Latest news with #MarkEydelshteyn
Russia Today
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Ukraine places actor from Oscar-winning film on ‘kill list'
A Russian actor who starred in Oscar-winning film 'Anora' has been listed on the notorious Ukrainian state-linked Mirotvorets (Peacemaker) database. Mark Eydelshteyn has been accused of attacking 'the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.' The controversial database lists individuals who supposedly pose a threat to Ukrainian national security, and has been branded a 'kill list' due to the number of people featured on it who have died under suspicious circumstances. Eydelshteyn, 23, was listed for a supposed attack on Ukraine's 'sovereignty and territorial integrity' and 'repeated deliberate violation of the state border of Ukraine' by visiting Crimea, which joined Russia in 2014. According to Russian media, the accusation may stem from Eydelshteyn's participation in the movie 'The Land of Sasha,' released in 2022, which was shot on the peninsula. READ MORE: InfoWars journalist 'brutally murdered' The movie, where Eydelshteyn played the lead role, propelled the actor to international prominence after premiering at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2022. Last year, Eydelshteyn starred as Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov in US director Sean Baker's film 'Anora', a performance that contributed to the movie's critical acclaim, including winning the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and securing five Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards in March. Created in 2014, Mirotvorets was initially backed by Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, and has partnered with the nation's security services. While the moderators of the website claim it is merely a list of individuals considered enemies of Ukraine, the state-linked site has become known as a 'kill list' after several people on it died under suspicious circumstances, often attributed to Ukrainian intelligence. READ MORE: Russian actor misses out on historic Oscar Mirotvorets claims that it operates in accordance with the laws of Ukraine and international legal norms. However, its front page features calls to kill Russians and displays graphic images of deceased soldiers alleged to be Russian. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has described the extremist site as effectively a hit list of those Kiev wants to 'eliminate.' The list has included US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and prominent American journalist Tucker Carlson.
New York Times
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Oscars 2025 Live Updates: What to Expect as Stars Prepare to Hit Red Carpet
The actors Cooper Koch and Mark Eydelshteyn at a party hosted by Giorgio Armani at its store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Mark Eydelshteyn was jolted awake on Saturday by two stylists who rapped on the door of his hotel room, then entered with several racks of clothing and a very large dog. 'The beginning of the fitting was a little bit awkward because I was in boxers,' Mr. Eydelshteyn, a 23-year-old Russian actor, explained that afternoon over a cigarette outside Samy's Camera on Los Angeles's Fairfax Ave. While making his way through the camera shop, which he had visited multiple times to drop off rolls of film, patrons stopped him to tell him how much they had loved his performance. 'It's impossible to be tired of it,' he said of the praise. Mr. Eydelshteyn plays the alternately charming and snotty antagonist of 'Anora,' a nominee for best picture at the Oscars on Sunday. Along with the rest of its cast, he had been outfitted in designer clothing and swept up in a months-long awards season campaign. To a Hollywood newcomer like him, the social whorl had been exciting, disorienting and not always as glamorous as some might imagine, he said. Even playing a hedonistic party boy in 'Anora' had not quite prepared him for the decathlon of schmoozing that is Oscars weekend. 'The last seven days are like a very strong wave,' he said, 'and you have to be a surfer.' Mr. Eydelshteyn is lithe and soft-spoken, with a cloud of pale brown hair that resembles a mushroom cap. (Nearly every American outlet that covers him refers to him as the 'Russian Timothée Chalamet,' a label he seems to accept with some ambivalence.) Image Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison, right, in a scene from 'Anora.' Credit... Neon, via Associated Press Mr. Eydelshteyn grew up in Nizhny Novgorod and attended Moscow Art Theater School. In 2022 he starred in 'The Land of Sasha,' a romantic, Russian indie film. But his life changed course when he was cast in 'Anora,' as an oligarch's playboy son who marries a sex worker played by Mikey Madison. He had an easy chemistry with Ms. Madison on set, and a comfortable enough dynamic with the film's director, Sean Baker, to suggest script tweaks that would make his character, Ivan, more lovable early in the film. Now the cast and crew of the film have spent months together attending awards ceremonies and their attendant social obligations. The experience has given him a different view into Hollywood. 'It's crazy sometimes to see sad stars,' he said. 'You know, when some huge star — I will not say the names, but almost all of them — we are used to seeing them with a smile.' In moments where a star is alone, 'you can understand that all of them are real people with their real feelings.' As the sun set, Mr. Eydelshteyn climbed into a black S.U.V. that delivered him to his first event of the night, a party hosted by Giorgio Armani at its expansive boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. He walked past Kristen Bell, who he had watched host the Screen Actors Guild Awards in February. ('She did a good job,' he said, adding that he'd someday like to host an award show.) He debated introducing himself to Samuel L. Jackson, who sat on a plush couch on the store's upper level, but decided not to interrupt Mr. Jackson's conversation. Soon Mr. Eydelshteyn was approached by Thomas Pierce, a producer of 'The Brutalist,' another nominee for best picture. It appeared that Mr. Eydelshteyn had managed to charm his competition. 'If I don't win, I hope you win,' Mr. Pierce said.
