A while ago, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the final list of nominees for best male actor and female actor in a leading role. In the best actor Oscar category, the nominees comprise Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo for Sing Song, Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice, and Ralph Fiennes for Conclave. In the best actress Oscar category, the nominees comprise Cynthia Erivo for Wicked, Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Perez, Mikey Madison for Anora, Demi Moore for The Substance, and Fernanda Torres for I'm Still Here.

Karla Sofía Gascón is the first actor to come out as a transgender person to have an Oscar nomination. On the other hand, this is Chalamet's second nomination in the best actor Oscar category; his first one was for his performance in 2017's Call Me by Your Name. Adrien Brody is the only actor among the nominees to win a Best Actor Oscar (for his work on 2002's film The Pianist). Fiennes now has three Oscar nominations; he got one in the best supporting actor category for 1993's Schindler's List and another for best actor for 1996's The English Patient. This is Colman Domingo's third Oscar nomination and second consecutive, after his work in the Bayard Rustin biopic last year.

This is Cynthia Erivo's second best actress Oscar nomination, while it is the first Academy Award nod for Fernanda Torres, Mikey Madison, and Demi Moore.

The 97th Academy Awards will take place on March 02, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.