**Awards Season Preview: The Top Films to Watch on the Road to the Oscars**
With the summer’s blockbuster popcorn flicks fading into memory, the film industry now turns its attention to a more prestigious time of year: awards season. A fresh slate of contenders, many still to be unveiled, are poised to dominate the conversation through the winter as the march toward the 2025 Academy Awards begins. Several potential nominees have already made waves at major film festivals like Venice, Telluride, and Toronto, joining earlier favorites from Sundance and Cannes. As the Oscars ceremony on March 14th approaches, here’s a deep dive into the leading films and performances likely to shape this year’s race, as well as a look at some dark horses and big-budget blockbusters vying for attention.
**1. “Hamnet”**
If there were a formula for Oscar success, “Hamnet” would follow it to the letter. Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s beloved novel, the film brings together a powerhouse team: Chloé Zhao, the recent Best Director winner for “Nomadland,” directs, while rising stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal lead the cast. Set in 1596, “Hamnet” is a poignant exploration of grief, focusing on the death of William Shakespeare’s young son and the events that inspired the Bard to write “Hamlet.” The film’s resonance with audiences was confirmed when it won the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, a reliable predictor of Oscar glory. Though its UK release isn’t until January 2026, “Hamnet” is already shaping up as a frontrunner.
**2. “One Battle After Another”**
Director Paul Thomas Anderson is a perennial awards season fixture, with films like “There Will Be Blood” and “Phantom Thread” earning multiple nominations but never bringing home the top prize. His latest effort, “One Battle After Another,” could finally change that. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the film tells the story of a group of former revolutionaries who reunite to rescue the kidnapped daughter of one of their own. Critics have praised its gripping storytelling and brisk pacing, making its nearly three-hour runtime feel justified. With a UK release slated for late September, “One Battle After Another” is one of this year’s most anticipated and critically acclaimed entries.
**3. “Sinners”**
On paper, a vampire movie released early in the awards calendar might seem like an odd Oscar contender. However, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” has defied expectations, becoming both a box office hit and a critical darling. The film follows twin brothers returning to the Mississippi Delta, unaware of the sinister force awaiting them. Its originality and commercial success have made it a beacon of hope for Hollywood in a challenging year. “Sinners” is now available for digital rental and purchase, and its momentum continues to build.
**4. “Kinds of Kindness”**
Yorgos Lanthimos, the visionary director behind “The Favourite” and “Poor Things,” returns with “Kinds of Kindness.” Emma Stone, fresh off her second Best Actress win, stars as a powerful CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists convinced she’s an alien. The film, rich with Lanthimos’s trademark subversive humor and layered storytelling, is expected to be a strong awards contender, particularly for Stone and co-star Jesse Plemons, who may land his first nomination. “Kinds of Kindness” arrives in UK cinemas in early November.
**5. “Christy”**
Sports biopics have long been Oscar favorites, and this year features three major contenders. Leading the pack is “Christy,” starring Sydney Sweeney as trailblazing boxer Christy Martin. Directed by David Michôd, the film chronicles Martin’s meteoric rise in the 1990s and her harrowing survival after her husband’s attempt on her life in 2010. Sweeney’s performance is already generating awards buzz, and the film’s late November UK release positions it perfectly for Oscar attention.
**6. “Anemone”**
In a major surprise for film fans, Daniel Day-Lewis, the legendary three-time Oscar winner, returns to the screen after announcing his retirement in 2017. “Anemone,” directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis, tells the story of a former soldier who, after decades of isolation in the woods, reconnect