New York Times
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Following the ‘Anora' Star, as He Rides the Oscar Wave
Mark Eydelshteyn was jolted awake on Saturday by two stylists who rapped on the door of his hotel room, then entered with several racks of clothing and a very large dog. 'The beginning of the fitting was a little bit awkward because I was in boxers,' Mr. Eydelshteyn, a 23-year-old Russian actor, explained that afternoon over a cigarette outside Samy's Camera on Los Angeles's Fairfax Ave. While making his way through the camera shop, which he had visited multiple times to drop off rolls of film, patrons stopped him to tell him how much they had loved his performance. 'It's impossible to be tired of it,' he said of the praise. Mr. Eydelshteyn plays the alternately charming and snotty antagonist of 'Anora,' a nominee for best picture at the Oscars on Sunday. Along with the rest of its cast, he had been outfitted in designer clothing and swept up in a months-long awards season campaign. To a Hollywood newcomer like him, the social whorl had been exciting, disorienting and not always as glamorous as some might imagine, he said. Even playing a hedonistic party boy in 'Anora' had not quite prepared him for the decathlon of schmoozing that is Oscars weekend. 'The last seven days are like a very strong wave,' he said, 'and you have to be a surfer.' Mr. Eydelshteyn is lithe and soft-spoken, with a cloud of pale brown hair that resembles a mushroom cap. (Nearly every American outlet that covers him refers to him as the 'Russian Timothée Chalamet,' a label he seems to accept with some ambivalence.) Mr. Eydelshteyn grew up in Nizhny Novgorod and attended Moscow Art Theater School. In 2022 he starred in 'The Land of Sasha,' a romantic, Russian indie film. But his life changed course when he was cast in 'Anora,' as an oligarch's playboy son who marries a sex worker played by Mikey Madison. He had an easy chemistry with Ms. Madison on set, and a comfortable enough dynamic with the film's director, Sean Baker, to suggest script tweaks that would make his character, Ivan, more lovable early in the film. Now the cast and crew of the film have spent months together attending awards ceremonies and their attendant social obligations. The experience has given him a different view into Hollywood. 'It's crazy sometimes to see sad stars,' he said. 'You know, when some huge star — I will not say the names, but almost all of them — we are used to seeing them with a smile.' In moments where a star is alone, 'you can understand that all of them are real people with their real feelings.' As the sun set, Mr. Eydelshteyn climbed into a black S.U.V. that delivered him to his first event of the night, a party hosted by Giorgio Armani at its expansive boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. He walked past Kristen Bell, who he had watched host the Screen Actors Guild Awards in February. ('She did a good job,' he said, adding that he'd someday like to host an award show.) He debated introducing himself to Samuel L. Jackson, who sat on a plush couch on the store's upper level, but decided not to interrupt Mr. Jackson's conversation. Soon Mr. Eydelshteyn was approached by Thomas Pierce, a producer of 'The Brutalist,' another nominee for best picture. It appeared that Mr. Eydelshteyn had managed to charm his competition. 'If I don't win, I hope you win,' Mr. Pierce said.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Anora' topples 'Emilia Pérez' to shake up the Oscars Best Picture race. This formula predicts which movie will come out on top.
Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in Anora. (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News, photo: Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection) The 2025 Oscar nominations have finally arrived, and we're now in the throes of awards season. After a year of watching new releases, tracking their buzz and weighing their chances of taking home an Academy Award, we now know what the field looks like. Yahoo Entertainment created a power rankings system to predict which of the 10 Best Picture nominees is most likely to win the top honor on Hollywood's biggest night. The formula synthesizes award nominations and predictions, critics' predictions and general fanfare. We then assign scores to each movie based on these factors, and rank the films according to which has the highest score. The Yahoo Best Picture Leaderboard is updated weekly with new predictions. Read more about our methodology here. For our third official Leaderboard ranking, there's a new film leading the pack: Anora. Though Emilia Pérez has by far the most Oscar nominations with 13, this awards season's villain faced immense backlash after controversial X posts from the film's lead actress surfaced. Three influential awards shows also took place over the weekend, contributing to a massive shake-up in the Leaderboard's top five spots. Advertisement Newsletter: The Yodel Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Sign up By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Anora won big over the weekend at the Critics Choice Awards, the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards, ending the awards drought for the film considered a frontrunner at the very start of the season. Wicked also gained momentum thanks to awards and sustained search interest and now sits at No. 2 on the Leaderboard. A Complete Unknown gained steam, as multiple outlets now predict it will win Best Picture, stealing points from Conclave and The Brutalist, which both dropped in the ranking this week. Oscar nominations were repeatedly delayed following the devastating fires in Los Angeles, giving academy members an extra few days to cast their votes. The ceremony is scheduled for March 2. Until then, we'll be releasing a new Leaderboard each week, explaining the shifts and any surprises that arise. Let's dive in. 1. Anora (+2) Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in Anora. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: A New York exotic dancer falls for the son of a Russian oligarch who offers her a chance at a new life, but his family tries to intervene. Advertisement Vitals: Romantic comedy drama, 2 hours and 19 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: People have been talking about Anora since it won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Though it racked up dozens of nominations from smaller awards bodies like the Gotham Awards, including honors for its star, Mikey Madison, and supporting actor Yura Borisov, it didn't take home any Golden Globes. The film is nominated for six Oscars, which is fewer than other films on this list, but they're in important categories that often signal a Best Picture win, like Best Director. The cast is nominated for the top SAG Award as well as seven BAFTAs. The indie movie did surprisingly well at the box office and continues to drive conversation about sex work. Writer-director Sean Baker and Madison's decision not to use an intimacy coordinator on set led to some backlash. Baker, who's currently living out his own Cinderella story, was part of a massive momentum shift for Anora — perhaps one of the biggest in Oscars history. The film won the top prize at three of the major Best Picture precursors — the Critics Choice Awards, PGA Awards and DGA Awards — in one weekend. Advertisement How to watch: Anora is available on video on demand. 2. Wicked (+2) Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection) Advertisement What to know: In this long-awaited Broadway musical adaptation, a magical woman who has been mistreated all her life for having green skin forms an unlikely bond with a popular student. Vitals: Musical fantasy, 2 hours and 40 minutes, rated PG. The case for Best Picture: Wicked is the most popular Best Picture nominee this year, enchanting audiences in theaters and generating countless memes through a massive press tour that we're still holding space for. It was up for four Golden Globes but left with just one honoring its box office performance. It earned an impressive 10 Oscar nods. Wicked has been lauded for its technical prowess and had 11 Critics Choice Award nominations, of which it won three, including Best Director for Jon M. Chu, who was snubbed by the Oscars. It also racked up acting nominations all over the place for its stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey — including a SAG Award nod for Best Ensemble. Advertisement As the biggest film on this list at the box office, Wicked is holding strong at No. 1 in the search interest category, keeping it top of mind for voters and the general public alike. How to watch: Wicked is in theaters and available on video on demand. 3. The Brutalist (-1) Adrien Brody in The Brutalist. