starting to lead the conversation. These are not just projects with hype but ones that actually held up under the spotlight. Some premiered at Cannes, while others dropped unexpected trailers and sparked immediate reactions.

Each one brings something different to the table, and that’s why they’re getting real attention and a possible spot at the next Oscars. There is a psychological drama that cuts deep. There is a sci-fi epic with a big idea at the center. There is a quiet biopic that hit harder than expected. There is also a debut film that left people in shock after its first screening.

Stars like Jennifer Lawrence returned with a role that forced her to dig deeper than usual, and Scarlett Johansson stepped into the director’s chair and proved she knows how to tell a story from behind the lens. Mike Flanagan adapted a tricky story and made it feel personal.

Wes Anderson took his style in a more somber direction. Bong Joon-ho created something strange and smart and completely his own. These five films are the ones to watch and will probably see quite a few nods at the Oscars. Some will land nominations, and some might even win. However, every one of them deserves to be part of the conversation.

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5 Movies from 2025 that can go all the way to the Oscars

1. Die, My Love

Jennifer Lawrence plays Grace in this film that refuses to soften anything. Grace is a new mother who becomes overwhelmed by postpartum psychosis. The story is confined to a rural house where her mind starts to splinter. She lashes out. She breaks down. She spirals in silence. Director Lynne Ramsay keeps the camera on her even when it's uncomfortable.

This performance does not ask for sympathy. Lawrence does not hold back. She shows every contradiction inside Grace. Some scenes are violent. Others are painfully quiet. It builds into something that feels more like a breakdown than a plot. Critics at Cannes said this is the most daring role of her career.

The Academy tends to reward actors who disappear into difficult characters. This one checks that box. Lawrence is a frontrunner for Best Actress for Oscar 2026. The film could also show up in Best Picture if voters embrace its psychological intensity.

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2. Eleanor the Great

Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut follows Eleanor Morgenstein, a 94-year-old widow who relocates to New York City after the death of her best friend. Played by June Squibb, Eleanor moves in with her daughter and grandson but struggles to find a sense of purpose.

She stumbles into a Holocaust survivors’ support group and, in a misguided attempt to feel connected, begins sharing her late friend’s experiences as her own. This deception slowly pulls her into a web she can’t easily escape. Eleanor also bonds with Nina, a 19-year-old student who sees her as a survivor and role model.

The film examines loneliness, aging, and the human need for belonging. Squibb’s performance is layered and unflinching. Critics praised her for portraying vulnerability without ever asking for pity. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes and drew early Oscar talk for Squibb’s career-best work and Johansson’s restrained direction.

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3. The Life of Chuck

Mike Flanagan adapts Stephen King’s novella with a reverse-structured film that starts at the end of the world and ends in childhood wonder. The Life of Chuck opens with cryptic billboards thanking Charles Krantz for “39 great years” as society crumbles.

From there, it rewinds to reveal who Chuck really was. Tom Hiddleston plays Chuck, a quiet accountant who surprises everyone—and himself—when he joins a spontaneous street dance performance. The film then takes us further back to his childhood, where he’s raised by loving grandparents. Mark Hamill plays Albie, Chuck’s grandfather, who helps shape Chuck’s love for numbers and curiosity.

A locked attic in their home becomes a quiet symbol of life’s limits and what we avoid thinking about. The film earned strong reviews at TIFF and won the People’s Choice Award. Hiddleston’s restrained work and the film’s unusual structure make it a contender for Best Actor and Adapted Screenplay for the upcoming Oscar.

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4. Sinners

Set in 1932 Mississippi, Sinners follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore, played by Michael B. Jordan, who return home to open a juke joint for their local Black community. Their goal is simple: create a safe, joyful space for music and belonging.

But when a supernatural force tied to their town’s buried past starts to rise, their plans unravel. The film blends historical drama with horror, threading themes of legacy, redemption, and spiritual reckoning. Hailee Steinfeld plays Mary, a key figure whose connection to the evil force grows clearer as the story unfolds.

Critics have praised the film’s atmospheric direction and rich production design, especially how it turns rural Southern settings into something tense and dreamlike. The film is being considered for Best Production Design and Best Sound, with Jordan’s performance also generating Best Actor buzz for Oscar 2026. Sinners stands out for tackling racial history through a fresh genre lens without losing focus.

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5. Mickey 17

Mickey 17 takes place on a faraway planet where workers are cloned after they die. Robert Pattinson plays Mickey, a clone who stops obeying. He refuses to die for the mission. Every time he comes back, he remembers more. And with each version, he becomes more of a threat to the system that created him.

This is not a typical sci-fi film. Director Bong Joon-ho focuses on identity and survival. Pattinson shifts tone slightly for each version of Mickey. Some are angry. Some are tired. One is scared of the next. The audience is left to wonder which Mickey will take control. The story grows deeper as the versions pile up.

The visual design is big but not messy. It creates a cold world where life feels cheap. That contrast hits hard. The film is in the conversation for Best Visual Effects. Pattinson is also gaining traction in Best Actor discussions for the Oscars next year.

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