Hollywood’s Biggest Night is Here:
The 97th Academy Awards are happening on Monday, March 3 (NZT), celebrating the best in film from the past year.
Here’s a complete guide for viewers in New Zealand, detailing how to watch and what highlights to anticipate.
How to Watch in New Zealand
Kiwi movie enthusiasts can tune in to the Oscars live on Disney+.
OSCARS 2025 LIVE: Red Carpet Ahead of Oscar Awards 2025 | OSCAR Red carpet LIVE | Hollywood |
- Red carpet coverage begins at 1 PM NZT.
- Live updates: Stuff will provide a live blog throughout the event, featuring major wins, memorable speeches, and surprising moments.
Kiwi Representation at the Oscars
New Zealand’s own Wētā FX is nominated for Best Visual Effects, with films like Alien: Romulus, Better Man, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes in the running—showcasing a promising opportunity for Kiwi talent on the world stage.
Who’s Favored to Win Best Picture?
Leading the nominations with 13 nods is Netflix’s Emilia Pérez. However, the film’s prospects have dimmed due to controversy surrounding past offensive tweets from its star, Karla Sofía Gascón—the first openly trans actor nominated for Best Actress.
The frontrunner for Best Picture is Anora, directed by Sean Baker. This film, which tells the story of a sex worker marrying the son of a Russian oligarch, has already achieved significant recognition at Cannes and various guild awards, positioning it as a strong candidate for the top honor.
The competition for Anora is fierce, with Conclave, a thrilling papal drama featuring Ralph Fiennes, emerging as a strong rival. This film has already garnered significant accolades at the BAFTAs and SAG Awards, coinciding with Pope Francis’ recent hospitalization for double pneumonia. However, it’s worth noting that Oscar voting had concluded before the pope’s health issues came to light.
Other notable contenders include The Brutalist and Wicked, both of which have received 10 nominations each. It’s anticipated that early wins in technical categories will be shared between Wicked and Dune: Part Two.
Politics Takes Center Stage?
In a historic first, an actor has been nominated for portraying a sitting U.S. president. Sebastian Stan is in the running for Best Actor for his role as a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice, while Jeremy Strong has been nominated for his portrayal of Trump’s mentor, Roy Cohn. Trump has publicly dismissed the film’s creators, labeling them as “human scum.”
With the Oscars occurring just weeks into Trump’s second term and only two days after a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the ceremony may take on a politically charged atmosphere.
Host O’Brien recognized the delicate balance required, stating, “I can’t ignore the moment we’re in, but I also have to strike a balance—celebrating cinema while keeping the show uplifting.”
Will Timothée Chalamet Finally Win an Oscar?
While Zoe Saldana (Emilia Pérez) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) are leading the pack in the supporting acting categories, the races for Best Actor and Best Actress are still very competitive—leaving the door open for surprises, including a possible first Oscar win for Timothée Chalamet
The competition for Anora is heating up, with Conclave, a thrilling papal drama featuring Ralph Fiennes, emerging as a strong rival. This film has garnered significant accolades at the BAFTAs and SAG Awards, coinciding with Pope Francis’ recent hospitalization for double pneumonia. However, it’s worth noting that Oscar voting had already concluded before the pope’s health issues came to light.
Other notable contenders include The Brutalist and Wicked, both of which have received 10 nominations each. Early wins in technical categories are anticipated to be shared between Wicked and Dune: Part Two.
Politics Takes Center Stage?
In a historic first, an actor has been nominated for portraying a sitting U.S. president. Sebastian Stan is in the running for Best Actor for his role as a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice, while Jeremy Strong has received a nomination for his portrayal of Trump’s mentor, Roy Cohn. Trump has publicly dismissed the film’s creators, labeling them as “human scum.”
With the Oscars occurring just weeks into Trump’s second term and only two days after a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the ceremony may take on a politically charged atmosphere.
Host O’Brien recognized the delicate balance required, stating, “I can’t ignore the moment we’re in, but I also have to strike a balance—celebrating cinema while keeping the show uplifting.”
Will Timothée Chalamet Finally Win an Oscar?
While Zoe Saldana (Emilia Pérez) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) are leading the pack in the supporting acting categories, the races for Best Actor and Best Actress are still very competitive—leaving the door open for surprises, including a possible first Oscar win for Timothée Chalamet.
Leave a Reply