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Lol Crawley/A24/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: The film follows a Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor who flees Hungary and travels to the United States in search of the American Dream. Vitals: Epic historical drama, 3 hours and 34 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: It's a massive movie in every possible way, from its heavy themes to its lengthy runtime that includes an intermission to the 300 pounds of film it's printed on. It was made on a meager $10 million budget and was difficult for wider audiences to see until just recently when all the buzz surrounding its three Golden Globe wins turned it into a cinematic event. It is nominated for 10 Oscars. Advertisement The cast was snubbed of a Best Ensemble nomination at the SAG Awards. Writer-director Brady Corbet remains a frontrunner for Best Director, though, having won the Golden Globe and the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and snagged a DGA nomination, though he didn't win. Directing awards tend to shed a little more light on possible Best Picture winners than acting awards. The Brutalist is currently the film with the most predictions to win Best Picture from reputable industry sources, followed by A Complete Unknown. It also faced backlash for its use of an artificial intelligence tool in post-production to perfect minute pronunciation details in the Hungarian accents of stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, who both received Oscar nods. The film's editor, Dávid Jancsó, said it was 'mainly just replacing letters here and there' and maintained that 'there's nothing in the film using AI that hasn't been done before.' Corbet addressed the backlash as well, saying, 'Adrien and Felicity's performances are completely their own.' How to watch: The Brutalist is in theaters. 4. Emilia Pérez (-3) Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: A lawyer helps a cartel leader fake her death and undergo gender-affirming surgeries. Over the years, a higher calling and family entanglements complicate the plan. Advertisement Vitals: Spanish-language musical crime comedy, 2 hours and 12 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: This year's awards season's villain is Emilia Pérez, a film festival darling that hasn't appealed as much to general audiences, despite being available on Netflix. Its unusual tone and subject matter are unlike any other film on this list, and that seems to be resonating with awards voters. It earned a whopping 13 Oscar nods. It was the biggest winner at the Golden Globes and earned a slew of major nominations for acting and directing for the SAG and DGA awards. It has been memed and picked apart on social media and fell slightly out of favor with critics predicting a Best Picture winner. Shortly after Oscar nominations were announced, a major controversy befell Emilia Pérez and Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the title character. Several of her past X posts have surfaced that critics called racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic. She then deleted her account and posted an apology on Instagram, stating that the tweets were taken out of context, that she is 'not racist' and seemingly implying that the controversy was part of a smear campaign against her. In an hourlong CNN interview that was reportedly not authorized by Netflix, she said she felt 'crucified and stoned without a trial.' Advertisement The film's other stars and director Jacques Audiard have now responded, and though the impact of the controversy is still taking shape, the Hollywood Reporter says the fallout has 'completely upended the Oscar race.' How to watch: Emilia Pérez is streaming on Netflix. 5. A Complete Unknown (+1) Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: The film charts the rise of a young Bob Dylan as he skyrockets to fame and changes the course of American music. Vitals: Biographical drama, 2 hours and 21 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: Dylan fans have mixed feelings about the biopic, but as awards season presses on, this might be the underdog film that overperforms at the Oscars. It didn't win any Golden Globes, but it earned huge nominations for the SAG, PGA and DGA awards, gaining traction going into Oscar nominations, for which it amassed eight. Advertisement Star Timothée Chalamet has been promoting the film in fun and unconventional ways, from guest-hosting College GameDay to pulling double duty as the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. He has yet to win a major award for his role, though. A Complete Unknown is now the second-most predicted winner of Best Picture according to critics considered for the Best Picture Leaderboard, gaining steam as Emilia Pérez falls. How to watch: A Complete Unknown is in theaters. 6. Conclave (-1) Ralph Fiennes in Conclave. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: As a group of cardinals assemble at the Vatican to select a new pope, scandals and gossip create factions and challenge their faith and relationships. Vitals: Mystery thriller, 2 hours, rated PG. The case for Best Picture: A movie about choosing a new pope might seem quiet and understated, but Conclave is surprisingly melodramatic and has ruffled a few feathers with controversy. The film has had a steady presence in the awards conversation and is a top pick among critics, amassing a number of nominations for lead actor Ralph Fiennes and supporting actress Isabella Rossellini, who are included in the film's eight Oscar nods, and a Best Ensemble nod at the SAG Awards. It was tied with Wicked for the most Critics Choice Award noms with 11, and won two for Best Acting Ensemble and Best Adapted Screenplay. Director Edward Berger has also picked up major nominations, including one from the DGA. So far, its only major award win is Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes. It is now the third-most-predicted film on the list to win Best Picture, trailing A Complete Unknown and The Brutalist, dropping by one spot since last week. How to watch: Conclave is streaming on Peacock. 7. Dune: Part Two (=) Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: Paul Atreides works with the Fremen on the desert planet of Arrakis to prevent a doomed future that only he can see. Vitals: Science fiction epic, 2 hours and 46 minutes, rated PG-13. The case for Best Picture: The sequel to the 2021 science fiction adaptation earned a Best Picture nomination and plenty of technical nods just like the first film, but the fact that Dune: Part Two had a delayed release back in March 2024 might mean it's not fresh in voters' minds. It's nominated for five Oscars, but none of them are for acting, directing or writing. It doesn't help that lead actor Timothée Chalamet has been campaigning for another film — A Complete Unknown — for which he's a Best Actor frontrunner. The massive box office hit was also critically acclaimed, but its actors and director Denis Villeneuve have been snubbed by the Golden Globes, SAG and DGA. How to watch: Dune: Part Two is streaming on Max. 8. The Substance (=) Demi Moore in The Substance. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: MUBI / Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: After facing a devastating blow to her career on her 50th birthday, a performer experiments with a 'substance' to obtain an enhanced version of herself. Vitals: Satirical horror, 2 hours and 21 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: Horror movies have historically been overlooked by the Oscars, but this could be the genre's chance to break out — with a gory body horror satire starring Demi Moore. The film made a huge splash at film festivals and earned accolades for writer-director Coralie Fargeat, including Golden Globe nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay. An Oscar nomination wouldn't have been shocking, but for a genre film, five is impressive. It had a surprisingly strong run in theaters before shifting to streaming on Mubi, but it's coming back for a limited time following its awards season success. Moore went viral after delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech for her surprise Golden Globe win, which clearly kept the academy's attention. Her frontrunner status is no longer such a surprise after she won Best Actress at the Critics Choice Awards. How to watch: The Substance is streaming on Mubi. 9. I'm Still Here (+1) Valentina Herszage and Fernanda Torres in I'm Still Here. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Sony Pictures Classics/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: The Brazilian film follows a woman and her five children after their lives change dramatically when her politician husband disappears. It's based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's memoir. Vitals: Portuguese-language political biographical drama, 2 hours and 16 minutes, rated PG-13. The case for Best Picture: By far the most surprising nominee in the bunch, I'm Still Here clearly gained momentum after Fernanda Torres's surprise Golden Globe win for Best Actress. It has three Oscar nominations, including Best Actress and Best International Feature Film. After the Oscar nominees were announced, footage of Torres appearing in blackface in a 2008 sketch for the Brazilian comedy show Fantastico resurfaced. Torres apologized, saying, 'Thanks to better cultural understanding and important but incomplete achievements in this century, it's very clear now in our country and everywhere that blackface is never acceptable.' Before her own controversy unfolded, Emilia Pérez star Gascón accused the 'social media team that works around' I'm Still Here of spreading hate about her and the film. Gascón clarified that she didn't disparage Torres herself — that would have violated the academy's rules. Increased search interest in I'm Still Here led to its leap ahead of Nickel Boys on the Leaderboard. I'm Still Here is headed into wide release on Feb. 14, just as Nickel Boys is headed out. How to watch: I'm Still Here is now in select theaters and will be released nationwide on Feb. 14. 10. Nickel Boys (-1) Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson in Nickel Boys. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: An innocent mistake shatters a Black teenager's dreams of attending college and lands him at Nickel Academy, an abusive and segregated reformatory, where he forms a friendship with a more pessimistic student. Vitals: Historical drama, 2 hours and 20 minutes, rated PG-13. The case for Best Picture: Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book from Colson Whitehead that was inspired by real-life horrors, Nickel Boys examines abusive reform schools — a topic that's been top of mind given recent legislature about regulating the troubled-teen industry. It's director RaMell Ross's first narrative feature film, but his style is unlike any other — it's shot from the point of view of its two young leads, focusing on what they see rather than their faces. It was nominated for a Golden Globe and five Critics Choice Awards but didn't take home any trophies either night. Ross won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. Though the film missed out on directing and cinematography Oscar nods, it's still up for two trophies. How to watch: Nickel Boys is in theaters. It will begin streaming on MGM+ Feb. 28.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Anora' topples 'Emilia Pérez' to shake up the Oscars Best Picture race. This formula predicts which movie will come out on top.
Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in Anora. (Photo Illustration: Yahoo News, photo: Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection) The 2025 Oscar nominations have finally arrived, and we're now in the throes of awards season. After a year of watching new releases, tracking their buzz and weighing their chances of taking home an Academy Award, we now know what the field looks like. Yahoo Entertainment created a power rankings system to predict which of the 10 Best Picture nominees is most likely to win the top honor on Hollywood's biggest night. The formula synthesizes award nominations and predictions, critics' predictions and general fanfare. We then assign scores to each movie based on these factors, and rank the films according to which has the highest score. The Yahoo Best Picture Leaderboard is updated weekly with new predictions. Read more about our methodology here. For our third official Leaderboard ranking, there's a new film leading the pack: Anora. Though Emilia Pérez has by far the most Oscar nominations with 13, this awards season's villain faced immense backlash after controversial X posts from the film's lead actress surfaced. Three influential awards shows also took place over the weekend, contributing to a massive shake-up in the Leaderboard's top five spots. Advertisement Newsletter: The Yodel Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Sign up By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Anora won big over the weekend at the Critics Choice Awards, the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards, ending the awards drought for the film considered a frontrunner at the very start of the season. Wicked also gained momentum thanks to awards and sustained search interest and now sits at No. 2 on the Leaderboard. A Complete Unknown gained steam, as multiple outlets now predict it will win Best Picture, stealing points from Conclave and The Brutalist, which both dropped in the ranking this week. Oscar nominations were repeatedly delayed following the devastating fires in Los Angeles, giving academy members an extra few days to cast their votes. The ceremony is scheduled for March 2. Until then, we'll be releasing a new Leaderboard each week, explaining the shifts and any surprises that arise. Let's dive in. 1. Anora (+2) Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison in Anora. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: A New York exotic dancer falls for the son of a Russian oligarch who offers her a chance at a new life, but his family tries to intervene. Advertisement Vitals: Romantic comedy drama, 2 hours and 19 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: People have been talking about Anora since it won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Though it racked up dozens of nominations from smaller awards bodies like the Gotham Awards, including honors for its star, Mikey Madison, and supporting actor Yura Borisov, it didn't take home any Golden Globes. The film is nominated for six Oscars, which is fewer than other films on this list, but they're in important categories that often signal a Best Picture win, like Best Director. The cast is nominated for the top SAG Award as well as seven BAFTAs. The indie movie did surprisingly well at the box office and continues to drive conversation about sex work. Writer-director Sean Baker and Madison's decision not to use an intimacy coordinator on set led to some backlash. Baker, who's currently living out his own Cinderella story, was part of a massive momentum shift for Anora — perhaps one of the biggest in Oscars history. The film won the top prize at three of the major Best Picture precursors — the Critics Choice Awards, PGA Awards and DGA Awards — in one weekend. Advertisement How to watch: Anora is available on video on demand. 2. Wicked (+2) Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection) Advertisement What to know: In this long-awaited Broadway musical adaptation, a magical woman who has been mistreated all her life for having green skin forms an unlikely bond with a popular student. Vitals: Musical fantasy, 2 hours and 40 minutes, rated PG. The case for Best Picture: Wicked is the most popular Best Picture nominee this year, enchanting audiences in theaters and generating countless memes through a massive press tour that we're still holding space for. It was up for four Golden Globes but left with just one honoring its box office performance. It earned an impressive 10 Oscar nods. Wicked has been lauded for its technical prowess and had 11 Critics Choice Award nominations, of which it won three, including Best Director for Jon M. Chu, who was snubbed by the Oscars. It also racked up acting nominations all over the place for its stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey — including a SAG Award nod for Best Ensemble. Advertisement As the biggest film on this list at the box office, Wicked is holding strong at No. 1 in the search interest category, keeping it top of mind for voters and the general public alike. How to watch: Wicked is in theaters and available on video on demand. 3. The Brutalist (-1) Adrien Brody in The Brutalist. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Lol Crawley/A24/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: The film follows a Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor who flees Hungary and travels to the United States in search of the American Dream. Vitals: Epic historical drama, 3 hours and 34 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: It's a massive movie in every possible way, from its heavy themes to its lengthy runtime that includes an intermission to the 300 pounds of film it's printed on. It was made on a meager $10 million budget and was difficult for wider audiences to see until just recently when all the buzz surrounding its three Golden Globe wins turned it into a cinematic event. It is nominated for 10 Oscars. Advertisement The cast was snubbed of a Best Ensemble nomination at the SAG Awards. Writer-director Brady Corbet remains a frontrunner for Best Director, though, having won the Golden Globe and the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and snagged a DGA nomination, though he didn't win. Directing awards tend to shed a little more light on possible Best Picture winners than acting awards. The Brutalist is currently the film with the most predictions to win Best Picture from reputable industry sources, followed by A Complete Unknown. It also faced backlash for its use of an artificial intelligence tool in post-production to perfect minute pronunciation details in the Hungarian accents of stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, who both received Oscar nods. The film's editor, Dávid Jancsó, said it was 'mainly just replacing letters here and there' and maintained that 'there's nothing in the film using AI that hasn't been done before.' Corbet addressed the backlash as well, saying, 'Adrien and Felicity's performances are completely their own.' How to watch: The Brutalist is in theaters. 4. Emilia Pérez (-3) Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: A lawyer helps a cartel leader fake her death and undergo gender-affirming surgeries. Over the years, a higher calling and family entanglements complicate the plan. Advertisement Vitals: Spanish-language musical crime comedy, 2 hours and 12 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: This year's awards season's villain is Emilia Pérez, a film festival darling that hasn't appealed as much to general audiences, despite being available on Netflix. Its unusual tone and subject matter are unlike any other film on this list, and that seems to be resonating with awards voters. It earned a whopping 13 Oscar nods. It was the biggest winner at the Golden Globes and earned a slew of major nominations for acting and directing for the SAG and DGA awards. It has been memed and picked apart on social media and fell slightly out of favor with critics predicting a Best Picture winner. Shortly after Oscar nominations were announced, a major controversy befell Emilia Pérez and Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the title character. Several of her past X posts have surfaced that critics called racist, Islamophobic and xenophobic. She then deleted her account and posted an apology on Instagram, stating that the tweets were taken out of context, that she is 'not racist' and seemingly implying that the controversy was part of a smear campaign against her. In an hourlong CNN interview that was reportedly not authorized by Netflix, she said she felt 'crucified and stoned without a trial.' Advertisement The film's other stars and director Jacques Audiard have now responded, and though the impact of the controversy is still taking shape, the Hollywood Reporter says the fallout has 'completely upended the Oscar race.' How to watch: Emilia Pérez is streaming on Netflix. 5. A Complete Unknown (+1) Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: The film charts the rise of a young Bob Dylan as he skyrockets to fame and changes the course of American music. Vitals: Biographical drama, 2 hours and 21 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: Dylan fans have mixed feelings about the biopic, but as awards season presses on, this might be the underdog film that overperforms at the Oscars. It didn't win any Golden Globes, but it earned huge nominations for the SAG, PGA and DGA awards, gaining traction going into Oscar nominations, for which it amassed eight. Advertisement Star Timothée Chalamet has been promoting the film in fun and unconventional ways, from guest-hosting College GameDay to pulling double duty as the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. He has yet to win a major award for his role, though. A Complete Unknown is now the second-most predicted winner of Best Picture according to critics considered for the Best Picture Leaderboard, gaining steam as Emilia Pérez falls. How to watch: A Complete Unknown is in theaters. 6. Conclave (-1) Ralph Fiennes in Conclave. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: As a group of cardinals assemble at the Vatican to select a new pope, scandals and gossip create factions and challenge their faith and relationships. Vitals: Mystery thriller, 2 hours, rated PG. The case for Best Picture: A movie about choosing a new pope might seem quiet and understated, but Conclave is surprisingly melodramatic and has ruffled a few feathers with controversy. The film has had a steady presence in the awards conversation and is a top pick among critics, amassing a number of nominations for lead actor Ralph Fiennes and supporting actress Isabella Rossellini, who are included in the film's eight Oscar nods, and a Best Ensemble nod at the SAG Awards. It was tied with Wicked for the most Critics Choice Award noms with 11, and won two for Best Acting Ensemble and Best Adapted Screenplay. Director Edward Berger has also picked up major nominations, including one from the DGA. So far, its only major award win is Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes. It is now the third-most-predicted film on the list to win Best Picture, trailing A Complete Unknown and The Brutalist, dropping by one spot since last week. How to watch: Conclave is streaming on Peacock. 7. Dune: Part Two (=) Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: Paul Atreides works with the Fremen on the desert planet of Arrakis to prevent a doomed future that only he can see. Vitals: Science fiction epic, 2 hours and 46 minutes, rated PG-13. The case for Best Picture: The sequel to the 2021 science fiction adaptation earned a Best Picture nomination and plenty of technical nods just like the first film, but the fact that Dune: Part Two had a delayed release back in March 2024 might mean it's not fresh in voters' minds. It's nominated for five Oscars, but none of them are for acting, directing or writing. It doesn't help that lead actor Timothée Chalamet has been campaigning for another film — A Complete Unknown — for which he's a Best Actor frontrunner. The massive box office hit was also critically acclaimed, but its actors and director Denis Villeneuve have been snubbed by the Golden Globes, SAG and DGA. How to watch: Dune: Part Two is streaming on Max. 8. The Substance (=) Demi Moore in The Substance. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: MUBI / Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: After facing a devastating blow to her career on her 50th birthday, a performer experiments with a 'substance' to obtain an enhanced version of herself. Vitals: Satirical horror, 2 hours and 21 minutes, rated R. The case for Best Picture: Horror movies have historically been overlooked by the Oscars, but this could be the genre's chance to break out — with a gory body horror satire starring Demi Moore. The film made a huge splash at film festivals and earned accolades for writer-director Coralie Fargeat, including Golden Globe nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay. An Oscar nomination wouldn't have been shocking, but for a genre film, five is impressive. It had a surprisingly strong run in theaters before shifting to streaming on Mubi, but it's coming back for a limited time following its awards season success. Moore went viral after delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech for her surprise Golden Globe win, which clearly kept the academy's attention. Her frontrunner status is no longer such a surprise after she won Best Actress at the Critics Choice Awards. How to watch: The Substance is streaming on Mubi. 9. I'm Still Here (+1) Valentina Herszage and Fernanda Torres in I'm Still Here. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Sony Pictures Classics/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: The Brazilian film follows a woman and her five children after their lives change dramatically when her politician husband disappears. It's based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's memoir. Vitals: Portuguese-language political biographical drama, 2 hours and 16 minutes, rated PG-13. The case for Best Picture: By far the most surprising nominee in the bunch, I'm Still Here clearly gained momentum after Fernanda Torres's surprise Golden Globe win for Best Actress. It has three Oscar nominations, including Best Actress and Best International Feature Film. After the Oscar nominees were announced, footage of Torres appearing in blackface in a 2008 sketch for the Brazilian comedy show Fantastico resurfaced. Torres apologized, saying, 'Thanks to better cultural understanding and important but incomplete achievements in this century, it's very clear now in our country and everywhere that blackface is never acceptable.' Before her own controversy unfolded, Emilia Pérez star Gascón accused the 'social media team that works around' I'm Still Here of spreading hate about her and the film. Gascón clarified that she didn't disparage Torres herself — that would have violated the academy's rules. Increased search interest in I'm Still Here led to its leap ahead of Nickel Boys on the Leaderboard. I'm Still Here is headed into wide release on Feb. 14, just as Nickel Boys is headed out. How to watch: I'm Still Here is now in select theaters and will be released nationwide on Feb. 14. 10. Nickel Boys (-1) Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson in Nickel Boys. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Courtesy Everett Collection) What to know: An innocent mistake shatters a Black teenager's dreams of attending college and lands him at Nickel Academy, an abusive and segregated reformatory, where he forms a friendship with a more pessimistic student. Vitals: Historical drama, 2 hours and 20 minutes, rated PG-13. The case for Best Picture: Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book from Colson Whitehead that was inspired by real-life horrors, Nickel Boys examines abusive reform schools — a topic that's been top of mind given recent legislature about regulating the troubled-teen industry. It's director RaMell Ross's first narrative feature film, but his style is unlike any other — it's shot from the point of view of its two young leads, focusing on what they see rather than their faces. It was nominated for a Golden Globe and five Critics Choice Awards but didn't take home any trophies either night. Ross won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. Though the film missed out on directing and cinematography Oscar nods, it's still up for two trophies. How to watch: Nickel Boys is in theaters. It will begin streaming on MGM+ Feb. 28.
